Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
By Sally McManus, Melbourne University Press, $14.99.
Sally McManus made history when she became the first female secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) in March 2017.
McManus admits upfront, “I love the union movement”, recognises what is wrong, undertakes to do something about it and is always on the “front foot”. A fighter for fairness and justice, with a keen sense of Australian history, McManus demonstrates “how that fight is relevant today.”
In On Fairness, she explores the real cost of social injustice and argues for the need to further advance Australia fair. In the land of the fair go, what is the true cost of growing inequality? What does it mean for our society and identity?
She is “single-minded in the pursuit of a cause”. This is an ideal platform to deliver positive results. We all believe in fairness. So, why is there disparity? Some of the reasons include gender pay inequity, inactive wage rises, uncertain work scenario and the shortage of genuine opportunities for people. This is the situation while executives claim record bonuses and corporations consume large profits.
With her trademark unflinching approach, McManus tackles Australia’s relationship to fairness. In this pocket-sized book, she looks at where our deep-seated attachment comes from and why.
McManus sees herself as part of a global movement, a vital social and political interest group in the country, a key player in a historic era of transformation.
“I absolutely do. We’re all talking the same language because we’re all dealing with the same problems, and that’s actually a hopeful thing…”
Sally McManus is the 10th elected ACTU secretary in the organisation’s 90-year history. She was previously the NSW and ACT Secretary of the Australian Services Union and ACTU Campaigns Director.
At least since her university days, McManus has been a socialist, an active feminist, a brilliant campaigner, an intense, quietly spoken organiser with a clear sense of self.
“Unionism is both as powerful and as simple as people choosing to band together … when we have solidarity with each other, we have each other’s strength”.
If you correctly tell us when Sally McManus was appointed ACTU Secretary, you could win one of two books of On Fairness. Entries should be sent to [email protected] by next Monday, 4 March 2019. Names of the winners will be announced in Frank Cassidy’s PS-sssst…! column next week.
