Michael Williamson is ALP National President for 2009-10.
Michael has been General Secretary of the Health Services Union NSW Branch for the past 14 years. He has previously worked for NSW Health in the fields of Industrial Relations and Community Health, in public health, community health and the 5th Schedule Hospital system. His total employment in the health industry spans 30 years.
As General Secretary, Michael has led a significant reform program within the union. He manages the finances of the union which has an annual turnover of over $16 million, and instituted a Finance Committee to oversight financial management and assist with the development of investment strategies. The HSU manages a property portfolio worth $30 million.
Michael has taken the union closer to the membership opening regional offices in addition to the Head Office in Sydney, and has expanded the staff at the HSU to more than 50. He has sought to improve the efficiency and accountability of the Union to its members, establishing an independent 'Union Ombudsman' in 1999 to deal with member complaints.
Michael has overseen a massive investment in information technology at the HSU which now has an IT infrastructure that fully integrates a membership database, call centre, network computers, electronic data management system, website and hundreds of mobile data devices and just recently HSU News which is telecast to all members every week.
Michael has turned the HSU around to the extent that it has been experiencing consistent growth during his leadership, with membership levels currently at an all time high. In addition, he has used his entrepreneurial skills to negotiate an ever expanding suite of services for members, making it more attractive than ever to be a member of the union.
As General Secretary, Michael leads all
major wage negotiations with government and major employers. HSU
members in the public sector have enjoyed wage increases totaling 50%
since Michael took on the leadership in 1995.
Employment Related Positions
- National President of the Health Services Union of Australia;
- Vice President of Unions NSW and Finance Committee Member of Unions NSW;
- Member of the ACTU Executive; and
- Member of the State Labor Advisory Council (SLAC) established by the NSW Government.
- Vice President of ALP NSW Branch.
- National ALP President.
Education
- Qualifications in Industrial Relations and Management from Sydney Technical College.
Boards
- Director of SGE Credit Union
- Trustee of First State Super
- Member of the Australia Day Council New South Wales.
- Director United Edge Pty Ltd.
- Director Medical Imaging Online.
Community Activity
- Vice President of the ALP NSW Branch, and Member of the NSW ALP Industrial Committee;
- Member of the ALP National Executive; ALP National President and
- Founding member of the Working NSW Policy Institute - a progressive think-tank established by Unions NSW to develop innovative and creative solutions in the modern and social issues facing Australia by facilitating a collective approach focusing on unions, family and community.
Personal
- Married to Julieanne with 5 children, born and educated in Newcastle.
CONTACT Michael Williamson: national.president@alp.org.au