Worth Fighting For - Union Memoirs

Gietzelt was able to deliver them crucial support at key times, and they in turn provided support and advice in his battles to maintain democratic control of the union, including the fight to repel the "coup" attempted by Santamaria's National Civil Council in the 1970s.

A war veteran who had trained as a chemist, he joined both his father's company and the Federated Miscellaneous Workers Union when he was demobbed in 1946.

He quickly became involved in the fight to rid the union of autocratic control. Bitterly contested elections saw him win control of first the NSW Branch and then the Federal union.

He proved one of the most successful union secretaries. A militant policy of membership control of collective bargaining, a program of amalgamation with smaller unions, and an intolerance of corruption, saw the union grow from 22,000 members in 1955 to 122,000 members on his retirement in 1984.

The LHMU proudly represents around 130,000 hard working women and men throughout Australia

For further info or copies of the book:

Andrew Casey 02 8204 7206 or 0425 242 691

For further information

Contact:	Andrew Casey
Union:	Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
Phone:	8204 7206
Fax:	92821 4480
Email:	andrewc@lhmu.org.au
WWW:	http://www.lhmu.org.au/