LHMU bucks union membership trend

Date: 28 April 2005

Jeff Lawrence, LHMU National Secreta

The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union ( LHMU) has bucked the national trend of union membership decline - despite the increasingly hostile environment for union organising.

In the last couple of years we've seen our union membership begin to grow again.

" This is even though the workplace environment for organising has become increasingly hostile," Jeff Lawrence, LHMU National Secretary, said.

" Working families are not walking away from unions.

" It is just that governments and bosses are blocking working people's access to their union.

" Our union has put more resources into growing our membership and building power for workers who join the LHMU. " The extra funding and resources have now begun to pay off.

" In previous years we staunched the membership losses - and reported flat membership numbers. Now, in the last two years, we have seen small but very important growth every year.

" We have had a 2% growth in membership in the last twelve months. I am confident that we will continue to win more new LHMU members.

" The union's growth strategy will allow us to report to members increasing numbers next year and in future years. The increased numbers will provide LHMU people with a stronger voice and real power to change our workplaces."

The top seven key areas of LHMU growth have been among:

- Aged Care workers;

- Child Care workers;

- Security guards;

- Ambulance staff;

- Hospitality workers; and

- Cleaners

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