For evidence of why Australian unions are losing members, look no further than the Finance Sector Union, a dysfunctional organisation purporting to represent the interests of thousands of workers across the banking, finance and insurance sectors.

For 18 months, rival camps inside the 30,000-member union have waged a civil war. In one bunker is Fiona Jordan, who stunned union veterans by executing an unlikely victory over Leon Carter to become national secretary in 2014. All other positions were uncontested leaving her opponents, including deputy national secretary, Geoff Derrick, with a majority on the union's national executive.