The Sauce: Leaked texts show PSA members in revolt over union’s Yes support

Leaked text messages have revealed that union members are in revolt over the Public Service Association’s decision to support a Voice to Parliament. Read the texts in this week’s The Sauce. Read the messages.

Leaked text messages have revealed union members are in revolt over the Public Service Association (PSA) supporting a Voice to Parliament, including spending member money on Yes T-shirts.

The PSA represents about 40,000 public sector workers.

The WhatsApp exchange between prison officers and PSA president Nicole Jess became so heated one member declared that the union’s endorsement of Yes only confirmed “the long-held beliefs that the Labor Party is directed by or at least in bed with the communists”.

The officers, who are members of prison officers vocational branch of the PSA, had been questioning Jess over whether member money had been used to “promote the Yes vote”.

“Many members are against this and are asking why members weren’t consulted before the promotions began,” one union delegate wrote.

Public Service Association president Nicole Jess, working as a senior correctional officer at Silverwater Prison in 202. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Another delegate raised concerns about how the union was not acting in an apolitical manner.

“We are meant to be apolitical and neutral,” the delegate wrote.

“This is dichotomising and weaponising a particular view and giving rise to a type of cancel culture we don’t need.”

“I’m a little confused to why they would look at one of the most divisive referendums in the nations (sic) history and think they could decide for a whole membership which side to support publicly,” another delegate wrote.

“My personal opinion is PSA should have stayed neutral.”

Describing the situation as “disgraceful”, another delegate declared endorsement would confirm unions were “controlled by” or “in bed with” Labor.

“To endorse this only confirms the long held beliefs that the Labor Party is directed by or at least in bed with the Communists,” the delegate wrote.

“It’s is also a long held belief that the majority of unions are controlled by or in bed with the Labor Party.

“This is a disgraceful decision and making this decision contravenes the whole point of unionism. Members are outraged that our credibility has been eroded by this reckless decision with (sic) consulting the membership. Neutrality would have been the perfect stance to take on this issue.”

In responding to the union members, Jess pointed out that the PSA had several advisory groups — including the Aboriginal Council — who could make recommendations to the union executive before they ended up with the PSA’s Central Council.

“Aboriginal council met and recommended to support The Vote for Yes. It then went to Central Council and it was voted to endorse it,” Jess explained.

“The Labor Party did not approach us to endorse it.”

Jess reminded members they could vote however they wanted to in the referendum.

“We are not dictating to members they must vote,” Jess said.

When asked where the money for the “Yes merchandise” had come from, Jess declared a “small amount” had gone towards T-shirts.

“We have spent a small amount of money on T-shirts for Aboriginal Councillors, 500 T-shirts for anyone (sic) member or staff member that wants one,” Jess wrote.

Jess’s response only served to amplify the exchanges, with one union member warning the PSA’s stance would only serve to divide members.

“If the PSA was going to enter this divisive referendum it would have been better to have projected a YES Case and a NO Case rather than throw its lot in with one side,” one delegate said.

“Our organisation needs to be absolutely apolitical on such a hugely divisive issue,” said another member.

“This paints us in a very poor and biased light, certainly not representing the wishes of the membership.

“A number of our members are outraged that union money (regardless of the amount) has been spent supporting this campaign along with the absolute lack of consultation. This is not unionism, this is playing politics.”

DOG GONE

The dumping of former Nationals senator John “Whacka” Williams as chair of the Greyhound Racing NSW Board sent his party colleagues into a meltdown on Friday.

Despite his tenure ending, Williams had reapplied for the gig — only for the Minns government to appoint barrister Adam Casselden SC.

Former Nationals senator John Williams in parliament in 2019. Picture: AAP Image

Keen to avoid any “jobs for the boys” or “inside job” accusations following the debacle surrounding ex-Labor adviser Josh Murray being appointed Transport for NSW secretary, the government declared in a statement the appointment of Casselden had followed “a rigorous and independent merit-based process”.

However, the Nats were having none of it, with several sources alleging the panel had no issues with Williams.

When The Sauce put this to the government, we were told Casselden had “an extensive resume” and was “highly regarded in sports law”.

PAY FREEZE

Governor Margaret Beazley has been caught up in the Minns government pay freeze.

NSW Cabinet approved legislation in May to freeze the pay of state MPs and public service senior executives for two years from July this year.

Under remuneration laws, the Governor’s salary is reviewed by a Tribunal every year.

However, the Premier’s Department last month wrote to the Tribunal to declare that the temporary wages policy also applied to the Governor.

The upshot?

Ms Beazley will remain on her not-too-shabby salary of $521,720 a year.

SENATE SCRAMBLE

Leading No campaigner Warren Mundine may be out, but former NSW minister Andrew Constance may still have some competition in his bid to fill the Senate spot soon to be vacated by Marise Payne.

Right-wing Liberals — unhappy at a moderate potentially snagging the spot — were this week urging former NSW Liberal MP Nathaniel Smith to have a shot.

Smith, like former premier Dominic Perrottet, has so far said “no”.

SPOTTED

Former state sport minister Stuart Ayres was spied in the changerooms after the AFL semi-final between the GWS Giants and Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

An eagle-eyed operative saw Ayres standing behind GWS Giants chairman Tony Shepherd, who was addressing the room.

Has Ayres snared a new job, we wonder?

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