AMWU Print Division National Secretary Steve Walsh is leaving the union after 30 years as an official.

Mr Walsh who began his working life as an apprentice compositor for the Launceston Examiner in 1971 at the age of fifteen, is taking up a position with the international union body that represents print and graphic workers, UNI Graphical.

“It was not an easy decision to make,” he says. “Particularly, after being involved in so many of the campaigns to improve workers’ conditions in the industry and living through so many changes that have required and continue to require new approaches from us.”

Mr Walsh who started his working life in Tasmania, was one of the leaders of the Burnie dispute in the early 1990s, where he was an organiser for the union.

“The Burnie dispute which involved workers employed at APPN was the first attack on workers that renewed an ideological push from employers in the industry. It was a situation where the union’s role was undermined and where management used all the dirty tricks that we came later to associate with the right of the political spectrum.

“Our right to organise and represent workers was questioned and threatened at every turn.”
He says the unity of the workers from all the unions who got behind the struggle was an inspiration.

“It was a great example of staying focussed and sticking together.”

Mr Walsh says the amalgamation of print workers to help form the AMWU in 1995 was a significant milestone which had benefitted printers and all AMWU members.

“It means we’re better resourced to confront the challenges of a changing industry.”

In his new role, Mr Walsh is looking forward to carrying out his duties in an international setting. He will be developing more global framework agreements for the graphics industry and looking to provide more assistance to workers in the Asia Pacific region.

“More and more Australian companies are establishing off shore companies in the region and one of my responsibilities will be to look at ways we can assist workers in these countries to organise themselves into unions and improve their working conditions.”

Mr Walsh expressed appreciation to the members and delegates of the union for their ongoing commitment and solidarity to achieve their goals.

“The lifeblood of the union are the members who are willing to stand up and defend what we have and improve it for themselves and future generations.”