Since being appointed to the position of National Secretary by the Forest & Furnishing Products (FFPD) Divisional Executive in October 2005 Michael has devoted himself to the task of building a stronger Union.
He has been with the Union for over twenty years after having commenced employment with the Operative Painters and Decorators Union in 1985. He then worked as an organiser for the FFTS in Victoria and South Australia and was appointed National Organiser of the Division in 1992 and returned to Melbourne to take up this role.
Michael has been an outspoken supporter of timber workers, their families and communities and has coordinated a large number of community campaigns in support of employment and resource security for Union members.
He represents Union members and their interests on a range of Government bodies including the Forest & Wood Products Council. More recently, in conjunction with senior industry leaders in the Pulp & Paper sector, Michael has been part of the Pulp & Paper Industry Strategy Group which was formed to address the issues facing the pulp and paper industry in Australia. The strategy group which was formed in response to strong lobbying by the union, was set up by the Federal Minister for Innovation, and will make formal recommendations about the future of the industry to the Minister in December 2009. Michael is Deputy Co-chair of this group.
Michael has a strong commitment to delivering benefits to members and plays an active role as Co-Chair of the FIRST Super Board an industry superannuation fund which manages $1.5B of members’ funds. FIRST Super was formed as a result of a 2008 merger of three industry super funds, namely TISS (covering timber workers), First Superannuation (covering furnishing industry employees) and the Pulp & Paper Workers’ Superannuation Fund.Michael is working closely with District officials and organisers in each State to ensure that the Union has a strategic focus to organising and campaigning as he is acutely aware that the most effective way to deliver benefits to members is through making sure that the Union continues to build on its' successes and grow into the future.
