The Transport Workers Union’s (TWU) rank-and-file National Council has announced the election of former chief of campaigns, Emily McMillan, as the union’s first female national assistant secretary.
It follows the election of former national assistant secretary Nick McIntosh as NSW/Queensland interim governance branch assistant secretary to work with members of the TWU’s largest branch to utilise new legislative powers in road transport and to rebuild aviation.
McMillan, a First Nations woman, was reported to be unanimously endorsed by the National Committee of Management and elected unopposed by the National Council after eight years leading national campaigns for the TWU and 21 years as a union official.
“Nick McIntosh and Emily McMillan have led TWU members to great success and take up their new positions as transport workers are on the cusp of enacting new legislative powers to save lives, livelihoods and businesses in road transport, put an end to gig exploitation, and reconsolidate a fragmented aviation industry,” says TWU national secretary Michael Kaine.
McMillan’s appointment was announced prior to the upcoming TWU annual National Council meeting, which will take place in Fremantle, WA where the union’s rank-and-file governing body will discuss the plan ahead to best utilise reform recently passed by Federal Parliament to set enforceable standards in road transport, including the transport gig economy.
“Since National Council last met, TWU members have achieved significant wins in aviation and road transport,” Kaine says.
“The focus now turns to the next phase of our strategy to lift standards for all transport workers and their families. With powerful new tools in our belt, the rank-and-file governing body will decide on the path ahead to make transport safer, fairer and more sustainable.”