Forget the footy for a minute … there’s an APHEDA office in Victoria now!

Samantha Bond has recently joined Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA as a Senior Organiser in Victoria. Sam gives us an overview of what she’s been up to in recent weeks.

The Victorian Office of Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA was set up at Victorian Trades Hall Council in the month of May and new APHEDA Senior Organiser, Samantha Bond has been out talking to Victorian union leaders, staff and members about the importance of Victorian unionists becoming members of APHEDA to support our shared solidarity struggles with workers around the world.

Kicking off with a whirlwind visit to Melbourne union branches by Indonesian Asbestos activists, Bono and Darisman in May (who were duly kitted up with full asbestos suits and breathing apparatus courtesy of the CFMEU Training Centre), the Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA flag has been flying at campaign launches, rallies, conferences and meetings with union staff for the past six weeks and membership forms are starting to come in from across the movement.

A meeting of Victorian Union Aid Abroad Activists will be held on Wednesday 13th July at the new office space and we hope to spread the organising objectives and activities planned widely across the Victorian union movement, including suggestions for local fundraisers and events. Most importantly however, the establishment of the Victorian Office has one primary goal in the first six months – to GROW the APHEDA membership base in Victoria and connect more unionists to our Global Solidarity campaigns.

Big shout out to all of the Victorian Union leaders who have already jumped in to embrace Union Aid Abroad’s growth strategy and to all of our new and rekindled APHEDA members. Solidarity has no borders (not even between NSW & Victoria).

For more details about planned meetings and activities in Melbourne, please contact Samantha on 0402 832 495 or drop by the new office at Level 4, Victorian Trades Hall Council, cnr Lygon and Victoria Streets Carlton . Or you can email Sam at:  sbond [at] apheda.org.au

Don’t live in Victoria but want to get active with an APHEDA Activist Group? We have groups in NSW, SA, WA, QLD, ACT and TAS. Find out more