The Services Union is a democratic
union run by our members, for members. Our members set the direction for
our Union and they participate in decision making, policy and strategic
direction. We ensure transparency.
Please find our Union’s Rules here.
The Services Union is overseen by our
Branch Council, which is directly elected by members. Their role is to set our strategic
objectives. The decisions made at the Branch Council
are formed into strategic industry objectives and operational plans
which are then adopted by the Branch Executive to guide the work of our
Union for the next 12 months to two years. Our operations at an industry level
are guided by Industry Divisions. These are Local Authorities and
Brisbane City Council, Energy, Transport and Northern Administrative and
Social and Community Services. Each industry component is
represented on the Branch Executive via a Branch Vice-President and on
Branch Council via a Branch Councillor. Diversity Branch Councillors include: First Nations, Women, Pride, Youth and Disability.
Our Branch Executive Committee is made up of members who hold
the positions of the Branch President, Deputy President, a Vice-President representing
each Industry Division, a Vice-President (Diversity), and Branch Treasurer, and two paid officers – the Branch Secretary and the
Branch Executive President They take advice from our Industry Division Committees and implement our strategies. Workplace Delegates are members who are
passionate about ensuring the working rights and conditions are
sustained and enhanced in their workplaces and for their industries.
The Branch Executive is assisted in running our Union by two elected and paid officials, Secretary Neil Henderson, who oversees the running of our Union, and Executive President Jennifer Thomas, who is charge of our Union’s operations.
Secretary Neil Henderson
Neil Henderson has been a member of the Australian Services Union
(ASU) for over 30 years. He has worked as an industrial officer for over
30 years, including over 20 years in senior positions in the ASU
National Office, the Victorian Services and Authorities Branch and now
The Services Union.
Neil has appeared as an advocate in Federal Industrial Tribunals and Courts and in most State Industrial Tribunals. He is a practising lawyer and accredited as a specialist in
Workplace Relations law by the Law Institute of Victoria and the
Queensland Law Society (QLS). Neil is also a member of the Specialisation
Board of the QLS.
On commencement with The Services Union, Neil’s main responsibility
was to manage the Union’s industrial representation of members. There
are too many highlights to mention but the thrill of delivering great
outcomes for Union members never diminishes.
Becoming Acting Assistant Secretary in June 2013 and then acting
Secretary at the end of 2013, Neil was appointed to the position of
Secretary by the Branch Executive in April 2014 and elected to the
position in early 2015.
Neil believes that having access to knowledgeable and effective
representation is what members want and is one of the most important
benefits membership of our Union can provide.
Executive President - Jennifer Thomas
Executive President of the Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union Queensland (Services and Northern Administrative) Branch and the Queensland Services, Industrial Union of Employees (The Services Union).
As the Executive President, Jennifer’s responsible for the union’s overall function including campaigning, membership, and industrial relation activities. Jennifer has worked in the Union Movement for more than 20 years.
She has skills in operational and board strategy, industrial relations, and people and culture through her current role and her roles as National Vice President of the Australian Services Union, Vice President of the QLD Council of Unions, Director of Brighter Super and Director of the Jobs Queensland Board.
Jennifer is an accomplished Industrial Relations and workforce professional with experience in advocacy and negotiating all levels of labour management relations with a passion to explore new ways of responding to the challenges faced by workforce and industrial relations practitioners.
Her Board Director experience is across Superannuation and Government entities with significant understanding of Board Governance, People and Culture, Investment, Audit, Risk and Compliance. Jennifer has also had extensive advocacy experience in superannuation having campaigned for better retirement outcomes for Members, all working Australians and closing the superannuation gender gap. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and several post graduate qualifications in governance and superannuation.
Jennifer has been influential in the following campaigns: Portable Long Service Leave for the Queensland Community and Disability Sector, Equal Pay for Community and Social Workers; We Won’t Wait, Stand Up for Super and Get Super Working for Women, Queensland Assets Not for Sale; Sustainable Councils for our Local Government Members; Investing in Quality Community Services; A Just Transition; 27 Ways and Growing; and Make the NDIS the best it can be. Jennifer has also been influential in many local enterprise-bargaining campaigns across Queensland.
Deputy Secretary - Rebecca Girard
Both the Secretary and Executive President are assisted by the Deputy Secretary, Rebecca Girard.
Rebecca is the Industrial Coordinator at the Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union Queensland (Services and Northern Administrative) Branch and the Queensland Services, Industrial Union of Employees (The Services Union). She has worked with the Union since 2005 and leads a team of experienced Industrial Officers at The Services Union who represent members from an array of Industries across Queensland.
Rebecca has extensive experience in delivering member services and exceptional outcomes for members. She has implemented significant changes to the delivery of member services at the Union, working to identify quality customer service improvements as well as increasing the industrial capacity within the Union.
She brings with her a wealth of knowledge about the Local Government, Social and Community Services, Energy and Rail Industries having been responsible for the Union’s industrial strategy since 2016.
Rebecca is also a Director on the Boards of CareSuper and the Community Services Industry (Portable Long Service Leave) Authority.
