Tony Sheldon (trade unionist)

Anthony "Tony" Sheldon, (born 1962) is an Australian trade unionist and National Secretary of the Transport Workers Union (TWU). He is also well-known figure in the Australian labour movement, and in 2011 was elected to a three year term as National Vice President of the Australian Labor Party.[1] In May 2012 Sheldon was named one of the most powerful union leaders in Australia by The Power Index.[2]

As TWU National Secretary, Sheldon led the widely praised TWU 'Safe Rates' campaign, where his negotiation skills and leadership of the TWU's campaigning were instrumental in garnering community and political support for the Road Safety Remuneration Act 2012, landmark legislation which is aimed at improving safety and conditions in the road transport industry.[3] Under Sheldon's leadership the TWU is leading the fight to save jobs at Qantas and for the future for the Australian aviation industry. In December 2011 Sheldon restructured elements of the TWU's national office, with a stated view to position the TWU for the future, but the move received some criticism from rival unions and disgruntled former members of staff.[4]

Born in Sutherland, Sydney, Sheldon attended De La Salle College (Cronulla, NSW). He has completed post graduate studies in Industrial Law at the University of NSW and is a graduate of the Harvard University Trade Union program. He worked as a garbage collector, and his professional union activity began in 1988. He joined the TWU in the 1990s.

He led the NSW branch of TWU from 1999 to 2008 and has been TWU National Secretary since 2006.[5][6] In 2008, Sheldon was accused of running a joint employer-union training fund. A review by professional services firm Deloitte noted a lack of governance arrangements in the operation of the fund, which should have been in place to ensure its formal separation from the TWU.[7]

Sheldon is married to Dr Sarah Kaine,[8] a lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney[9] and former vice president of the NSW Australian Labor Party. The couple have two children.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.alp.org.au/australian-labor/member-news/results-of-the-national-presidents-ballot/
  2. ↑ http://www.thepowerindex.com.au/union-heavies/tony-sheldon
  3. ↑ "Widow hopes new bill will cut fatalities". Fairfax.
  4. ↑ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/union-heavy-sacks-staff/story-fn6b3v4f-1226224854306
  5. ↑ "LaborNET: Workers Online Live News Feed: Tony Sheldon TWU resignation". Labor.net.au. 2008-11-28. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ Norington, Brad (2008-12-06). "Truckies' mate bails out". The Australian.
  8. ↑ "Nile's Muslim moratorium - State Election 2007". smh.com.au. 2005-03-28. Retrieved 2011-10-30.
  9. ↑ "Dr Sarah Kaine - Management and Organisation Studies". Retrieved 19 August 2012.