I believe Damien is the candidate best skilled to lead our Union strategically and operationally. Damien has a long history of delivering for members. He has: • Lead successful campaigns which saved almost 300 academic jobs targeted for redundancy at Sydney Uni • Won casual conversion for 120 positions at Sydney Uni • Actively supported branches to defeat non-union ballots at Southern Cross • Worked collectively to develop and implement strong and effective bargaining strategies for the NSW division • And developed what is possibly the NTEU’s strongest and most successful delegate development programs Time and again he has delivered for those he represents as a Branch Vice-President and, Assistant State Secretary and State Secretary in NSW. In this time of upheaval across the sector it is vital that the role of National Secretary is trusted to someone with the proven skill to successfully unite, lead and deliver for our members. It can be easy to talk about our Union’s faults and what we should do, but Damien is not just talk, rather he is someone who delivers tangible improvements to those he represents. That is why I support Damien for National Secretary and encourage others to do the same. In my time as Branch President at La Trobe I have come to know Alison to be a person of integrity, and compassion, of strategy and skill. Alison deeply understands Higher Education and is a natural relationship builder. We face real challenges and opportunities in the upcoming term of office with a new government and changing landscape for Higher Education. More than ever we need Alison’s skill and nuanced understanding of the whole of the Sector and advocacy skills to lead us in achieving strategic outcomes. I support Alison Barnes for National President and encourage you to do so too.

I fully endorse Alison Barnes, Gabe Gooding and Damien Cahill for the Strong United NTEU ticket. Alison, Gabe and Damien have been a strong force in leading NTEU members through change during unprecedented times. I would like to see them continue to serve NTEU members and lead the union through the next chapter.

I’m endorsing Damien Cahill for national Secretary of our union. I’ve been chatting to Damien in recent weeks and I’ve liked what I’ve heard. Our union needs a tougher and more militant approach. We need to get better organised and more strategic. We need leadership that will fight for members’ rights, not cut deals behind their backs. I believe Damien can deliver that. I’m endorsing Alison Barnes as national President of our union. Over the pandemic, Alison has been a tireless campaigner for our members. Many members don’t see the work she does, day in, day out, to make our union stronger. As a working mum, she gets how difficult it is for women in our sector. Alison has stood with our branch and our members as we’ve fought for our rights at work, for job security and for back pay for casuals. If Alison is re-elected, I know she will keep fighting for fairer universities.

I firmly endorse the Strong United NTEU ticket comprising Damien Cahill, Alison Barnes and Gabe Gooding. I believe NTEU members need a united and experienced leadership team who will focus on the many challenges we face across the sector, including insecure work, constant workplace restructuring and the corporatisation of university management. I encourage you to vote for Damien, Alison and Gabe, knowing they will work for all professional and academic staff members alike to secure positive outcomes for us all.

I have witnessed the principal three here work their way up through the ranks. This gives them a far clearer understanding of the practices required. I have directly worked together with both Dr Alison Barnes and Gabe Gooding, but this will be the first direct opportunity with Dr Damien Cahill. But having seen how he works at the National Council and to some extent the NSW Division I am confident. Now that does not mean that they always agree with me, but I know any issues or concerns can be discussed and I will be heard. From my perspective, this provides us all with an effective way to move forward.

Building our skills and influence in work health and safety is vital in pushing back on high workloads and toxic work environments, especially for professional staff. I strongly support Gabe’s nomination and want her to continue her hard work in building union strength in creating safer workplaces. Alison is a great spokesperson and representative for the NTEU. With the sector in crisis, we need her calm and compassionate leadership which appeals to a broad audience. I want to see Alison build on the political relationships she has forged and make the most of the opportunities a new government presents for the benefit of all members. During my time on National Executive I respected Damien’s passion for empowering members to take collective action as key to union power and growth. He has the strategic thinking, technical skills and experience necessary to ensure members are well informed and resourced in order to campaign for better pay and conditions.

I strongly endorse the experienced and united team of Alison Barnes, Damien Cahill and Gabe Gooding in their candidacy for National Officer positions in the 2022 NTEU Election. Together they bring to these roles deep knowledge of our Union, the higher education sector and the political landscape. Their strategic skills and strong record of campaigning give me every confidence that this team will lead and build the NTEU with clarity, commitment and enduring success.

I have worked with Alison and Gabe for a number of years now and can attest to their passion, commitment and expertise in leading the union. University staff need a strong union as never before and I hope to continue working with this team to continue strengthening our voice and activism for all staff, general and academic, and within all our diversity.

As a sessional I strongly endorse Alison, Gabe and Damien – the Strong United NTEU Team. All are passionate, driven, politically astute and importantly, experienced union leaders, what we need now and into the future.

I am proud to endorse the Strong United Team of Damien, Alison and Gabe in the forthcoming NTEU elections. Workers across the tertiary education sector currently face unprecedented attacks on pay and conditions, while the deteriorating status of universities as institutions of critical, independent thought proceeds apace. After standing shoulder to shoulder with the Strong United NTEU team over many years, I know they have the experience, commitment and skills necessary to work with our members in building the cohesive, activist union we need to counter this malaise.

As a union delegate at the University of Wollongong (UOW) and former member of the UOW University Council, I’ve had regular contact with Damien Cahill as NSW Division Secretary over the last two years or so with regard to a number of key issues for UOW and Australia’s higher education system more generally. These issues have ranged from UOW’s and the broader system’s finances before and during the Covid pandemic, the lack of transparency and accountability of university executives and senior management, rampant casualisation and wage theft, and the democratic reform of university governance. Damien has always been extremely supportive and helpful with respect to all of these issues. He is a hardworking and committed strategic thinker with decades of experience and expertise in tertiary education and union organizing. I have no hesitation in endorsing his bid for the position of NTEU General Secretary, with respect to which I have no doubt he will be an asset to the Union, its members and the wider community.

The Strong United Team of Damien, Alison and Gabe in the forthcoming NTEU elections are the best ticket to struggle for social justice in the university working environment for all. Today, what is the public university for? As surpluses accumulate, those that produce the surplus are undermined, undervalued, and neglected. Rather than leave management policies uncontested that solely focus on income generation, this team has the skills, experience, and knowledge to combat exploitation and improve job security across the university landscape for all of us.