{"id":1749,"date":"2025-05-06T15:33:12","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T05:33:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nsw.nteu.au\/council\/?page_id=1749"},"modified":"2026-04-29T16:00:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T06:00:21","slug":"how-we-work","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nsw.nteu.au\/council\/how-we-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How the union works"},"content":{"rendered":"

HOW THE UNION WORKS<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Led by members.
Built for action.<\/h2>\n

\n

The NTEU NSW Division is a democratic union driven by its members \u2013 not managed from the top down. We believe in collective action and distributed leadership. That means involving members in decisions, building strong local branches, and backing each other across institutions and roles.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Here\u2019s how we\u2019re organised...<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Branches on every campus<\/h4>

Each university has its own NTEU Branch. Members elect representatives, run campaigns, and bargain for better conditions locally. Your Branch is where you can shape the union\u2019s direction and act on the issues that matter to you.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

State-level coordination<\/h4>

The NSW Division connects and supports university branches across the state. We coordinate campaigns, bargaining strategy, and legal support. Our staff and elected leaders work to amplify local action and win statewide change.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Decisions made together<\/h4>

We debate openly, make decisions collectively, and act in solidarity. Democracy is what gives us legitimacy \u2013 but unity and follow-through are what give us strength.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Democratic, representative leadership<\/h4>

Our leadership is elected by members and must reflect the diversity of our union \u2013 across academic and professional roles, permanent and insecure contracts, and including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members. We believe leadership is only effective when it is representative.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Strategic action, not just service<\/h4>

We\u2019re not a call centre or a legal backstop. We build collective power. That means fostering self-activity among members, creating space for new leaders, and focusing our resources on action that can win \u2013 in the workplace and across the sector.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

NTEU structure and governance<\/h2>\n

The Union is organised across three levels: the National Office, State and Territory-based Divisions and workplace-based Branches in each of the nation\u2019s universities, as well as Branches covering members in other higher education providers.<\/p>\n

You can read more about our national structure and governance in the NTEU's policy manual.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

Explore details<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"tags":[],"dipi_cpt_category":[],"work_area":[],"class_list":["post-1749","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"dsm_author":{"name":"Vince Caughley","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e9b3f2e373c10af80857d35c4fab45d728442851e6424df1e0c64a028a6a89e?s=96&d=mm&r=g","archive_link":"https:\/\/nsw.nteu.au\/council\/news\/author\/vcaughley\/","biodata":""},"dsm_categories":[],"dsm_attachment_categories":[],"dsm_featured_image":null,"dsm_comment_count":0,"yoast_head":"\nHow the union works - NSW Division Council<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nsw.nteu.au\/council\/how-we-work\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How the union works - 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