http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/health-unions-new-regime-sacks-old-staff-20130...

THE 11,000 Victorian members of the Health Services Union could be forgiven for expecting a fresh start for their troubled union after bitterly fought elections last month.

But the internal dramas at the union appear likely to continue after a round of sackings overseen by newly elected Victorian secretary Diana Asmar.

On Thursday the Health Services Union's finance manager, appointed after the union was placed into administration last June, was removed.

It is understood Ms Asmar had demanded that she be given the ability to more easily con- trol all spending by the union.

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Ms Asmar is a former mayor of Darebin Council, which is being investigated by the Ombudsman over allegations of misconduct.

And while at least five industrial organisers and one other official were either sacked or quit last week, Ms Asmar has hired former Melbourne City councillor Kimberley Kitching on a temporary basis as the new general manager.

Ms Kitching is a lawyer who has previously worked for Brumby government treasurer John Lenders. She is also the wife of Labor blogger Andrew Landeryou, who was a supporter of Ms Asmar's hard-fought campaign to win control of the health union.

Both Ms Kitching and Mr Landeryou are close to Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten, who acted to have the Health Services Union put into administration last year.

Asked about the hiring of Ms Kitching, the union's new communications officer, Mark Donohue - a former adviser to federal Labor MP Richard Marles - issued a press release saying that the dysfunctional state the organisation had been left in meant there was a need for temporary staff to be brought in.

''What we do already know is that the HSU has been left millions of dollars in debt as a result of previous mismanagement, and the first priority for me is to ensure the survival of the Victorian HSU,'' Ms Asmar said in the statement.

Former official Marco Bolano, whom Ms Asmar defeated for the position of secretary of the union, said the sackings last week were a return to cronyism within the organisation.

''She has already breached union rules in her first week or two of taking office,'' said Mr Bolano, who was questioned by South Melbourne police late last week after he was stopped outside the union's office despite a restraining order Ms Asmar took out against him during the campaign.

Nothing on Libbo policies..just more union bashing 

adelcrow wrote on Jan 7^th, 2013 at 9:02am:



Policy 1
We will review Swannie's cooked books

adelcrow wrote on Jan 7^th, 2013 at 9:06am:


I wish the LIBs lost the next election

Love seeing Australian fortunes go under this ALP government

SUCKED IN Australia

adelcrow wrote on Jan 7^th, 2013 at 9:20am:



You can thank Costello for the resilience

Newly elected HSU Victorian secretary Diana Asmar hired former Melbourne City councillor Kimberley Kitching on a temporary basis as the new general manager. Ms Asmar is a former mayor of Darebin Council, which is being investigated by the Ombudsman over allegations of misconduct.

Ms Kitching is a lawyer who has previously worked for Brumby government treasurer John Lenders. She is also the wife of Labor blogger Andrew Landeryou. Both Ms Kitching and Mr Landeryou are close to Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten,

Asked about the hiring of Ms Kitching, the union's new communications officer, Mark Donohue - a former adviser to federal Labor MP Richard Marles

Former HSU official Marco Bolano was questioned by South Melbourne police late last week after he was stopped outside the union's office despite a restraining order Ms Asmar took out against him during the campaign.

Also forming an association with the ‘New Look’ HSU are; Capo di tutti capi Giuseppe Morello, Joe Masseria, Lucky Luciano, Vito Genovese, Carlo Gambino, Paul Castellano, John Gotti, Vincent Gigante, Joseph Massino, Calogero Vizzini, Salvatore Riina, Bernardo Provenzano, Corleone Matteo Messina Denaro, and Salvatore Lo Piccolo.

What a nice bunch of people.

John S wrote on Jan 7^th, 2013 at 1:41pm:

They would do a better job THAN THE UNION CROOKS  FFS   

progressiveslol wrote on Jan 7^th, 2013 at 2:25pm:


So when the liberals get into power and they legislate for some one or organisation to hold ALL union money or only the HSU money.

What organisation would it be that holds the money another government department.