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Responses to March 2008 Hot Topic

A Union for Volunteers?

Response posted on March 6 by Liz Scarfe, Manager Volunteering Resources, Villa Maria, Kew, Australia

What a great topic – thank you. I have been thinking about writing a hot topic about volunteer strikes for awhile – maybe now is the time.

While I agree with your general position I think there is a conflict of interest for Volunteer Managers to represent and advocate for the needs of their volunteers, within the organization who pays their salary. It can be very hard to advocate within your own organisation (rock the boat) when you feel at risk (perceived or real) for doing so (a huge mortgage, rising interest rates etc).

The article by the Centre for a Civil Society mentions how volunteers are the “glue” of our community, but much of

this “glue” is in informal volunteering, by people who don’t even self-identify as being a volunteer so I can’t see how a generic union could ever represent the “glue” of society. Obviously some of the more specialist adhesives benefit from more specialised representation, which is great of course.

I don’t think a generic union is the answer at all – my stomach would turn to see some large body claim to speak on behalf of all volunteers but I think this is another symptom of the bureaucratizing of volunteering, which many volunteer managers are complicit in spreading without question.

The article includes a link to submit your ideas/thoughts regarding the proposition so I would encourage people to voice their concerns in that forum. I hope VA, state peaks and AAVA will also make submissions.

Response posted on March 5 by Anne-Marie Traynor, Co-ordinator Volunteer Services, Calvary Health Care, Sydney

I am in absolute agreement with all the points mentioned in this article.


The Volunteer Manager is the one to ensure that the volunteers rights and responsibilites & those of the organisations for the volunteer are understood & implemented. A commitment to training and ongoing supervision and support mades a very happy workforce. Ensure they feel part of the team and not optional extras, make efforts to give them meaningful work which is then acknowledged & an expression of appreciation is given by Management. There is no need for unions who cannot represent volunteers at the coldface with the diversity of roles the volunteers provide.

If there is a need for a union, then something is going wrong! We need to get back to the individual workplace and address the issues at hand.

Thank you for your article and the support you provide to volunteer managers like myself. I also reinforce your words on the need to make time to network. I am in a very busy job however our group networks every quarter, I make this effort not just for myself but also to support the other Managers. It is a great opportunity to discuss issues and problem solve….. And just support each other.

 

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