Bill Marklew

Interviewed by
Rodney Sullivan and Robin Sullivan
Jun 25 2013
Bill Marklew, 2013

Trade Unionist Bill Marklew was appointed Secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) in Queensland in 2000. He has been a member of the CPSU since 1994 and played a key role in the organisation of the picket line during the Maritine Union of Australia dispute in Townsville as well as the Our Rights at Work Campaign in Brisbane.

Biography
Time Summary Keywords
00:00:00

Bill Marklew recalls his childhood and education, including his childhood in a Catholic orphanage in Largs Bay, South Australia, moving around to many different primary schools and expulsion from his first year of high school.

 Catholics, South Australia
00:00:53

Bill Marklew discusses his early work experience in an assembly line assembling fluorescent lighting, as well as in a bakery in South Australia.

 South Australia, work experience
00:01:27

Bill Marklew discusses his earliest experience with unionism during his time in the Army in Townsville, Queensland. He explains how he received training in crowd dispersal to combat student and union protest.

 civil disobedience, Gough Whitlam, John Kerr, protest, student activism, union activism, unions
00:02:46

Bill Marklew speaks of his work experience prior to joining the Army in bakeries and a foundry. He describes his motivation for joining the Army at 18 in 1972.

 armed services, Vietnam War, work experience
00:03:43

Bill Marklew recalls his reasons for joining the Public Sector Union (PSU) when working in the telecommunication sector in Townsville. He describes how his Army background and a pay dispute lead to him becoming a Workplace Delegate for the PSU in 1994.

 pay dispute, Public Sector Union, telecommunications, Telstra, union delegate
00:05:47

Bill Marklew comments on union membership in Townsville and notes an ongoing decline.

 declining union membership, Public Sector Union, Townsville, union membership
00:06:13

Bill Marklew recalls the union positions he has held over his career including Deputy Delegate, Assistant Branch President, State President, Assistant State Secretary and State Secretary. He comments on the circumstances that lead to him being elected State Secretary in 2000.

 Claire Moore, Public Sector Union, union positions
00:08:29

Bill Marklew discusses the issues associated with being elected Assistant State Secretary while being based in Townsville rather than Brisbane. He comments that he was the only elected official in far North Queensland and describes how he was able to achieve this through his connections with the Australian Council of Trade Unions Queensland (ACTUQ) of which he was the President.

 ACTUQ, North Queensland, Public Sector Union, Townsville, union affiliation
00:10:22

Bill Marklew lists the main industrial issues he encountered throughout his career including the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) dispute and the 'Your Rights at Work' issues during the Howard Government.

 Howard Government 1996-2007, industrial disputes, MUA dispute, union campaigns, Your Rights at Work
00:11:07

Bill Marklew describes his involvement with the MUA dispute including coordinating the picket line at the Townsville wharves in his capacity as regional president of the ACTUQ. He mentions that dealing with the National Farmers' Federation was important in regional areas.

 ACTUQ, MUA dispute, National Farmers' Federation, Public Sector Union, Townsville
00:13:56

Bill Marklew talks about his impressions of the outcome of the MUA dispute. He describes the dispute resolution as a win despite the loss of many jobs. He explains the importance of the dispute in creating solidarity between the community and various unions which was important for the Your Rights at Work dispute.

 industrial disputes, MUA dispute, Public Sector Union, union solidarity, Your Rights at Work
00:16:17

Bill Marklew speaks about job cuts in the federal public service under the Howard Government in 1996-97. He describes the Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) and the Queensland Workplace Agreements (QWAs) and how they created pay discrepancies between workers.

 AWAs, Borbidge Government 1996-98, Howard Government 1996-2007, Public Sector Union, QWAs
00:18:39

Bill Marklew describes how he assisted members during the early Howard Government years in his capacity as the President of the PSU. He describes the uniqueness of Queensland, having to organise multiple regional conferences to allow maximum participation.

 AWAs, Public Sector Union, QWAs
00:21:14

Bill Marklew describes the Your Rights at Work Campaign. He describes the wide base of support for the campaign.

 Greg Combet, Public Sector Union, Your Rights at Work
00:23:51

Bill Marklew comments on the increase in union solidarity during the Your Rights at Work Campaign.

 Public Sector Union, union solidarity, Your Rights at Work
00:25:30

Bill Marklew talks about the effects of the Your Rights at Work Campaign on Union membership. He describes a growth in support that did not translate to a growth in union membership.

 union membership, Your Rights at Work
00:27:10

Bill Marklew describes his experiences with demarcation disputes. He explains how these disputes arose and how the PSU dealt with them.

 demarcation disputes, Public Sector Union, telecommunications, Telstra
00:29:35

Bill Marklew lists the union personnel who have made an impression on him and describes why.

 Claire Moore, Doug Cameron, Greg Combet, Jenny George, Stephen Jones
00:32:49

Bill Marklew comments on his increasing political involvement and the union movement. He describes his involvement with council politics in Thuringowa, Townsville. He comments on the CPSU affiliation with the Australian Labor Party (ALP).

 CPSU, local government, Townsville, union affiliation
00:34:10

Bill Marklew describes the relationship with the the CPSU and the ALP and its involvement with proposing ALP policy.

 abortion, CPSU, LGBTI issues, marriage equality, policy development
00:35:34

Bill Marklew comments on CPSU involvement with environmental issues.

 CPSU, environment issues, Labor Environment Action Network (LEAN), workplace safety
00:36:17

Bill Marklew discusses CPSU membership density.

 CPSU, declining union membership, union membership
00:36:53

Bill Marklew comments on the decline in union membership. He suggests that more education about union achievements is needed.

 declining union membership, Eddie Mabo, industrial disputes
00:40:38

Bill Marklew describes his experience with Indigenous members and issues. He comments that more needs to be done on Indigenous issues. He describes the ongoing relationship between unions and the Indigenous community.

 Indigenous issues, union membership
00:44:15

Bill Marklew describes the differences in workplaces in North Queensland and in the cities. He comments on the influence this has on the role of unions.

 North Queensland
00:46:27

Bill Marklew comments on the greater militancy of the grass roots level of unions. He describes the financial and political implications of militancy on the union and individuals.

 grass roots unionism, union militancy
00:49:55

Bill Marklew reflects on his biggest disappointments with his union involvement. He describes his disappointment with being unable to help grass roots members promptly.

 grass roots unionism, unions
00:53:16

Bill Marklew comments on his most satisfying moments in the union movement. He mentions the MUA dispute success in 1998 as a moment of euphoria.

 MUA dispute
00:55:51

Interview ends
Position:
Trade Unionist
Bailiwick:
Community and Public Sector Union
Decade:
1990s, 2000s
Sound byte: 

Bill Marklew

Biography

Bill Marklew, 2013

Trade Unionist Bill Marklew was appointed Secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) in Queensland in 2000. He has been a member of the CPSU since 1994 and played a key role in the organisation of the Maritime Union of Australia dispute picket line in Townsville as well as the Our Rights at Work Campaign in Brisbane.

Bill Marklew was born in 1954 in Largs Bay, South Australia, and educated at numerous primary schools around South Australia. He was expelled in his first year of high school. He entered the workforce at 14 and held a number of jobs including on an assembly line, in a foundry and in several bakeries. From 1972-96 Marklew served as a member of the Australian Armed Forces. After leaving the Army, Marklew was employed in the telecommunications industry as a Customer Service Representative for Telstra in Townsville, Queensland.

In 1994 Marklew began his involvement with the Public Sector Union (later the Community and Public Sector Union) following a pay dispute. There were no PSU representatives in Townsville during this period so Marklew was appointed as the Workplace Delegate. He subsequently became more involved in the PSU and has held the positions of Deputy Delegate, Assistant Branch President, State President and Assistant State Secretary. Marklew was the first Assistant State Secretary to be located in North Queensland. In 2000, Marklew took over as Queensland State Secretary and relocated to Brisbane. As well as his work for the PSU, Marklew has held the position of President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Queensland (Townsville and Districts) as well as serving on the Board of Directors of the Defence Credit Union, the Endeavour Foundation and the Freemasons Board of Benevolence. Marklew also holds the positions of Secretary of the Union Shopper and Vice President of the Queensland Council of Unions. During his extensive union experience Marklew has been involved in the organisation of several campaigns, notably the Maritime Union of Australia dispute where he organised the dockside picket line in Townsville, as well as the Our Rights at Work campaign.

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