NTEU delegates Power Up and prepare for enterprise bargaining in Victoria to shape a stronger union

15 April 2026

NTEU members and delegates from across Victoria came together in early April for Power Up: Building for Bargaining - NTEU Victorian Division's strategy and planning conference to prepare for Round 9 of Higher Education Bargaining and discuss the future of the union.

The day-long conference featured a mix of presentations, seminar-style discussions, workshops and branch break-out groups to draw out experience and ideas, tactics and strategies for winning new agreements that deliver improved pay and working conditions for university staff in Victoria, and also shape the way that the union can grow in strength and power.

While enterprise bargaining was the immediate focus, conference convenor and NTEU Victorian Division Senior State Organiser, Jack Kirne, was delighted to see attendees embrace a broader scope, in envisioning a bigger, more powerful NTEU.

"The energy in the room was electric: members were asked to imagine what a strong union looks like, and time and again, they talked to the importance of growing a union that has real power in the workplace," he said.

"That's a union with majority density, strong delegate networks, and the power to make decisions in the workplace."
 
The activists and delegates attending heard speeches from organisers about historic campaigns, and what made them successful -- including the recruitment work that goes into building a winning campaign, through the example of La Trobe, where membership has almost doubled in the last calendar year. NTEU industrial experts were also presenting on key areas where conditions could be improved.

"We left the room with a clear vision and purpose: to not only keep building a union that wins economy-leading conditions, as we have since the union was established in 1993, but also to build a union with the power and ability to enforce those conditions in members' workplaces," said Kirne.

Ian Woolford, Branch President at La Trobe, summarised the work of growing the union simply: "we're building a union. Just do it."

But what does that mean in practice? Ian and other delegates from La Trobe made it concrete in their afternoon session. It's not just about numbers. It's about building a union community in the workplace. They described what it felt like to go from a workplace where talking union felt risky, even transgressive, to one where it's simply the norm. In this union, colleagues recruit colleagues, and managers come to the union when they want to make changes, rather than landing poorly thought-out proposals on staff and hoping nobody pushes back.

"That's a winning union. That's the NTEU we're going to be."

Want to learn how to build membership in your workplace? Unlock your potential at the two-day Building Union Power workshop!

If you're ready to sharpen your skills and make a real impact, then this workshop is for you. Over two days, we’ll equip you with the tools to organise effectively and advocate for workers’ rights with confidence.

Register for upcoming training in May, July and September.

Not a member yet?

Join NTEU and help Power Up your branch for enterprise bargaining:

Power Up... in other words

Power Up: Building for Bargaining

When: Friday 10 April, 10am-6pm

Where: FEU Conference Centre (Ground Floor, 120 Clarendon St, Southbank 3006)

Who: Delegates, workplace reps, activists and members who are ready to step up in 2026

Program snapshot

Introduction: how NTEU wins as a collective and why 2026 matters.

Let's talk claims: one message across the union.

Skills workshops: recruitment, meetings, action readiness and effective delegates.

Power Up plenary: on growth, bargaining and using leverage.

Branch planning: timelines, roles, expectations.

Wrap up: commitments and next steps. Drinks and networking to close.

Take-aways for attendees:

  • A shared message on our claims, and the confidence to talk about them with any colleague.

  • Simple tools for recruiting and running effective meetings that build participation.

  • A branch mini-plan with clear targets, timelines and responsibilities.

  • Connections across branches so we can learn fast and support each other through 2026.

 

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