It is with sadness that we inform members of the resignation of Comrade Graham Bird, Secretary of the Victorian Branch of the Union.

After what Graham thought would be his future, as a high school teacher, a job he was looking forward to in working with students in the industrial areas of Melbourne, he, along with others, left teaching disillusioned with the bureaucratic attitude of Principals and the Education Department towards progressive and current educational needs of the emerging work force in this area.

On leaving teaching Graham began working in the meat industry in the western suburbs at the beef slaughtering abattoirs Seigals Brooklyn.

Graham came to the AMIEU  when the Victorian branch sought from the membership a financial member to take the position of  Claims Officer to deal with matters relating to workers’ compensation.

After the untimely death in 1986 of the Assistant Secretary Maurie McPike, Graham was elected by the AMIEU Branch Executive to become Assistant Secretary to then Secretary Comrade Wally Curran.

The Victoria Branch was extremely active in the industrial area and also in the political arena. Graham became responsible for organising the Branch’s political activities and representation and was elected President of the Victorian ALP from 1987 to 1989. Graham has served for long periods on the Victorian Trades Hall Council Executive

He was appointed to numerous Government committees such as the Accident Compensation Committee from 1985 to 1992 and worked hard to improve opportunities for injured workers.  He was a member of the Federal Government enquiry into the meat industry in 1980 and visited all Australian states as well as New Zealand, Denmark, Germany & the USA.

Graham was part of the Superannuation campaign from the 1980’s when the first seeds of thought were sown for  Union members to have access to Superannuation as a legitimate industrial claim. He was part of the  negotiating committee that finally in 1981/82 succeeded in winning Super for ordinary workers.

Graham has played a large part in spreading the benefits of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Super Fund (M.I.E.S.F), the first Industrial Super Fund in Australia achieved by a united industrial campaign; a campaign that was bitterly opposed by the employers at the time.  It was fitting that Graham went on to be Secretary of that Fund in 1997. The members will remember your advocacy for the MIESF at various work places.

In 2000 Graham became President of the AMIEU Federal Council and later became Federal Secretary.

It is with sadness and good memories that we thank Graham for his commitment to the Union, his comradeship and the political advice that he has always been willing to provide. 

Graham has certainly have left his mark and we wish him a good retirement, and the benefit of the M.I.E.S.F Pension Fund.