Celebrating AWU Heroes: Autumn 2025

Cylynn fighting for workers’ mental health

AWU WA delegate Cylynn Criddle is a team leader at Baiada-Steggles, and also a member of the WA Branch Executive. A Steggles employee since 2007, she has held many roles in the deboning team, quality control and as a tray pack process worker.

One constant throughout is her AWU membership. Cylynn joined the union on the day she started work at Steggles in 2007.

“My understanding of the union is that it is there to help working people stay safe in the workplace and to help improve workers’ rights,” she says.

“As a delegate, I enjoy meeting new people and explaining to them the importance of having a union at work to make sure their rights are upheld and the workplace is safe.”

Cylynn as a delegate has secured thousands in backpay for her workmates, and visited Canberra as part of the AWU’s campaign to Close the Loopholes. “I was able to share my stories and my coworkers’ stories to the politicians we met in Canberra.”

Alongside workers’ rights and WHS, Cylynn is passionate about improving support for workplace mental health. “I recently became a mental health ambassador and mental health first aider at my workplace,” she says.

“My co-workers had started talking to me about their struggles at work or at home. They said they feel comfortable talking to me, and they know I won’t tell anyone unless it’s really going to affect their work. All workers deserve a safe and healthy environment at work.”

“If we have a positive approach to mental health in the workplace, everyone will be better able to cope with challenges on the job or at home.” Thanks, Cylynn, for being an AWU Hero at Steggles Western Australia!

John celebrates 36 years AWU proud

John Dusautoy is a Refractory Operator at Tasmanian Electro Metallurgical Company (TEMCO), a proud member of the Australian Workers’ Union (and the FIA earlier) since 1988.

John started at the Bell Bay smelter in the daywork clean-up crew, and is now part of the refractory crew, responsible for maintenance of furnace ladles, which involves de-scaling metal build-up and relining the refractory inside the ladles.

Working at the smelter requires long hours and can occasionally be dangerous—which means maintaining high standards of health and safety on site is crucial, John says. It’s something that has come naturally to him ever since he was elected site HSR around 10 years ago. “Health and safety has become a passion of mine,” he says.

“I enjoy helping my fellow employees with safety concerns and holding the company accountable when it comes to WHS. I currently sit as chairperson of the site Work Health and Safety committee and meet monthly with managers to discuss and improve the safety of all employees and contractors.

“And on a daily basis I walk around the site and find things that aren’t quite right and sort them out. It’s all about holding the company to account, making sure they’re doing the right things and keeping everyone safe.”

John has been a site delegate for 22 years and senior site delegate for 18 years. He was recently appointed to the Tasmanian Branch Executive as Honorary Vice-President.

As well as health and safety, John is deeply committed to his fellow members, having been heavily involved in negotiations for the last five EA’s. “I’m passionate about maintaining workers’ rights and ensuring workers are respected.” Thank you, John, for being an AWU Hero at TEMCO Tasmania!

Selwyn receives the Bob McClure Award

The AWU congratulates long-time Portland Aluminium employee Selwyn Jones, who recently received the Bob McClure Award from the South West Trades and Labour Council.

The award recognises trade unionists who have given long and active service to the union movement. Selwyn exemplifies this dedication, having been an AWU (and earlier FIA) member since his first day on the job at Portland Aluminium in 1987.

Selwyn has served as a delegate and Health and Safety Representative, as well as senior site delegate for a number of years. He is also a member of the AWU Branch Committee and the South West Trades and Labour Committee.

AWU South West Organiser Rob Saunders, who presented Selwyn with the award, says he was chosen for his decades of commitment to supporting workers.

“Selwyn attends every strike, rally, union, or social justice action there is,” Rob says. “It is part of his DNA to support people. It is not often we have a candidate for this award that is so deserving of it—it’s hard to say enough good things about him.”

For his part, Selwyn says he is “stoked and humbled” to be awarded. “It was a huge surprise. I’m really, really honoured. The AWU is insurance. The union’s got your back. We negotiate pay rises and maintain conditions, and the AWU is a really strong advocate of safety in the workplace, which is critical, as is WorkCover and income support if you get injured.”

“My skill set from representing AWU members gives me an advantage as a tribunal advocate to represent players that might get in trouble.” Thank you, Selwyn for being an AWU Hero at Portland Alcoa Victoria!