‘110% effort’ sees TfNSW team leader Graham Campbell named joint Delegate of the Year 2023

A desire to ensure that management was held accountable for decisions made in the workplace led TfNSW Team Leader Graham Campbell to become an Australian Workers Union’ delegate more than 15 years ago.

That sense of justice has stayed with him ever since, and—along with his impressive work ethic—saw him named joint AWU NSW Delegate of the Year in 2023.

Graham first became an AWU member when he left school at the age of 14 to work in shearing sheds. He later worked in the timber industry.

Since 1989, he’s worked in the Road Construction and Maintenance division of TfNSW, where he’s been a Team Leader overseeing contractors and ensuring high standards of work for 20 years.

Fellow AWU member William, an RMS worker, said he had no hesitation in nominating Graham for the award, describing him as “a constant contributor who is always available for his members.”

“Graham is a goldmine of information and never hesitates to assist members, no matter how big or small the issue,” he says.

AWU NSW Organiser Serge Rindo agrees.

“Graham is someone who puts in 110 per cent in his role as a delegate,” he says.

“He makes my job easier by taking a load off me. There is nothing he doesn’t do—from getting information to AWU members and officials, growing membership, promoting the AWU, and much more.”

Graham’s award was presented by former Deputy Prime Minister and National Labor Party President Wayne Swan

AWU NSW Branch Secretary Tony Callinan says it’s delegates like Graham that give the branch its strength. “It’s the workers – the delegates, members and HSRs – that make the AWU,” he says. “Without them, we wouldn’t be a union.”

“He is one of our hardest-working, most committed delegates, and completely deserves this recognition for his efforts.”

“Despite the challenges Graham faces from his employer and on his worksite, he never gives up the fight for a fair go for his workmates. Congratulation, Graham!”

Graham says he’s proud of the work the AWU, its delegates and organisers do to improve pay and conditions for workers.

He names the AWU’s successful fight to resolve a long-running issue around the ‘10 & 20’ travel provisions last year and the removal of the NSW government’s wages cap in 2023 as examples that have seen workers better off.

These achievements were the result of a wide-ranging campaign at TfNSW that was recognised as a joint winner of the Australian Workers’ Union 2023 Campaign of the Year.

He also stresses the importance of having the union behind you when things go wrong in the workplace.

“Waged employees need someone who will stand up for them, and that’s where the union comes in,” he says.

“They’ll back you if the shit hits the fan.”