There are currently three main factions in the USyd NTEU branch committee. These are Fightback, RAFA, and Thrive Collective

FightBack is a grouping organised across the whole of the NTEU (not just USyd). They are a “no concessions” faction, who purport to be the ‘the most militant’. They are aligned with Socialist Alternative. FightBack frequently publishes its opinions in the Socialist Alternative newspaper, RedFlag. If you search RedFlag for “USyd” you will find several articles relating to the EBA. At USyd, this faction is led by Alma Torlakovic on the Branch Committee.

RAFA (Rank and File Action) split off from the FightBack team at the last branch elections. This is the faction of the President, Nick Reimer, Academic Vice-President David Brophy, and casuals’ rep on the Bargaining Team, Sophie Fyfe, all of whom are on the Bargaining team. RAFA is most closely aligned with a group called Solidarity. Both Solidarity and Socialist Alternative are splinter groups of the International Socialist Group from the 1980s, which modelled itself on the British ‘Socialist Workers Party’.

If you search the Solidarity site you will find multiple articles about the EBA. RAFA publishes numerous bulletins about itself on its website.

You can follow FightBack on Twitter on @SydneyFight, and RAFA on @RAFAUSyd.

The Thrive Collective formed at the last union elections in the hope of a more constructive approach, which better reflects the views of most members. John Buchanan and Jen Dowling on the Bargaining Team are members of Thrive. Politically we range from independent socialists, ALP members and social liberals through to concerned members with no formal ideology but rather a commitment to social justice. What we have in common is a strong commitment to pluralism and power-sharing. Mass democratic organisations like unions flourish when everyone who makes a commitment to collective action and social justice, works together by highlighting where they agree. For this group solidarity is the greatest asset a union can build. We are less interested in building ourselves as an organisational force off campus and more committed to building confidence and effective collective self-management among union members. In our own work units we seek to build networks of union activists who take on day-to-day issues of workplace fairness as well as support University and sector-wide campaigns organised by our union and the union movement more generally.

Why vote yes for this EBA agreement? Find out here.