Vic: In fighting in health union leads to Federal Court hearing

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2001
Vic: In fighting in health union leads to Federal Court hearing

MELBOURNE, April 30 AAP - An internal row within Victoria's hospital workers union
will spill into the Federal Court tomorrow as the union's secretary attempts to stop the
governing committee accessing a $450,000 overdraft.

After months of tension and in-fighting with elected officials, Health Services Union
of Australia (HSUA) secretary Zora Marko sought an injunction to stop the HSUA Victorian
branch committee using an overdraft on its $3 million in assets.

HSUA president Pauline Fegan said the decision to take an overdraft to pay bills during
a temporary cash flow crisis had been agreed to at a meeting of HSUA's Victorian branch
governing committee.

"(Ms Marko's) actions are political," Ms Fegan said.

"She feels she doesn't have to adhere to the decisions of the governing committee."

The legal action follows months of friction within the union after Ms Marko was elected
secretary last year.

She said she has been up against a hostile branch committee which appointed Ms Fegan
as president.

The in-fighting is split 10 to five along alliances of competing Labor factions.

Ms Marko said the branch committee applied to the Bendigo Bank for an overdraft without
her knowledge.

Ms Fegan said the overdraft would enable the union to pay bills, which would otherwise
have been left to wait.

"We didn't ask for $450,000," she said.

"That's the figure they offered us.

"Most businesses run on some sort of overdraft. It's just because it's the first time
we've taken such action."

Ms Marko's application for an injunction will be heard in the Federal Court tomorrow.

AAP jmw/gfr/maur/bwl

KEYWORD: OVERDRAFT

2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.