Outgoing ACTU secretary is a campaign genius. She’d better not be retiring
In 2012, I was minding my own old lady business. Mostly. Of course, things around me made me angry, but mainly I was just complaining to my friends. I was constantly cranky because I had no real way to respond to the brutal attacks on women. Then in 2012 I met someone who really knew how to deal with dickheads. I didn’t just meet him; I somehow turned him into my boss, at least in my head. Best boss ever.
That woman, Sally McManus, resign From her role as secretary of the ACTU, Australia’s peak trade union body. He is a fearless leader. HE video Responding to the disgusting Pauline Hanson is one of the smartest moves I’ve ever seen. And more importantly, he worked to improve the lives of workers in this country.
Here’s what it did for me.
Sally McManus is a grassroots campaign mastermind. He’s the kind of person who can build a grassroots movement and build everyone’s faith at that moment.
For decades, in the media and elsewhere, men have wielded power as if it belonged to them. One man said women were “ruining the joint.” This phrase has become a defining category of anger for women. Women actually wanted to destroy that joint that pushed women into back rooms behind mediocre white men. Social commentator Jane Caro used the phrase that no one should talk about anymore on the social media platform. Plastic surgeon Jill Tomlinson turned it into a hashtag.
But one woman focused all this on a campaign. Sally McManus. The long-time trade unionist, who later became branch secretary of the Australian Services Union and ACT in NSW, wanted to show women that they could really give support. And so we did.
It would be difficult to imitate him, at least for me. First, he is a martial arts master and holds a black belt in several types. I have no idea if he’s a kickboxer or not, but I have a feeling he might be. And she is – sorry to repeat, but she is like a nun. HE married to action. His whole life was dedicated to unions, unionism and solidarity. When reporter columnist Peter FitzSimons I asked him a few years ago He answered yes if he had a partner; two million members of the trade union movement.
I had no serious campaign experience until I met him. Yes, I have encouraged parents at various schools to take part in P&Cs (and even guilted some boys into commandeering tools at the festive barbecue). I had written polite letters to organizations about God knows what. Even my children were better campaigners than I was (mostly about school canteens and toilet bins, but still campaigning).
The next minute we were calling advertisers across the country asking them to take a good look. And essentially taking a long look at their customer base. Ah, it turns out women have power, spending power.
Dee Madigan, creative director of creative agency Campaign Edge, describes McManus as the best grassroots campaigner in the country. “He is about what is right, not what is convenient; he is an extraordinary, honest person.”
This quality makes people want to work with him. For years I seriously considered working as a journalist and a decade in academia working with him. Not that he offered me a job. I think I may lack the necessary discipline a bit.
He does this job seven days a week, 48 weeks a year, and he’s been doing it for years and years and years. Like every smart person, he goes on vacation, mostly spends time in nature and takes photos of birds. I didn’t get the bird thing until Sally insisted I go to a nature reserve in Tasmania and I realized that what really gives your brain a rest is looking at a bird on a branch. A bird sitting on a branch. Living.
McManus showed a group of different women (and some men) how the campaign was done. He showed us how to work in unity with each other. He had staff and lists, he worked Reporter It was nobody’s business, soothing most bruised egos and bringing us together every day to recount the victories of the campaign.
McManus is stepping down after almost a decade leading Australia’s peak union body. At that time he and ACTU president Michele O’NeilHe himself retired and achieved great success; Five major bills and 47 new rights for unions and workers were enacted.
I can’t even imagine who could replace this team. But I have some ideas about what I want McManus to do next. He is only 54 years old; That’s nine years younger than the prime minister. I’m not sure he’s that interested in party politics. But he would be a great member for the next member Graynds When he returned to NSW. Or maybe the Senate?
If he wanted something low-key, maybe he could run a boot camp for campaigners. God knows we need it. Folks, a good campaign requires more than just a facility with TikTok and Insta. She is also a queen of discipline. Discuss with each other as much as you want until you come up with a plan. Then stick to the damn plan.
McManus taught many of us how to campaign against the rich and powerful, how to campaign against greed, hate and fear. This was the beginning of the end for the rule of mediocre white men.
But McManus’ show must go on and on.
Jenna Price is a regular columnist.
