29 May 2019: At the BWI World Council, which was held in Brighton, United Kingdom, Gail Cartmail, Assistant General Secretary of UNITE the Union of the United Kingdom and Dave Noonan, National Secretary of the Construction and General Division of the CFMEU of Australia were unanimously elected Deputy Presidents of BWI
Cartmail, who replaced Pierre Cuppens of ACV-BIE of Belgium is the first woman elected in this position. Gail Cartmail joined the trade union movement more than 20 years ago when began working in the publishing industry, and later as a shop steward for the National Graphical Association where one of the key campaigns she worked on was equal pay for women. She is also a member of the Trade Union Congress Executive Committee.
In her acceptance speech, she gave homage to other women leaders in BWI. She stated, “I am very honored to be elected as BWI Deputy President and would like to thank everyone for the support. I have very bright memories about our joint women action during BWI Congress in Durban, where we campaigned for women leadership positions in the BWI governing structures with the slogan “Vote for Women – Vote for Change”. Today we have women in the BWI World Board and World Council structures, and since this moment, in the Presidium. This is our joint victory. On my new position I will continue to fight for equal opportunities for men and women in the world of work, workers’ rights and better future for all.”
Dave Noonan, who was elected Deputy President representing the Global South, is the National Secretary of the Construction and General division of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU-Australia). Noonan has held this position since 2006. Prior to holding this position, he was a union organizer and Vice-President of the CFMEU-Victoria Branch. Dave Noonan replaced Piet Thamsanqa Matosa who was formerly President of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM-South Africa).
“It’s a privilege to be elected as BWI Deputy President representing the Global South. I would like to thank everybody for the support and trust you expressed for my nomination. In the countries of the Global South, we face enormous challenges to fight against right wing, anti-union and authoritarian policies. Such policies destroy workers lives, increase poverty and exploitation. This is our call to reverse these policies, bring workers decent jobs and decent lives. As BWI Deputy President I am committed to fight for every worker’s rights at the Global South construction, wood and forestry sectors, organize and unite workers” said Dave Noonan in addressing World Council members after elections.