A drive to hold the Printing Industries Board to account with a Special General Meeting runs out of steam as disaffected members claim their concerns are now being listened to following ‘recent developments.’
The move to force a SGM on the Association in order to upbraid the Board over recent development, perhaps the worst kept secret in the industry, has been cancelled before it was ever presented to the Association. Ironically, the petition from over 50 members calling for the first ever SGM in PIAA history may never see the light of day as the plotters announce they’ve cancelled its delivery to the Association’s HQ scheduled for today.
A statement on behalf of the members involved says that the purpose of the now-deferred SGM was to call for a vote of no confidence in the current Board. That has now been deemed unnecessary following David Leach’ s resignation for what he terms “personal reasons.’
According to the statement issued by Simon Rowbottom, Salt Design, in Queensland, the main drive for SGM came from Queensland members, upset by termination of employment of local Association staff, Mel Ireland and Rebecca Sutherland.
This, plus other matters of concern, such as disposal of assets and in the way in which Printing Industries was being run, catalysed a national drive for SGM votes.
Well over 50 votes for an SGM have been secured and are due to be delivered to the Secretary of Printing Industries, by courier, in Sydney on Thursday 28th January 2016 at or around 3pm. This would be the first such a ‘no confidence’ SGM in 170 years of the Association’s history has been held.
Subsequent to developments in the past 48 hours, such as the resignation of the Board’s President, it is apparent that the Board of Printing Industries is once again listening to members’ voices.
On behalf of the members requesting that the Association convene as SGM, it pleases me to announce that the submission of the SGM Request is now deferred for up to 14 days, to enable discussions to take place and vacant Board positions to be filled so as to ensure strong and representative leadership for the industry’s peak body.
It is our wish that these discussions will bear positive fruit for the good of our entire industry, its employers and employees. Should this not be the case, the request for an SGM will resume currency.
The statement gives no indication, apart from Rowbottom, who will participate in the discussions that are demanded. Jason Allen, the now-retiring CEO of the Association, said he was in the dark about the move as nobody had contacted him. He was unaware of the petition for an SME or its postponement and could shed no light on who may be involved. He said he had frequent discussion with Queensland members and no one had raised the issue.
He confirmed moves were underway to recruit replacement personnel in Queensland with a committee to decide on the candidates. Robert Hall-Boman, state manager, is currently away on paternity leave but on his return he and Sandrine Dart, GM sales and marketing, will head up the selection committee in Brisbane.
Undoubtedly had Allen not submitted his resignation before Christmas the petitioners would be demanding his scalp too. He is deemed responsible for carrying out the strategic plan signed off by the Board that has caused such furore in recent months.
The demand for discussions will likely spark a lively race to fill the casual board vacancies left by David Leach and Susan Heaney. The Board must first of all find a new president from its members, especially if Ross Black, deputy president, doesn’t step up automatically to take the job. The remaining board members can nominate and appoint one of their number to the role until elections are held later in the year.
They can then elect qualified members to fill the other vacancies in the interim.
In what has become a very political Board riven by personal animus and rivalry and beset by leaks, alliances will be sorely tested. Leach’s letter of resignation was leaked to a media outlet before he could inform the membership. The complexion of the new interim Board will be a deciding factor in the future directions of the PIAA.
According to Allen there is a “a growing list of members” wanting to sit on the board and he is encouraged by the amount of engagement in the Association.
Meanwhile the search for Allen’s own replacement has been put on hold until the new board is constituted. He leaves on Good Friday.