We’re United For NSW
Our candidates are workplace delegates, union activists, and everyday members who share one thing in common: a commitment to building a stronger union for you.
Central Coast & Hunter
These are the delegates, members and activists who are standing up for UWU members across the Sydney-North, Blue Mountains, Central Coast & Hunter. They come from your workplaces and your industries. They know the challenges you face because they face them too.
They're ready to fight for a union that wins for you, picks up the phone when you need help, and puts more money in your pocket.
Meet Your Team
Teresa Hetherington
Home Care Worker | Central Coast & Hunter
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I have been a UWU member since 2002, joining during my induction when the union was called "the Missos". Easiest decision of my career, still is. Being a union member means strength. I was entering a female-dominated sector, and I knew even then that membership would protect my rights and give me the support and voice I needed. I am a wife, proud mother of 4, grandmother of 1 (chaos in short-pants), and owner of an award-winning velcro-dog. In my spare time I am President of Hunter Workers Women's Committee, a peak body of strong union and community activists. I am also one of 3 Vice Presidents of Newcastle Trades Hall. And because apparently I still had time left over, I help run 2 union-owned Facebook spaces that continue our mission to empower and support homecare workers across Australia. I also enjoy watching horror films.
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I hope to shine a spotlight on the work we have done so far, pause to celebrate, and to start the planning for what comes next. I have a strong commitment to providing support to my co-workers and clients, and to helping improve the sector I work in, to make it better for those who follow me. I am not fearless, but I am strong enough to show up, to stand with my union family, and to fight when necessary.
Although there is a great sense of personal satisfaction and power in the work I do, it is an honour to take my experiences and knowledge and pass it on. My union gives me the opportunity to do just that.
Nelson Luk
Gaming Supervisor | Central Coast & Hunter
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I have been a UWU member for 14 years and work as a Gaming Supervisor at Star Sydney. I joined the union to fight for a better enterprise agreement at the Star. Being a union member means supporting coworkers.
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The union helped me to save my job at a disciplinary meeting and also helped us to get better wages and conditions through EA negotiations. I want to see all Sydney Star City and Sydney Crown members united and working together, fighting together to achieve better outcomes for all of us who particularly live and work in Sydney. United For You is the team that will keep delivering for casino workers and all members in NSW.
Ryan Donaldson
Cleaner | Central Coast & Hunter
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I have been a UWU member for around 12 years and work as a Cleaner at Tighes Hill TAFE, where I serve as a Union Delegate. Once I understood what unions are and how we have more power in numbers, I wanted to do my part in the numbers game. Being a union member means being part of the collective that fights for the rights of working people. I care deeply for my family and friends. I visit my family in QLD a couple of times a year. I am also a carer for my housemate and have been for quite a few years now. In my off time I like to relax by playing games and watching shows and movies.
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I want to continue to support my coworkers to get what they deserve. I want to help hold the Department of Education to their word on all the promises they have been making regarding staffing, equipment, and management. United For You is the team that will keep fighting to make sure those promises are kept.
Leisa Burnet
School Cleaner | Central Coast & Hunter
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I have been a UWU member for 8 to 9 years and work as a Cleaner at Kurri Kurri High School in the Hunter Valley. I joined for peace of mind, benefits, and security. Being a union member means stability, knowing there is someone who has my back and works for what's right and wrong. I'm a single mother of 25 year old twin daughters. I love to cruise, love anything to do with the ocean, and hanging with friends. I'm an honest, hardworking person who will have your back and will fight for your rights.
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After a long campaign, the union has finally had a win and got us school cleaners back in house. I am standing to help where I can, as others have done for me. I want to continue to fight for better conditions, pay, everything for us and other industries. I'm supporting United For You for better, fairer working conditions for all members.
Roxanne Foster
Food Manufacturing | Central Coast & Hunter
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I’m a proud union member at Sara Lee, and I have been a delegate for 9 years. Working on the floor every day, I understand the challenges we face and what matters most to our members. I’ve been involved in EBA negotiations on site, and I know the value of standing together—because when we stick together, we achieve real wins that improve conditions for everyone.
Through strong union services, we have access to the support, representation, and resources we need to protect our rights and secure better outcomes. That collective strength makes all the difference. -
I’m running with the United for You campaign because I believe in unity, transparency, and putting members first. I’ll always work to make sure every voice is heard, every worker is supported, and that together, we keep winning.
Glenn Donovan
Warehouse Worker | Central Coast & Hunter
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I joined the union at Coles Somerton to defend mine and other workers' workplace rights. Being a union member means solidarity with other workers and ensuring a safe workplace with a fair day's work for a fair day's pay.
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At my current site we had a big win with casual conversion, seeing a lot of long term casuals converted. And we've had big wins with our wages in our last EBA, seeing people get up to $5 to $12 per hour increases depending on classification. I want to see smaller sites like mine have their voices represented and make sure that Central Coast members' voices are heard at the convention. United For You is the team that will ensure every member, no matter the size of their site, gets a real voice in our union.
Chris Thorsness
Cleaner | Central Coast & Hunter
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I work as a cleaner and serve as a Delegate. I joined the union to improve benefits and conditions and win an EA. Being a union member means being a part of workers fighting for realistic improvements in wages and conditions. I am interested in local and international affairs.
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We established CAF and won an EA. That delivered better wages and conditions, representation, structure and support. I am standing for fairness, equity and transparency, and to stop dishonest use of members' money. I want to achieve insourcing for the rest of school cleaners and build better comradery, connection and networking for cleaners to win on their issues.
United For You stands for the values I believe in: fairness, equity and transparency.
Beau Blanch
Home Care Worker | Central Coast & Hunter
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I have always worked for non-profit community organisations, and my current role was the first for-profit company I have worked for. I also observed a lot of misleading information being given to workers by managers, and I believed it would be a good idea to join the union. Being a union member means having a dedicated support system of colleagues standing together for better working conditions and enhanced representation through collective bargaining power. I'm a husband and father of three beautiful neurodiverse boys, and we love getting away camping and exploring as much of this great country as we can. As a family, we are very involved in the sons' school P&C, with the wife taking on the role of Vice President. It's been great to help raise funds and run community events for the school community. I've been in the community support industries for 20 years, advocating for the most vulnerable people in our community.
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They started making a lot of changes in aged care, home care and at the company I work for, and I wanted to change my availability. There was a lot of misinformation from management, and they were requesting more blocks of availability than required by our EBA. My case got taken to the union JCC committee and heard by upper management, and I was able to resolve my new availability to a better work-life balance. I feel it's a natural progression to advocate for my fellow delegates and union members. What everybody wants is better conditions, coming home safe from work and a better work-life balance. Health and Supports is a vital part of the country's community, looking after people in their time of need, and we need to make it better. The only way I see that happening is with better conditions for the workers, and that's why I'm supporting United For You.
XueGang Tang
Cleaner | Central Coast & Hunter
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I've been a UWU member since 2018 and became a delegate in 2019. I work as a school cleaner, but my union journey goes back much further. From 1981 to 2011, I worked as an international seaman on cargo ships, serving as a union delegate with the ITF. I worked alongside people from many different countries and learned how to balance standing up for workers while keeping things running. When I started cleaning schools after my seaman career, I saw that many cleaners needed someone to help them understand their tasks and their rights. That's why I joined the union. Being a member means having someone in your corner. I tell my workmates all the time: I'm your delegate, I work with you every day, the union is with you. Outside of work, I'm caring full time for my wife May, who seriously fractured her back in June 2024 and is still recovering. She can't walk or shower herself yet, so looking after her and managing everything at home is my main priority. I also keep studying China's economic development online every day. One thing I want members to know is that I believe the world of work is changing fast, and our union needs to help members prepare for what's ahead.
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Over my years as a delegate, I've seen how important it is to be the bridge between members and the union.
I explain to my workmates that the union works in many ways, and that as their delegate, I'm there with them every day. I help members understand their rights, gather evidence when something is wrong, and connect them with the union office. I'm standing for election as a convention delegate because I believe all people need help from the union more than ever before. In the years ahead, technology will change the way we work and many jobs will look different.
I want our union to not only protect members' rights at work but also help them navigate those changes and find new paths forward.
I'm supporting United For You because I believe in a union that genuinely supports its members through whatever comes next.
Michael Dann
Storeperson | Central Coast & Hunter
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I’m Mick, a UWU member, delegate, and warehouse worker at Sara Lee on the Central Coast.
Our union is strong — and I believe we can use that strength even more effectively. By focusing our resources where they matter most, we can continue to improve pay, conditions, and job security for members.
That means making full use of every avenue available to us — on the job, through bargaining, legal avenues, and in the public space — to achieve the best possible outcomes. -
I’m running with United For You because I believe our union should always be focused on delivering real results for members. A union that’s practical, focused, and committed to getting outcomes that matter.
Hedy Lee
Casino Worker | Central Coast & Hunter
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I've been a UWU member for 18 years and I work as a Gaming Supervisor at the Star Casino in Sydney. I joined the union when I first started at the Star. Being a union member means having support and protection in the job. It ensures fairness and help in dealing with workplace issues or difficult situations. Outside of work, I love cooking. I want members to know that I care about making sure their voices are heard.
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One moment that stands out is when we fought for our preferred shifts at the Star. That's the kind of win that matters to people's everyday lives. I'm standing for election as a convention delegate because I want to be a voice for my peers in guiding the direction our union is heading. I want to make sure that members are prioritised in everything the union does. I'm supporting United For You because I believe they focus on the issues that matter most to us.
Monique Christensen
School Cleaner | Central Coast & Hunter
Leigh Phillips
Dairy Worker | Central Coast & Hunter
Amy Bell
Educator | Central Coast & Hunter
Stand with us. Endorse United For You in NSW.
Our candidates are ready to work for you. Now we need you standing with us.
By endorsing United For You, you're showing your support for a union that delivers real results. Higher wages. Better conditions. Support when you need it. No fee increases.
This is your union. Back the team that's backing you.
Add your name to endorse United For You in NSW.