Hobsons Bay councillor Luba Grigorovitch has made history as the first woman to lead Victoria’s male-dominated Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU).
At 28, she is the youngest secretary to head the 8000-strong, blue-collar members.
As reported by the Weekly last month, Cr Grigorovitch – considered a shoo-in for mayor – revealed she would not be a contender in last Friday’s mayoral election due to “career obligations”.
It was an informed decision given the union’s endorsement would not be known for five more days.
The Altona ALP branch secretary, viewed by many as a future state MP, sacrificed Labor preselection for an outer-west seat to take up the role, according to a source.
But Cr Grigorovitch’s last preselection bid, at the 2010 Altona by-election, was defeated by Jill Hennessy.
Currently divisional president and organiser, Cr Grigorovitch was instrumental in winning paid family violence leave for Metro workers.
Elected to the council in 2008, she is Hobsons Bay’s women’s charter champion.
She replaces current state secretary Trevor Dobbyn, who retires in February.
