Hobsons Bay councillor Luba Grigorovitch on Monday made history as the first woman and youngest person to take the reins at Victoria’s Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU).
The same day that she became state secretary, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that a royal commission into trade union corruption would be headed by retired High Court judge Dyson Heydon.
Cr Grigorovitch, 28 (pictured), who remains a councillor for Wetlands ward until her replacement is decided by a countback of the 2012 election, said her union had a sound history.
The Victorian Electoral Commission will conduct the countback at 9.30am on February 13 to fill the council vacancy.
Wetlands ward covers Altona Meadows, Seabrook and Laverton. Former mayor Carl Marsich has been tipped to win.
Cr Grigorovitch said: “With the royal commission, the issue of union governance and accountability is receiving a lot of coverage at the moment, but I’m pleased to say that with the RTBU, we’ve got a strong track record of good governance and being well managed and accountable to the members, so I’m focused on continuing that.”
Asked what made her the best woman for the job – leading a male-dominated, 8000-strong, blue-collar union – Cr Grigorovitch said she knew the industry inside out and understood the needs of the members, having worked with the union over the past four years.
