VICE PRESIDENT

Andrew Caris has been elected as your State Vice President for the upcoming term. Prior to this election, Andrew was the Division One Councillor encompassing members from Mackay, Stuart, Townsville, Hughenden, Cloncurry, and Mount Isa Depots.

Andrew is a Locomotive Driver Trainee attached to Aurizon’s Bulk North East Business unit and is based at the Stuart (Townsville) Depot. He commenced his railway career as a trainee driver at Callemondah (Coal South) in 2011 before transferring to the Bulk business in 2013. He has since held a committee position within the Stuart Sub Branch advocating for the rights of members and representing members interests throughout disciplinary investigations, industrial matters and general conflicts with management. He also acted as Proxy Division One Councillor for several years prior to his Divisional Councillor election in 2020.

Andrew is a firm believer in ‘power to the people’ and has a long trade union/employee association history which commenced in 1984 as a member of the then Brisbane College of Advanced Education Student Union responsible for the representation of the student body across the four BCAE campuses.

From 1987 to 2011 Andrew held various official elected positions within sub branches of the Queensland Police Union of Employees, during this time Andrew vigorously defended the rights of members against hostile management and government actions and actively participating in Enterprise Bargaining negotiations for better working conditions & wages for over 10000 members.

Andrew is extremely passionate about defending our members industrial rights and ensuring our members receive both professional courtesy and procedural fairness in all interactions with rail industry management. Andrew is also committed to educating our membership to a better understanding of the EBA’s and their respective implications in the workplace.

Andrew is regarded as an honest, reliable and trusted advocate of the AFULE membership and is strongly committed to the values, rules and ethos of the AFULE and its membership.

Andrew can be contacted on 0419 797 292.