Jessica Munday

Awarded for service to community, advocacy and inclusion; human rights and justice

Born: 27 October 1982

Entered on roll: 2023

"Dismantling barriers"

Jessica Munday’s career in the trade union movement has been dedicated to dismantling barriers preventing women from fair and equal treatment at work. This has included campaigning for safe workplaces for women, equal pay, ending gendered violence, providing job security, flexible work, and social justice.

Jessica’s union involvement started as a workplace delegate at Centrelink in 2005. She later joined the Tasmanian branch of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) where she worked for 12 years, first as an organiser and then as the branch Regional Secretary.

In 2017, Jessica became the second woman to be elected Secretary of Unions Tasmania in the peak body’s 140-year history. In this role, Jessica ensured the peak body met its 50:50 target of women to men on its Board and has mentored other women in union leadership roles. Jessica initially chaired, but more recently oversees and provides guidance to, Unions Tasmania Women’s Committee. This committee has been integral to the growth in women’s programs and events including the annual Women’s Conference, the Anna Stewart Memorial Program, and International Women’s Day events.

For over five years, Jessica led the union movement’s campaign locally for the introduction of 10 days paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave provisions for all workers. In October 2022 laws were passed in the Federal Parliament to include provisions into the National Employment Standards.

When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Tasmania in 2020, Jessica advocated to the Premier for targeted, direct support for workers, resulting in the establishment of the COVID Worker Helpline providing industrial and safety advice to workers impacted by the pandemic.

Jessica contributes to the national leadership of the union movement by serving as a member of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Executive and Women’s Committee.

In 2022 Jessica represented Tasmanian workers at the national Jobs and Skills Summit.

Jessica is a trustee director of industry superannuation fund, Spirit Super, a director of the WorkCover Tasmania Board, and the President/Treasurer of community legal centre, Worker Assist.