Payrise negotiations: important.
Union member issue: also important. If you can avoid paying dues for almost 20 years, then get the same assistance as if you've always been a member, I think the key fundamental regarding membership has been killed off. I suggest that this is actually more important than the ongoing industrial issues, and is a stab at the very heart of the AOA. No to membership, unless he backpays about 20yrs worth of dues.