Qantas tables a big EBA agenda
Since our last bulletin your ASU National Negotiating Team have met with Qantas management on 16 June and 1 July.
05 July 2010 [full story]
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Congratulations to Sharan Burrow on her election to head the global union movement
Australian unions warmly congratulate ACTU President Sharan Burrow on her election as the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). Ms Burrow was elected to head the global union body at its Congress in Vancouver overnight.
26 June 2010 [full story]
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Unions pledge to work closely with Julia Gillard, acknowledge Labor’s achievements under Rudd
Australian unions have pledged to work closely with Julia Gillard as Prime Minister and are united in preventing a return to the Coalition and its disastrous WorkChoices policy.
24 June 2010 [full story]
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Here’s the truth on mining: profits have grown by more than eight times wages
Big mining companies have not been telling the Australian public the truth and should admit that they are making astronomical profits and can afford to pay more tax.
24 June 2010 [full story]
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International Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights - 101 trade unionists murdered in 2009
The ITUC’s Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights has documented a dramatic increase in the number of trade unionists murdered in 2009, with 101 killings – an increase of 30% over the previous year. The Survey, released earlier this month, also reveals growing pressure on fundamental workers’ rights around the world as the impact of the global economic crisis on employment deepened.
23 June 2010 [full story]
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NAIDOC Week 2010: Unsung Heroes - Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way
NAIDOC Week 2010 is being held 4-11 July. It is a time to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life and the ASU encourages members to take part.
23 June 2010 [full story]
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Agreement over broadband network roll-out is good for jobs and national infrastructure
The Heads of Agreement signed yesterday between Telstra and the National Broadband Network Company is good news for jobs in Australia’s communications industry and good news for our national infrastructure says the ACTU and the CEPU.
21 June 2010 [full story]
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ASU thrilled at Victorian Brumby Government announcement for SACS workers
After years of campaigning, the Australian Services Union is thrilled at today’s announcement of the Victorian Brumby Government’s support for the Equal Pay claim for social and community services (SACS) workers across Victoria.
19 June 2010 [full story]
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Correction: Passage of amended paid parental leave scheme is one step closer to historic achievement for Australia’s working mums
The passing of an amended parent leave scheme by the Senate today is another step closer to the culmination of a 30-year campaign by working women and their unions, say unions.
17 June 2010 [full story]
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Dispute to be heard by Fair Work Australia on Canon subcontracting to CSG Communications Pty Ltd
A dispute has been lodged with Fair Work Australia regarding the transmission of Technicians from Canon Australia Pty Ltd to CSG Communications Pty Ltd (CSG). ASU Delegates and officials have been seeking all of the necessary information from Canon to determine whether the jobs they will be transmitted to are of a similar or not less favourable nature.
15 June 2010 [full story]
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Australia needs a robust tax system with fair and efficient taxation of mining super profits
National organisations representing social and community sector, unions, environmental and consumer groups have called for the voices of ordinary Australians to be heard in a tax debate that has been dominated by powerful vested mining interests. [Joint statement by ACTU, ACOSS, ACF, CFA]
15 June 2010 [full story]
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25,000 Australians call on Senate to make history this week with a final vote for paid parental leave
More than 25,000 Australians have signed a community petition urging the Senate to vote this week in support of the nation’s first Paid Parental Leave scheme, so it can be up and running by the start of next year.
15 June 2010 [full story]
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Myer Stores Enterprise Agreement Survey
Myer staff would be aware that the Myer Stores Agreement 2007 will expire on 31 July 2010. Over the next few weeks the Australian Services Union (ASU), as the recognised bargaining representative for ASU members under the Fair Work Act, will be consulting with Myer members to assist with a survey in preparation for the bargaining process.
11 June 2010 [full story]
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Biggest action on equal pay since the Seventies
Thousands of equal pay supporters will rally across the country at 11am today to take part in Australia’s biggest equal pay march since the 1970s.
10 June 2010 [full story]
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Virgin Blue Ground Crew Agreement 2010 approved
Fair Work Australia (FWA) approved your agreement on the 1 June 2010.
08 June 2010 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - May 2010
The current edition includes the following items: International Solidarity Levy; Indonesian PLN Union campaigning against a new law on electricity privatisation; PSI Gives ADB ‘Very Poor’ Score in Madya Pradesh Power Project; ADB loan to Cambodia Power Transmission Lines; Intelligent Infrastructure; United Utilities agrees to sell United Utilities Australia to a Consortium led by Mitsubishi Corporation; plus more.
08 June 2010 [full story]
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More Qantas ASU EBA claims tabled
The ASU national negotiations team met again with Qantas management in Sydney on 4 June 2010 for Day 3 of our EBA 9 negotiations. At this meeting we tabled almost all of our remaining detailed claims. Qantas Holidays EBA representatives also met the Qantas Holidays / Jetset Travelworld Group management on 2 June 2010 in Sydney.
08 June 2010 [full story]
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Compulsory wearing of lifejackets will save rock fisher lives
The Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association (APOLA), whose members are council employees that protect our local government beaches (the ASU is the Union for these professionals), has provided the following advice to the ASU. We are now re-circulating their media release as a community announcement.
07 June 2010 [full story]
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Historic day of action for Equal Pay
Thousands of equal pay supporters will rally across the country at 11am this Thursday June 10 to take part in Australia’s biggest equal pay march since the 1970s.
07 June 2010 [full story]
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Working Australians get a $26 a week dividend for end of WorkChoices
Today’s pay decision from Fair Work Australia for 1.4 million award-dependent workers breaks the drought after a wage freeze of almost two years under the Howard Government’s wage-setting tribunal.
03 June 2010 [full story]
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Auscript Agreement 2010 – your VOTE your say
The Auscript Draft Agreement has been finalised by management and will soon be subject to a ballot of Staff. The offer is for a three year agreement. The ASU sought to negotiate the best outcome possible but now it is time for you to decide.
03 June 2010 [full story]
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Free our water
Last year, the ASU called for local councils throughout Australia to provide greater public access to free water facilities to encourage less dependence on water sold in plastic disposable bottles. An entertaining and enlightening online video published this year is helping to tell the story of why saying "no" to bottled water is a good idea.
03 June 2010 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from April-May 2010
It’s been an interesting few weeks in politics with some extraordinary statements being made and a lot of mud slinging going on. At the ASU, because our job is advocating for workers, we’re listening intently in the lead up to the federal election so we can advise you of what’s on offer to best protect your rights at work. Stay tuned…
02 June 2010 [full story]
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Coalition forced to accept Paid Parental Leave scheme, ending decades of opposition
Australian families will be relieved by Tony Abbott’s decision to drop his long-held opposition to a universal paid parental leave scheme which will provide 18 weeks support for working mums from the start of 2011, say unions.
02 June 2010 [full story]
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10 facts on NCR & the Fair Work Act
NCR would have you think that they are above the law. NCR says they do not want to bargain with Customer Engineers. The Fair Work Act says otherwise.
02 June 2010 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - 31 May 2010
This edition contains the following items: Council Recycling; National Early Childhood Education and Child Care Workforce Census; ASU national electricity / energy industry division meets in Adelaide; Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government; 2010 National Local Government Workforce Development Forum; Australian Energy Regulator; plus more.
31 May 2010 [full story]
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Waiting to meet with Canon
Canon and the ASU were to meet Monday 31 May 2010 at CSG in Brisbane. The meeting was scheduled to hear from Canon on their decision on the number of machines, the location of machines and the hours of work required by Technicians to service those machines and how they would go across to CSG.
31 May 2010 [full story]
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And now for the detail in Qantas EBA 9
The ASU National Negotiating Team met with Qantas management in Sydney on 26 May 2010 for Day 2 of our negotiations for Qantas EBA 9. The meeting primarily focussed on the tabling and explanation of our detailed claims for this EBA which included the presentation of draft EBA clauses to further explain the Claim endorsed by ASU members. We also dealt with a range of preliminary issues.
28 May 2010 [full story]
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IBM hacks into skilled workforce
Computer giant IBM has sacked a group of experienced and highly skilled workers whose job is to provide IT back-up to some of Australia’s biggest corporations, including Westpac.
28 May 2010 [full story]
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QHols delegates meet company
On 25 May 2010 ASU officials and delegates from Qantas Holidays and Jetset Travelworld met with various management representatives from Qantas Airways and Jetset Travel Group including Sue Bussell from Qantas Industrial Relations and Andrea Slarke, Chief Development Officer of Jetset Travelworld to discuss the recent announcement about the merger with the Stella Group.
27 May 2010 [full story]
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Air Niugini Enterprise Agreement 2009
After several months of negotiations the ASU negotiating team have negotiated a draft agreement with management.
25 May 2010 [full story]
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Pan Africa International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, condemns the conviction and sentencing of Tiwonge and Steven in Malawi
Pan Africa ILGA joins all our global human rights organizations and especially the Malawian organization the Center for the Development of People (CEDEP) in condemning the conviction and harsh sentencing of 14 years imprisonment with hard labour by a Magistrate Court in Blantyre, Malawi of Tiwonge ("Tionge") Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza for "unnatural offences" and "indecent practices between males" under Sections 153 and 156 of the Malawi Penal Code.
24 May 2010 [full story]
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Women’s wage trails even further in 2010 - Equal Pay Day is September 4
The gender pay gap in Australian businesses has widened according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures released last week. ABS data shows that women’s average weekly earnings are now 82% of men’s, meaning that since this time last year the gap has widened by 0.8 of a percentage point. As a result of this pay gap, Australian women will have to work an extra 66 days than men to earn the same amount as men.
24 May 2010 [full story]
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2010 is the Year of Women in Local Government - latest news
As part of the campaign, regular news is being published on the campaign website. The latest eNews contains items on: Telstra Business Women’s Awards; What’s happening around the Country; 2010 Victorian Local Government Women’s Charter Awards; The Sally Isaac Women in Local Government Leadership Award; plus more.
21 May 2010 [full story]
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Good regional jobs and properly funded local services will solve Australia’s regional skills shortage
The ASU recently lodged a federal submission on the issue of skills shortages in regional Australia contending that people will relocate to regional communities for jobs with good pay and conditions supported by communities with properly funded local services. These skills shortages are currently having a dire effect on local government and public services in many parts of regional Australia, resulting in a downwards spiral. This has been exacerbated by workers moving to the lucrative mining industry as a result of the current resources boom, where incentives are much more attractive.
21 May 2010 [full story]
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Disaster for workers: Libs to block super, jeopardise parental leave and bring back WorkChoices
Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey has today revealed the Liberals’ true colours with plans to deny millions of workers a lift in superannuation, jeopardise paid parental leave, and bring back WorkChoices, say unions.
19 May 2010 [full story]
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Minimum wage case hearing today: award workers must share in the economic recovery
A resurgent Australian economy with forecasts of strong GDP and jobs growth over the next two years makes the case for a decent rise to minimum wages even more compelling, say unions.
17 May 2010 [full story]
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Canon says time to subcontract
Despite Canon’s denials and rejections during bargaining that they would not transmit any business or contract out work, no sooner was the ink dry on the back pay arrangements and out comes the news.
17 May 2010 [full story]
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Employment rights leader calls a stop to political to-and-fro on workplace relations system
Sydney, 14 May 2010 – The President of the Australian Institute of Employment Rights (AIER), and one of Australia’s leading industrial lawyers, Michael Harmer, today called on all sides of politics to stop playing “political football” with the Australian workplace relations system ahead of the pending Federal election.
17 May 2010 [full story]
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ILGA publishes 2010 report on State sponsored homophobia throughout the world
ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association publishes the 4th edition of its report and maps on State Sponsored Homophobia based on research by Daniel Ottosson. One sixth (1/6) of the LGBTI world population freer, thanks to India.
17 May 2010 [full story]
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Qantas EBA negotiations off to a flying start
After ASU delegates across Qantas served our EBA 9 claim on local managers on 5 May 2010, the ASU National Negotiating Team (NNT) had our first meeting with the management negotiators in Sydney on Thursday 13 May. We are off to a flying start after we provided the management negotiators with a detailed overview of the claims that ASU members have endorsed for EBA 9.
14 May 2010 [full story]
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Virgin Blue Ground Crew say YES!
The results are in for the Virgin Blue Ground Crew Agreement 2010 with 82.4% of you voting and 68% of you said YES!
13 May 2010 [full story]
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Broken promises all around at Qantas Holidays and uncertainty at QBT
Late on 12 May the Board of Jetset Travelworld Group announced a merger with Stella Travel Services after weeks of speculation that the deal was in the wind.
13 May 2010 [full story]
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Vale Jeff Shaw - unions pay tribute
The ASU and other unions have expressed sadness at the passing of Jeff Shaw, a leading light of the Labor movement in New South Wales.
12 May 2010 [full story]
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IBM agrees to bargain with the ASU
In a world first, IBM have agreed to bargain with the Australian Services Union for a collective agreement. Last night IBM issued a notice to all their Baulkham Hills (NSW) Flightdeck employees informing them that they intend to bargain for a collective agreement.
12 May 2010 [full story]
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Workers turn to unions for better pay: new ABS data shows lift in union membership
A lift in union membership in the past year shows working Australians are turning to unions to improve their pay and conditions. New ABS data released today shows there has been a lift in union membership of more than 82,000 workers and the proportion of the workforce in unions has increased from 19% to 20%.
12 May 2010 [full story]
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Budget is good news for working Australians with 450,000 new jobs as economy rebounds
The remarkable recovery of Australia’s jobs market with more than 450,000 new jobs to be created over the next two years is a testament to the Rudd Government’s economic management.
12 May 2010 [full story]
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Another Victory for ASU IBM members
ASU IBM members had another victory yesterday after IBM's application for a stay order on the Majority Support Determination issued by SP Drake of Fair Work Australia two weeks ago went down in a screaming heap.
11 May 2010 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
The ASU 'union' t-shirts were originally launched at the ASU National Conference 2008 and sold out in weeks. Now, due to popular demand, we have more blue t-shirts back in stock in all sizes, including children's sizes (6-10).
11 May 2010 [full story]
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IBM to appeal its workers’ right to collectively bargain
The ASU NSW & ACT (Services) Branch recently won a determination by Fair Work Australia on behalf of IBM technical workers that they had the right to collectively bargain with their employer. IBM, which has a history of refusing to bargain collectively, is appealing the decision.
10 May 2010 [full story]
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Government changes to Fair Work regulations provide welcome new protections for award workers
Employers have been sent a strong message that they cannot rip off workers by using new awards to cut their pay, following changes to Fair Work regulations announced by the Government, say unions.
07 May 2010 [full story]
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UNISON LGBT e-bulletin - May 2010
The May issue of the UNISON LGBT e-bulletin contains: UNISON welcomes Equality Act 2010; Bi and trans members - have your say on 23 July; A voice for you at disabled members conference; Failing the grade - the experiences of LGBT asylum seekers; Older LGBT people in care homes; plus more.
07 May 2010 [full story]
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NCR Customer Engineers say NO to substandard offer
The votes have been counted at NCR. Customer Engineers said NO!
06 May 2010 [full story]
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ASU members endorse and serve Qantas EBA 9 Claim
After many weeks of meetings across the country, ASU members at Qantas have overwhelmingly endorsed our EBA 9 Claim. Starting today our claim will be presented to Qantas management by ASU delegates and members at various locations at organised gatherings of members celebrating the start of our “Worth respect” EBA 9 campaign.
05 May 2010 [full story]
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More super, more infrastructure and a fairer tax system are big wins for working Australians
A lift in the Superannuation Guarantee to 12% and a new government contribution to low-paid workers’ superannuation accounts are big wins for working Australians, says the ACTU.
03 May 2010 [full story]
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What will it take to reach agreement at Toll Dnata Ramp and Cargo?
ASU Delegates told Toll Dnata management at a meeting in Brisbane Thursday 28 April just what it will take to finalise the Ramp and Cargo agreement.
30 April 2010 [full story]
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Dead in the Water: the dangers of water privatisation
The ASU has just released a new report into the dangers of water privatisation. The paper, "Dead in the Water: the dangers of water privatisation", can be downloaded below.
29 April 2010 [full story]
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Fairer tax and more super for working Australians must be at centre of Henry Review
The Henry Tax Review and next month’s Federal Budget must deliver a fairer tax system for working Australians and reform the superannuation system to ensure dignity in retirement for all Australians, not just the well-off, say unions.
29 April 2010 [full story]
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Unions make work safer. Members make unions stronger.
Under the banner theme adopted by the Global Unions for 2010, "Unions Make Work Safer," this April 28, International Workers' Memorial Day, we commemorate our fellow workers who have lost their lives or been injured in the workplace.
28 April 2010 [full story]
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New union campaign sends message to Liberals: “WorkChoices: whatever the name, never again”
Australian unions will today launch a new national advertising campaign aimed at exposing Tony Abbott’s plans to take Australia back to WorkChoices. The union campaign will revive the key issue of the last Federal election and highlight the danger to working Australians and their families posed by Tony Abbott’s commitment to hardline industrial relations policies.
27 April 2010 [full story]
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NCR offers Engineers less than CPI
NCR have made some changes to the agreement they want you to vote on but one thing remains the same: a 2% a year wage increase!
23 April 2010 [full story]
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Bullying allegations at Wilderness Society continue despite Director’s denials
Despite the statement of Executive Director of the Wilderness Society, Mr Alec Marr, as reported on the ABC News website, that the Wilderness Society “never had in the history of the organisation a formal complaint against bullying", the ASU has been told by members employed by the Society that a culture of bullying has existed for a number of years and internal complaints have been made.
23 April 2010 [full story]
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Legal Services Award critics misguided
Recent reports that the new Legal Services Award 2010 will hurt graduate recruitment have divided the profession. Enrico Burgio shares his view.
23 April 2010 [full story]
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Canon Agreement approved
Fair Work Australia (FWA) has approved the Canon Australia (Technical Consultants) Collective Agreement 2009. FWA approved the Agreement on Friday 16 April 2010 after seeking an undertaking from the employer that the clauses relating to right of entry and union rights were in accordance with the Fair Work Act. This undertaking was given by Canon and the ASU agreed.
22 April 2010 [full story]
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Toll Dnata Ramp, Cargo & Passenger Services Collective Agreements
Toll Dnata Ramp & Cargo employees look forward to getting back to the bargaining table on April 28 in Brisbane. Toll Dnata have changed their management representation at the bargaining table and they have now committed to respond in writing to the many issues we have put to them.
22 April 2010 [full story]
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Agreement has been reached at the Virgin Blue bargaining table
Virgin Blue, the ASU and the TWU reached agreement at the bargaining table to conclude negotiations for a new ground crew agreement.
22 April 2010 [full story]
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Current HACC system in Victoria to remain until at least 2011
ASU Victorian Branch Secretary Brian Parkinson believes the decision to leave existing arrangements for Victorian Home and Community Care (HACC) services in place until at least 30 June 2011, is a victory for not only those employed in the sector, but also the people receiving the care.
22 April 2010 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from March 2010
One of the major changes confronting workers over the last year or so is the “harmonisation” of OHS laws across the country. And workers’ compensation laws are about to be added to the mix.
21 April 2010 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - 9 April 2010
This edition contains the following items: Address by Attorney General of Australia; Unions, community groups want safeguards for health, environment and labour rights in US-Trans Pacific trade pact; ASU responds to the Federal Governments’ review of the critical issues facing Local Government skills; ASU meets with Local Government employers, professional bodies and the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government; National Code of Practice for Accessible Rail (Disability Access); plus more.
20 April 2010 [full story]
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Ged Kearney elected unopposed as the next President of the ACTU
Ged Kearney has been elected as the next President of the ACTU following the closure of nominations today for an upcoming casual vacancy.
20 April 2010 [full story]
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Join the Women's Rights At Work team in the 2010 Mothers Day Classic
On Sunday 9 May 2010, for the first time, the Mothers Day Classic fun run or walk will feature a national union team promoting women’s rights in every capital city event. The team is called the "Women’s Rights At Work".
20 April 2010 [full story]
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World’s unions urge G20 to focus on jobs for economic recovery
Brussels, 15 April 2010: As forecasts warn of a continuing rise in unemployment on top of the additional 34 million people worldwide who have become unemployed due to the economic crisis, trade union leaders from the G20 countries will urge for more action on jobs when they meet with G20 Labour and Employment Ministers on 19 April in Washington DC.
15 April 2010 [full story]
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ASU slams Rudd over possible HACC takeover
Australian Services Union Victorian Branch Secretary Brian Parkinson has urged the Federal Government not to disrupt Victoria’s Home and Community Care (HACC) system by reneging on a 2008 COAG commitment to consult with local government before considering future reforms to aged care.
14 April 2010 [full story]
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Qantas EBA 9 Campaign – how to get up to date information
ASU members at Qantas are now considering the recommendations from our recent Qantas National Delegates meeting about our claim for the Qantas EBA 9. We are aiming to finalise this process by early May 2010. At that time we will provide the ASU claim to Qantas management so negotiations can commence.
14 April 2010 [full story]
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UNISON LGBT e-bulletin - April 2010
The April issue of the UNISON LGBT e-bulletin contains: General election called - all out against the BNP; FIT - new DVD to tackle homophobia; Rally for public services; Do you give or receive care?; plus more.
14 April 2010 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - March 2010
The current edition includes the following items: Labour Video of the Year; New public-public partnership initiative; International trade union youth campaign launched; Governments that fail to adapt to new technologies will be left behind; Raising our voices for working women; plus more.
13 April 2010 [full story]
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Ansett Employee Update Number 59 and Tenth Report
The latest Employee Update from the Ansett Administrators is now available on this website along with the full Tenth Report. The status of the administration as at 31 December 2009 is covered.
13 April 2010 [full story]
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European Commission turns blind eye to failing public-private partnerships, says new report
A new report by the Public Service International Research Unit cautions the European Commission against enthusiastically endorsing public-private partnerships, contending that PPPs, as they are known, do not supplement public spending – they absorb it. The European Commission outlines high hopes for developing public-private partnerships in its EU 2020 strategy.
09 April 2010 [full story]
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Mandatory reporting is welcome, but is only part of the solution to achieve equal pay for women
Mandatory reporting requirements for businesses and beefed up powers for the Sex Discrimination Commissioner are crucial to reducing the pay gender gap.
07 April 2010 [full story]
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NCR ignores your right to bargain
Customer Engineers at NCR have received their invitation to have the ASU act as default bargaining representatives or nominate their own bargaining representative. You would think that would mean getting ready to bargain at NCR?
07 April 2010 [full story]
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Order your Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA 2010 raffle tickets now
The annual Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA raffle is on right now so don't forget to order your tickets. UAA-APHEDA is the overseas aid agency of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and it needs your help to 'Make Life Fair Everywhere'.
30 March 2010 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
Easter School break is coming up soon. Why not treat the family and see Tim Burton's take on Alice in Wonderland? We have children's tickets for Hoyts and Village cinemas available from the low price of $8.50 and adult tickets available from $10.50 - saving you up to 30% off the regular price.
29 March 2010 [full story]
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Turkish court sentences trade unionist Seher Tümer to seven years in prison
Lawyers have filed an appeal seeking to overturn the conviction of trade union activist Seher Tümer. Late in the day of 18 March, the Ankara High Criminal Court in Turkey declared Tümer guilty of belonging to an illegal Kurdish organization, and “making propaganda” through participation in public demonstrations, and sentenced her to more than seven years in prison. Tümer has already spent close to one year in prison. Her lawyers maintain there is no evidence to back these charges.
26 March 2010 [full story]
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Earth Hour is on Saturday – are you ready?
As we did in 2009, the ASU is participating in Earth Hour this year. We will ensure our lights are off in our Carlton building this Saturday night, but more importantly, we are actively raising awareness of the issues Earth Hour is drawing the world's attention to: specifically the need for all of us to look after the finite resources of this, our only home, the Earth.
26 March 2010 [full story]
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Canon Techs say yes to the deal
The vote has been counted. Canon Technicians have said yes to a deal which delivers a fixed wage increase component and improved working conditions.
25 March 2010 [full story]
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It’s taken a while but we think BoysTown are listening
Progress has been slow but there has been a little progress. BoysTown management, ASU Delegates, officials and bargaining reps met Wednesday 24 March 2010 to work on the wage offer.
25 March 2010 [full story]
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Back to the bargaining table at Toll Dnata Cargo
The ASU has been pursuing Toll Dnata to return to the bargaining table following your no vote on their previous offer.
25 March 2010 [full story]
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ASU responds to the Federal Governments’ review of the critical issues facing local government skills
The ASU has lodged a submission with the Federal Department of Local Government and Infrastructure in response to their “Draft Local Government Workforce Strategy” paper provided to the Minister for Local Government Anthony Albanese and the Council of Australian Governments Steering Committee.
24 March 2010 [full story]
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ASU meets with industry – Local Government worker’s skills
The ASU meets with Local Government employers, professional bodies and the Centre of Excellence.
24 March 2010 [full story]
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Jetstar delegates make big plans
Around 70 ASU Qantas Group delegates from all around Australia met in Melbourne on 17 & 18 March 2010 to discuss the year ahead and in particular the preparations for this year’s bargaining agenda in the Qantas Group.
23 March 2010 [full story]
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Fired up – ready to go!
Around 70 ASU Qantas Group delegates from all around Australia met in Melbourne on 17 & 18 March 2010 to discuss the year ahead and in particular the preparations for this year’s bargaining agenda in the Qantas Group. Delegates from Qantas Airways, QFCL, QFIT, Jetstar and QantasLink attended to plan our strategy.
23 March 2010 [full story]
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Public Services International urges water and sanitation unions to take action on public-public partnership initiatives
On the occasion of World Water Day, Public Services International calls on our affiliated unions in the water and sanitation sector to actively participate in the new public-public partnership initiative sponsored by the European Union.
22 March 2010 [full story]
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It’s time to vote at Canon
It’s time to vote at Canon. You need to make a decision on the agreement Canon have sent you and be ready to vote!
19 March 2010 [full story]
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A fair BUPA (MBF) enterprise agreement
The ASU is seeking input from members working at BUPA (MBF) on the log of claims for the enterprise agreement.
19 March 2010 [full story]
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Call by big business for two years-plus pay freeze is driven by greed and self-interest
The demand by big businesses for a two year delay in any wage rise for about 1.4 million workers would drive down living standards and harm the economy, say unions.
19 March 2010 [full story]
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Low paid workers must share in the economic recovery; unions to seek $27 a week wage rise
Unions will seek a $27 a week pay rise for workers on minimum wages who deserve their fair share of the economic recovery after unfairly shouldering the burden of the downturn.
17 March 2010 [full story]
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Unions, community groups want safeguards for health, environment and labour rights in US-Trans Pacific trade pact
Thirty Australian unions and community groups yesterday asked the Trade Minister to safeguard the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Australian local content in media, regulation of GE food, regulation of foreign investment and industry policies that support local employment in the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations which start today, Monday March 15.
15 March 2010 [full story]
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Canon Agreement out to vote
The Canon Australia Pty Ltd (Technical Consultants) Collective Agreement is now out for consideration prior to voting.
15 March 2010 [full story]
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PSI Equality, Equity and Diversity News
International news. Articles include: From membership to leadership: How to advance women in decision-making positions in trade unions; More women choosing to work, but gender equality remains a long way off; New report details gender inequalities in child rearing and household tasks.
15 March 2010 [full story]
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Victory at IBM Turkey; management must recognise union Tez-Koop-Is now
The supreme court of Turkey has declared in its final and non-appealable judgment that IBM Turkey must recognize UNI’s affiliate Tez-Koop-IS.
15 March 2010 [full story]
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Laws should protect building workers, not persecute them, says major new report
Unions have welcomed a new report which says the Australian Building and Construction Commission is in breach of international laws and fails to protect workers.
12 March 2010 [full story]
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Equal Pay Campaign starts today with launch of national test case for social and community workers
The newly-formed Equal Pay Alliance today called on all political parties and employers to properly value women’s work and close the 17% wage gap between men and women once and for all, as it launched a national equal pay campaign in Canberra.
11 March 2010 [full story]
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Community workers to send Julia Gillard kisses in bid for equal pay
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be asked to champion a ground-breaking Equal Pay Test Case for community workers with the launch of a new campaign aimed at closing the gap between men and women’s pay in Australia.
11 March 2010 [full story]
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$50 pay cuts for young workers on the cards with Tony Abbott’s plan to bring back WorkChoices: new union ad campaign launched
Australian workers will suffer cuts to their pay and conditions and lose protection from unfair dismissal under Liberal leader Tony Abbott’s plan to bring back WorkChoices, warns a new national union TV ad campaign launched on the weekend.
08 March 2010 [full story]
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United Nations process bypasses civil society consultation on women’s equality
A global trade union delegation representing more than 200 million members has sent an open letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon protesting the exclusion of civil voices in the shaping of recommendations on women’s equality at the UN’s annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women.
05 March 2010 [full story]
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Auscript Enterprise Agreement Survey
Auscript staff would be aware that management are proposing a new Auscript Enterprise Agreement (2010) to replace the current Agreement. Over the next few weeks the Australian Services Union (ASU), as a recognised bargaining representative under the Fair Work Act, will be consulting with Auscript members to assist with a survey in preparation for the bargaining process.
05 March 2010 [full story]
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BUPA (MBF) Enterprise Agreement Survey
BUPA (MBF) staff would be aware that management have proposed a new common BUPA Agreement (2010) to replace the current MBF Workplace Agreement 2007 which expires in September 2010; and the expired BUPA Agreement 2006.
04 March 2010 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from January - February 2010
This year will see a concerted effort by the union movement to bring equal pay to Australian women workers.
03 March 2010 [full story]
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Sex discrimination has no place in workplaces: Qantas and other employers must lift their game
Australian employers, including some of the nation’s biggest companies, must lift their game to end sex discrimination in the workplace and improve pay and opportunities for women, say unions.
03 March 2010 [full story]
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Close the Gap Day - An easy way you can help end the Indigenous health crisis
The ASU is a supporter of Close the Gap Day which occurs on 25 March this year. ASU staff will be gathering to raise awareness of the terrible gap in life expectancy and other health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. We encourage our members and friends to do the same!
03 March 2010 [full story]
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Mission Australia Employment Solutions Enterprise Agreement accepted
Mission Australia Employment Solutions Enterprise Agreement negotiations have concluded in the successful vote counted Friday 26 February 2010.
02 March 2010 [full story]
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Fair Work fails ASU airlines members
In a disappointing decision for ASU Airlines members, Fair Work Australia (FWA) handed down a decision on 26 February refusing to make modifications to the Airline Operations Ground Staff Award 2010 (the modern Airlines Award).
01 March 2010 [full story]
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Trade union rights are women’s rights - support Seher Tümer
This year, in connection with March 8, International Women’s Day, Public Services International (PSI) is working to draw global attention to the case of Seher Tümer, branch secretary of our Turkish affiliate SES (trade union of public employees in health and social services).
01 March 2010 [full story]
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Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council – February eNewsletter
The current edition contains stories on: Training Package Updates; Research In T&L; Workforce Development; Other Projects; News And Events; Engage With The Skills Council.
28 February 2010 [full story]
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Future purchasing arrangements for Job Services Australia: have your say in the DEEWR consultation round
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) released its Discussion Paper regarding ongoing purchasing and reallocation processes for Job Services Australia (JSA) on Wednesday 17 February 2010. Now it is time for all stakeholders, including workers, to have their say.
23 February 2010 [full story]
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ASU identifies real security risks at Australian airports
In late 2009 in response to heightened media concern about organised crime in the maritime and aviation sectors the Australian Crime Commission Joint Parliamentary Committee initiated an inquiry to investigate the efficacy of Aviation Security Identification Card and security at Australian airports.
22 February 2010 [full story]
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Employers should not use the new award system as an excuse to cut pay
Employers should not use the new award system as excuse to rip off workers and cut their pay and conditions, say unions. Unions are concerned that some unscrupulous employers are gearing up to cut pay and conditions following the introduction of the modernised award system.
19 February 2010 [full story]
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Voting on Virgin Blue EBA postponed
Well, Virgin Blue voting was to start on 17 February but then they realised what we have been telling them all along is true: their offer is not good enough! On Tuesday 16 February, Virgin Blue announced that voting for your replacement Ground Crew Agreement which was due to commence on Wednesday 17 February, has been postponed.
18 February 2010 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - 15 February 2010
This is a special edition of the bulletin dealing exclusively with the issue of superannuation.
18 February 2010 [full story]
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Mission Employment are not telling you the whole truth!
Mission Australia Employment Solutions are telling all employees that if you vote no that is the end and nothing else will happen. This is not true!
18 February 2010 [full story]
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New Liberal plan to scrap minimum hours of work will hurt more than 2 million casuals
More than two million Australian workers would face major pay cuts and lose their job security under a new Liberal plan to scrap the requirement to pay casuals for minimum hours of work. Liberal leader Tony Abbott announced on radio (3AW Neil Mitchell Show, 17 February 2010) that he will scrap the requirement for casuals to be paid for a minimum shift and that he couldn’t guarantee other basic employment standards would not be axed.
18 February 2010 [full story]
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A quarter of workforce to lose unfair dismissal protection under Liberals’ new WorkChoices
More than 2.3 million workers - almost one in four - will lose protection from unfair dismissal under the Liberals’ WorkChoices Mark II. ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the Liberals’ plan, which is confirmed by the Opposition’s Workplace spokesman Eric Abetz, in media reports today would exempt 9 out of 10 businesses from unfair dismissal laws.
17 February 2010 [full story]
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Workers stand to lose $$$ under Liberal plan to scrap penalty rates and bring back WorkChoices
Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party will scrap penalty rates and unfair dismissal protection and reintroduce individual contracts for Australian workers if they are elected later this year, say unions. In the latest sign of the Liberals’ deceptive plan to reintroduce WorkChoices, deputy Opposition leader Julie Bishop has confirmed penalty rates would be targeted by a Liberal Government.
16 February 2010 [full story]
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Liberals will bring back WorkChoices to cut wages and conditions at next election: new poll
A majority of Australians believe a Liberal Government led by Tony Abbott-led will bring back WorkChoices, a new national opinion poll released today shows.
15 February 2010 [full story]
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UK Fujitsu workers on strike to protect jobs and pensions
Last year, Fujitsu proposed 1,000 redundancies in the UK, following a pay freeze and plans to close the company’s pension scheme, reducing employees’ remuneration by around 20%. Unite members voted in favour of strike action late last year.
12 February 2010 [full story]
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It’s time to get this agreement sorted one way or another at Canon
ASU Delegates are back to the bargaining table via teleconference with Canon management on Thursday 18 February 2010.
12 February 2010 [full story]
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Now we’re getting somewhere at BoysTown!
Negotiations continued today with the ASU putting a firm position to BoysTown management in order to move this agreement closer to conclusion.
12 February 2010 [full story]
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Virgin Blue voting starts on 17 February 2010
Virgin Blue (VB) say they will make no more changes to your draft wages and conditions. VB agreed to further changes but because your ASU Delegates say the wages offer is unacceptable, VB changed their mind and have refused to put in the final amendments.
11 February 2010 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
Looking for a cool oasis to entertain the whole family this summer? Going to the movies may be the perfect solution. The ASUshop sells discounted movie tickets to make your outing that much more affordable.
11 February 2010 [full story]
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Qantas EBA 9 Survey launched!
The Qantas EBA 8 expires on 30 June 2010 and the ASU has now launched our EBA 9 Survey. For the first time in a long time ASU members will be negotiating our new EBA under fair laws: the Fair Work Act. EBA 8 was negotiated under WorkChoices which prohibited some claims and clauses – these previous problems are no longer present, it is a new era.
08 February 2010 [full story]
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Help raise funds for justice in Western Sahara
February 27 is the Western Sahara National Day and to celebrate the day, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA and the Australian Western Sahara Association are hosting an event at the Clare Café Bar Bistro in Carlton (Victoria). The event is being supported by the ASU, which is a long time supporter of the Western Sahara freedom movement.
08 February 2010 [full story]
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PSI Equality, Equity and Diversity News
International news. Articles include: The need for accurate and adequate information regarding migration; Official launch of the South Africa pre-decision and information kit on migration and women health workers; Elderly to Outnumber Children for First Time in 2045; Immigration Reform Would Boost US Economy
05 February 2010 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - December 2009
The current edition includes the following items: Asian Development Bank; PLN – Indonesia appoints new President; Renewable Energy Focus News; News items from Asia Pacific Currents 3CR; Polarity testing in electrical networks, Standards Australia; plus more.
02 February 2010 [full story]
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Abbott misses big economic picture on climate change
The federal opposition’s response to climate change fails to grasp the enormous challenge of moving Australia onto a cleaner energy footing, and ignores the economic and environmental risk of doing too little too late.
02 February 2010 [full story]
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Intergenerational Report is a wake-up call - time to increase super to 15%
Unions will push for the superannuation guarantee to be raised to 15% following the release of a new government report on the economic impact of Australia’s rapidly ageing population. Unions welcome today’s Intergenerational Report, which outlines the challenges posed for retirement incomes as the proportion of the population aged 65 and over doubles over the next 40 years.
01 February 2010 [full story]
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Mission Employment says No!
After a number of meetings Mission Australia Employment Solutions have decided they want you to vote on their offer.
We believe their offer does NOT meet community standards, does NOT meet industry standards and is NOT a good offer.
29 January 2010 [full story]
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Liberal plan to cut industry support would cost hundreds of thousands of jobs
A Coalition proposal to cut industry support to manufacturing would put the jobs of hundreds of thousands of hard-working Australians at risk and undermine the domestic economy, say unions.
21 January 2010 [full story]
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ASU national magazine for SACS professionals now available online
CARE PROFESSIONAL (or CP Magazine) is the ASU’s national magazine for social and community services professionals. It contains articles by specialists from all parts of the industry, from academia and government, as well as union advocates.
21 January 2010 [full story]
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Same sex attracted youth invited to write themselves into Australian history
Young Australians attracted to people of the same sex are being invited to ‘write themselves’ into history through a national survey. The third “Writing Themselves In” survey (WTI3) is now online will be used to gather information on the sexuality, health and wellbeing of Australians aged 14-21 who experience some form of attraction to members of their own sex (regardless of how they identify).
21 January 2010 [full story]
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ASU and local government work together for better outcomes
The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, today acknowledged the work of the ASU in the local government industry on behalf of employees including the promotion of workplace friendly actions and career path promotion for women in local government.
20 January 2010 [full story]
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2010 as Year of Women in Local Government launched
The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for the Status of Women, will jointly launch 2010 as the Year of Women in Local Government to recognise, celebrate and promote the advancement of women into senior management and leadership roles.
20 January 2010 [full story]
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Tasmanian Senator shares views on Fair Work
Senator for Tasmania Catryna Bilyk, was recently present during Fair Work Week in Tasmania which launched the full commencement of Australia’s new Fair Work system. As a former ASU Industrial Officer and Trainer, we asked Catryna to share some of her thoughts with ASU members in relation to the new industrial relations system.
19 January 2010 [full story]
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Investment in skills and infrastructure crucial to boost Australian productivity
Major investment in skills, training and infrastructure will be needed if Australia is to respond to the challenge of lifting productivity growth, say unions.
19 January 2010 [full story]
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Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA Appeal for Haiti
On Tuesday 12th January, the small Caribbean nation of Haiti was hit by a magnitude 7 earthquake. The capital of Port-au-Prince, a city of 3 million people, lies in ruins.
19 January 2010 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - 7 January 2010
This edition contains the following items: New protections and minimum standards for all Australian workers from 1 January 2010; National Employment Standards; Modern Awards; Agreement Making and Collective Bargaining; Individual Flexibility Arrangements; Representation at work and in bargaining; New General Workplace Rights; and Unfair Dismissal.
15 January 2010 [full story]
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Welcome news on jobs, but underlying problems mean stimulus must continue
A drop in Australia’s unemployment rate for the third month in a row is encouraging and may indicate that the peak has passed, but December’s over-reliance on part-time jobs growth may also be masking underlying problems, say unions.
15 January 2010 [full story]
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Growing number of employers are recognising workers’ rights under new IR system
Rio Tinto’s decision to negotiate a new collective agreement for train drivers in the Pilbara iron ore region is a welcome sign that the Rudd Government’s Fair Work laws are working, say unions. The decision is a shift from more than a decade of obstinate and aggressive tactics by Rio Tinto to prevent its employees from having the right to be represented by a union in wage negotiations.
13 January 2010 [full story]
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ASU says: Back to the bargaining table at Toll Dnata Ramp & Cargo
The vote for the Toll Dnata Airport Service Pty Ltd Employee Ramp and Cargo Enterprise Agreement 2009–2011 was a clear NO. Toll Dnata employees across the country voted to say the agreement is not yet good enough and there are issues that must be resolved for the agreement to be accepted.
08 January 2010 [full story]
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Tougher action is still needed to rein in executive salaries and bonuses
Australia enters a new decade at risk of repeating the mistakes of the past few years unless tighter restrictions are imposed on executive pay packets, say unions.
04 January 2010 [full story]
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Aviation White Paper delivers policy wins but still more work to be done
The Rudd Government's Aviation White Paper released on Wednesday 18th December marked the end of a 2 year process of policy development within which the ASU made extensive submissions and contributions through many rounds of consultation as well as lobbying of and discussions with Government ministers.
04 January 2010 [full story]
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New protections and minimum standards will be better for all Australian workers
New minimum employment standards that come into effect on New Year’s Day will be good for all Australian workers and represent a major step forward from WorkChoices.
01 January 2010 [full story]
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The devil is in the detail when you bargain at Mission
Mid points and market rates….what does it all mean? Average 6 percent wage rise, for who? Who determines who is the average and can we see the figures?
21 December 2009 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from November-December 2009
The ASU National Office sends its best wishes to everyone, especially our members, at this festive time of the year. It's a time to enjoy our families and friends and to spare a thought for those less fortunate, especially in the current economic climate. May we all return safely to work after the holidays.
18 December 2009 [full story]
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A new modern award for the employment services sector
A new modern award for the employment sector, known as the Labour Market Assistance Industry Award 2010, was finalised in early December and will replace the existing CETSS award on 1 January 2010. If you are an employee in the employment services sector and believe that you are going to be adversely affected by the implementation of the new modern award it is important to speak to your union so that we can ensure that the transitional arrangements are being followed correctly by your employer.
16 December 2009 [full story]
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Winning together at Mission: ‘Incentives’ gone!
Down to Earth – ‘incentives’ out of the Agreement . The ASU is happy to inform our members that Mission Australia has come to the sensible decision of removing their proposed ‘incentive scheme’ from your legal pay and conditions. It has been union members’ position all along that the scheme needed to be either ALL IN or ALL OUT. Mission Australia has decided to take all reference to it out rather than negotiate a fair and agreed system that was all in.
16 December 2009 [full story]
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Virgin Blue are listening?
Virgin Blue told us the results of their survey but will they change their minds on back pay?
16 December 2009 [full story]
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Taking the pain out of stress claims
The cost of workplace stress is estimated at more than $14 billion annually, and affects thousands of Australian workers each year. To help rehabilitate those workers who suffer from a stress injury, the ASU has developed a Best Practice Return to Work kit to them through the return-to-work phase.
16 December 2009 [full story]
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The Smith Family Agreement – your VOTE your say
The Smith Family (TSF) Social Enterprise Agreement has been re-negotiated and is now subject to a ballot of staff. TSF management’s offer is for a one year agreement. The ASU negotiating team has negotiated the best outcome possible under the circumstances to enable TSF staff the opportunity to vote on the proposal before Christmas, but it is time for you to decide.
16 December 2009 [full story]
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Employment Services: not just a job
This update covers the employment services survey, the Industry Reference Group on Employment Purchasing, and requests for workplace meetings.
15 December 2009 [full story]
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Ansett Employee Update Number 58
The latest Employee Update from the Ansett Administrators is now available on this website. It refers to the payment of the twelfth dividend and sale of assets, as well as unclaimed superannuation.
11 December 2009 [full story]
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Increase in workplace deaths means health and safety laws need to be strengthened: new data
A sharp rise in work-related fatalities last year shows that proposed new workplace health and safety laws need to be strengthened, not watered down, say unions.
11 December 2009 [full story]
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Dec 10 is Human Rights Day: working for an end to discrimination
“Discrimination lies at the root of many of the world's most pressing human rights problems. No country is immune from this scourge. Eliminating discrimination is a duty of the highest order.” So said Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Human Rights Day 2009 on 10 December focuses on ending the scourge of discrimination.
09 December 2009 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
With a blockbuster movie season around the corner for Christmas that's sure to entertain the whole family, we have the perfect solution to take advantage of the holidays. With movies like Avatar, New Moon, Where the Wild Things Are, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs and many more playing - why not snap up some movie tickets and treat the whole family? We have children's tickets for Hoyts and Village cinemas available from the low price of $8.50 and adult tickets available from $10.50 - saving you up to 30% off the regular price. Movie vouchers also make a great Christmas present.
09 December 2009 [full story]
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ASX announcement a major turning point for women
Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick said that the announcement made by the ASX Corporate Governance Council this afternoon, requiring companies to set measurable objectives for the achievement of gender diversity, was an historic development.
08 December 2009 [full story]
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IR zealots Abbott and Abetz plan to bring back WorkChoices, remove No Disadvantage Test
Liberal Leader Tony Abbott’s failure to rule out scrapping the No Disadvantage Test is a warning to working Australians that their pay and conditions will be at risk under a Coalition Government, say unions.
08 December 2009 [full story]
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Vic SACS: Daniel Andrews - we need to talk!
ASU members working in various Community Health Centres around Victoria are about to kick off industrial action as part of their campaign to improve their wages and conditions.
07 December 2009 [full story]
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New Liberal plan to scrap job protections will hurt young and vulnerable workers
Liberal leader Tony Abbott’s promise to exempt small business from unfair dismissal laws will expose millions of Australian workers to no job security, say unions.
04 December 2009 [full story]
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Mission backs down!
What happened? Mission Australia made a unilateral decision to change your agreement negotiations on December 10 and 11 from a face to face meeting to a teleconference. We wrote to Mission and said this was not acceptable and that you need every opportunity to be fully represented – Mission Australia has capitulated and agreed to meet face to face at the negotiations.
04 December 2009 [full story]
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Making it Fair - report on pay equity
Sharryn Jackson MP, Member for Hasluck and House of Representatives Standing Committee on Workplace Relations Committee Chair released the Committee’s Report - Pay equity and associated issues related to increasing female participation in the workforce. The Report is comprehensive and makes recommendations that, if adopted, will restore the importance of the industrial system to advancing pay equity.
04 December 2009 [full story]
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Are you getting what you bargained for at Mission Australia?
On December 10 your Union representatives are set to meet with your employer about YOUR pay and conditions. What is won in this process is won for ALL. What is lost in this process is lost for all. We want you to get what you bargain for!
03 December 2009 [full story]
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Canon - what are we waiting for?
ASU Delegates and Bargaining Reps continued negotiations with Canon via teleconference on the 27 November 2009.
02 December 2009 [full story]
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BoysTown goes through the $ details
Negotiations continued on the deep detail of the BoysTown proposed wages structure.
02 December 2009 [full story]
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ASU National Office audited accounts, financial statements and operating report
The Workplace Relations Act (now known as the Fair Work Act) requires that the financial affairs of unions are checked and audited every 12 months to make sure union funds are administered properly and to detect any shortcomings. Unions are also required to prepare an operating report. The National Executive and the Branches of the ASU each conduct their own audit and prepare their own reports.
01 December 2009 [full story]
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State referrals Bill must be passed - Joint statement from ACTU, ACCI and NFF
Australia’s peak worker and business organisations have today made a united call on the Senate to pass legislation allowing the creation of a single industrial relations system for the private sector in most Australian States.
27 November 2009 [full story]
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Casualisation concerns
Casual employees working regular hours should have the opportunity to convert to permanent status after six months, Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon said, as a major study revealed a disturbing rate of casualisation during the economic downturn.
27 November 2009 [full story]
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New report confirms GFC has worsened job fears; greater rights are needed for casual workers
The Global Financial Crisis has worsened fears about job security and caused a widening chasm between Australians who are underemployed and those who are working excessive hours, say unions.
26 November 2009 [full story]
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ASU's Linda White re-elected as ACTU VP
This week the ACTU Executive re-elected the ASU's Assistant National Secretary Linda White as a Vice President.
25 November 2009 [full story]
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Pay equity report welcomed but there must be no delay in bringing it to life
Unions have today urged the Federal Government to move quickly to bring to life major recommendations from a Parliamentary inquiry into pay equity. The ACTU has welcomed the report from the Employment and Workplace Relations committee for major reforms to close the average 17% gap between men and women’s pay.
25 November 2009 [full story]
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Reminder: Go Home On Time Today!
We hope you're gearing up to go home on time today, if you haven't already. We hope you're able to postpone all last minute tasks/meetings/emails/calls and enjoy the free time, whatever you choose to do.
25 November 2009 [full story]
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Time to swear and wear a white ribbon to achieve social change
The ASU is a long time supporter of the White Ribbon Day campaign, which aims to eliminate violence against women by promoting culture change. On November 25 we encourage our members and friends to be part of this day by wearing a white ribbon or participating in events or simply talking with each other about how important the issue is in our society.
24 November 2009 [full story]
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Employment services survey deadline extended to November 30
As part of "Employment Services - not just a job" project we have been conducting a national survey of employment services workers. Time is running out to let the Government know how you feel about working in the sector and to win an iPod Nano into the bargain!
20 November 2009 [full story]
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On the line and on the edge: Call centre report shows stress levels off the dial
The Australian Services Union (ASU) is today launching a national research report into Australian call centres. The research, which reports on the often unseen world of the call centre worker, reveals a fast growing industry which now employs nearly one in forty working Australians.
19 November 2009 [full story]
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Turn the nation’s unpaid overtime into jobs for casuals
The 2.14 billion hours of unpaid overtime Australians work each year should be turned into fulltime employment for casual workers, says one of Australia’s largest unions the Australian Services Union.
18 November 2009 [full story]
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Better security measures needed to combat serious and organised crime in aviation: ASU lodges submission to federal inquiry
The ASU has lodged a submission with the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commissions’ inquiry into the adequacy of aviation and maritime security measures to combat serious and organised crime.
18 November 2009 [full story]
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ASU wins exemption rate removal from modern Clerks Award
After a campaign of 11 months duration, the ASU has succeeded in having the exemption rate removed from the modern Clerks Award due to come into operation from the 1 January 2010.
17 November 2009 [full story]
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Update on bargaining at BoysTown
Negotiations continued at BoysTown on 16th November, 2009. A number of issues were discussed in detail. Below is a brief snapshot on the progress. If you require more information, contact your ASU Delegate or Organiser.
17 November 2009 [full story]
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Canon says NO to choice!
ASU Delegates and Officials have told Canon in very plain terms that the majority of Technicians want to have choice in the event of a transmission of business.
17 November 2009 [full story]
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Bad Karma for QF’s Airport Plans
Call it poetic justice, Karma or a taste of things to come, or maybe it was divine intervention, that on the first day ASU Representatives met with Qantas over the Airports of the Future Plans, the Qantas automatic check-in system decided to breakdown worldwide!
17 November 2009 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
Need to find a way to beat the heat this month? Then why not beat the heat at the cinemas with discount movie tickets for the family. We have children's tickets for Hoyts and Village cinemas available from the low price of $8.50 and adult tickets available from $10.50 - saving you up to 30% off the regular price.
13 November 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - 11 November 2009
This edition contains the following items: Queensland - Not For Sale; ASU meets Chris Bowen; ASU superannuation campaign materials; ASU meets Minister Penny Wong; ALP National Policy on Climate Change; $96 million water reclamation plant; Thai railway unionists dismissed; plus more.
13 November 2009 [full story]
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Down to business at the BoysTown bargaining table
Negotiations got under way in the second round of bargaining at BoysTown. The first meeting saw your claims presented and explanations given on the detail of the claims. The second meeting has seen the ASU and management start to work through the claims and seek to find agreement.
13 November 2009 [full story]
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Virgin Blue Ground Crew negotiations drag on
The ASU continued to pursue real wages and conditions for employees at Virgin Blue this week.
13 November 2009 [full story]
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Queensland - Not For Sale
The Bligh Government plans to privatise railways, ports, roads and forestry reserves in Queensland. The privatisation of State Government assets will be strongly opposed by Australian Services Union (ASU) members. Privatisation could affect up to 12,000 workers in Queensland Rail, and workers in ports, motorways and forestry.
13 November 2009 [full story]
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It’s announcement by press release again at Qantas
If anyone thought things had changed at Qantas since Geoff Dixon’s departure, then they would be wrong. Yesterday in true Dixonesque style, CEO Alan Joyce decided to announce a major change that is proposed at Qantas airports not to the customers, not to the staff, but to the Aviation Press Club.
12 November 2009 [full story]
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Urgent Alert: Federal Government acts on ASU Airline Award Modernisation concerns
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has written today to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) to ask them to reconsider the terms of both the modern “Airline Operations – Ground Staff – Award 2010” and “Aircraft Cabin Crew Award 2010”.
12 November 2009 [full story]
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Executive pay outrage as company CEOs pocket millions while slashing jobs
New data showing the average CEO earned more than $2 million last year at the same time as thousands of Australians lost their jobs is an outrage, say unions.
11 November 2009 [full story]
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Time is running out to prevent watering down of workplace safety protections
In a new submission to governments, unions say time is running out to prevent a weakening of workplace health and safety protections.
10 November 2009 [full story]
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Call centre action month 2009: thousands of workers stand up for their rights globally
Thousands of workers from 20 unions in 20 countries on 6 continents made Call Centre Action Month a great success.
10 November 2009 [full story]
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SACS workers red hot
Today, almost 4,000 social and community services workers from across Victoria came together and rallied on the steps of Parliament, calling on the Brumby Government to fund the sector properly!
10 November 2009 [full story]
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Nov 10 SACS rallies and forums in Melbourne and Adelaide
Tuesday 10 November is an important meeting day for social and community services workers in Melbourne and Adelaide. All the meetings relate to our ongoing campaign to achieve fair wages and conditions for SACS sector workers. It is important for the success of the campaign that as many people as possible participate. So don’t just be there in spirit!
08 November 2009 [full story]
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ASU members endorse AaE EBAs
At meetings across the country in the last few weeks ASU members have endorsed the National negotiating team’s recommendation on the settlement of the ASU On Airport and Off Airport EBAs at Australian Air Express. This means that the Agreements will now go to formal vote to comply with the requirements of the workplace relations laws.
06 November 2009 [full story]
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Union lays foundations for fairer work: Union and Federal Government reach historic agreement
The Australian Services Union (ASU) and the Australian Government have reached an historic agreement which will see the social and community services sector as the test case for pay equity in the new Federal Industrial Relations system.
04 November 2009 [full story]
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UNiTAB Call Centre – in the full glare of publicity
Workers at UNiTAB today will not only be helping punters with their betting requirements on the biggest race day of the year, but will also be using today to highlight some of the ongoing challenges faced by call centre workers in Australia.
03 November 2009 [full story]
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Negotiations continue at Virgin Blue
The ASU and TWU officials and Delegates are working to finalise an agreement for you which will deliver clear benefits and protections for the life of the agreement.
02 November 2009 [full story]
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Black and White Cabs now have a collective agreement
The Australian Services Union recently concluded negotiations for a Collective Agreement with Black and White Cabs. This Agreement is a first, and as such, a break through for Taxi Industry Call Centres in Queensland. It is the result of many months of hard work by ASU Delegates on behalf of members.
30 October 2009 [full story]
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Clearing the air at BoysTown
As a result of negotiations between the ASU and BoysTown management, anyone currently employed under an Individual Transitional Employment Agreement (ITEA) or an AWA will now have the right to terminate their ITEA or AWA and be employed under the BoysTown Collective Agreement.
29 October 2009 [full story]
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Women workers are losing out: new global report on gender gap is a wake up call for Australian employers
Australian employers must do more to encourage women’s participation in the workforce and close the gender pay gap, following a major international report showing Australia is slipping further down world rankings on some critical indicators, say unions.
29 October 2009 [full story]
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Singapore Airlines & Cargo: How is your shorter working month?
The next Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting for Singapore Airlines and Cargo is due in December.
27 October 2009 [full story]
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All Aussie men should swear – and wear a white ribbon
The ASU is a long time supporter of the White Ribbon Day campaign, which aims to eliminate violence against women by promoting culture change. As part of the 2009 awareness raising, Australian men are being asked to swear online in support of the campaign.
23 October 2009 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - September 2009
The current edition includes the following items: Energy unions Twitter; Indonesia - PLN Union rejects new electricity law; Global Reporting Initiative (GRI); World Day for Decent Work; Australia steps closer to a new energy era; Power-Gen Asia; Labour Market Regulation in Europe - Flexicurity, Integration & Responses to the Crisis; Europe's nuclear power revival is a myth; Our World Is Not For Sale network (OWINFS); plus much more.
22 October 2009 [full story]
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Transmission of Business - it’s a matter of choice!
Choice in the event of Transmission of Business at Canon is the number one issue on the bargaining table.
22 October 2009 [full story]
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Your claims presented to BoysTown
Your claims have now been presented to BoysTown management in order to get down to the business end of negotiations.
21 October 2009 [full story]
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Women’s job security, pay and conditions likely to worsen because of GFC
A new push is needed to achieve gender equality in the workforce with evidence that on most measures, Australian women have gone backwards over the past decade, says the ACTU.
20 October 2009 [full story]
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Negotiations underway at Mission Australia Employment Solutions
Negotiations have got underway for your first collective agreement at Mission Australia Employment Solutions (MAES).
16 October 2009 [full story]
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Help review equal opportunity for women – do the survey
The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 (the EOWW Act) is currently being reviewed by the Office for Women on behalf of the Australian Government. The ASU encourages members and friends, both men and women, to complete the survey to assist the review and to ensure your views are taken into account.
15 October 2009 [full story]
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Canon says it’s their ‘final offer’
We say they can do better! Canon have put to the ASU what they consider to be their ‘final offer’. The offer does not include any changes to your claim for choice in the event of a Transmission of Business.
15 October 2009 [full story]
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Action is needed to prevent underemployment becoming more entrenched in the workforce
A chronic problem of underemployment in the Australian economy is putting greater pressure on household incomes and pushing more families towards the poverty line, say unions.
15 October 2009 [full story]
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What do you get paid for working weekends at Malaysia Airlines?
ASU members around the country have been reporting strange deductions occurring to weekend penalty rates.
13 October 2009 [full story]
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Stand up and take action to MAKE POVERTY HISTORY on 16-18 October
As a member of the MAKE-POVERTY-HISTORY (MPH) coalition, the ASU is encouraging members and friends to either host a Stand Up event sometime during 16-18 October, or attend one of the public events being put on by MPH. These are not just symbolic actions - they tell our politicians that their constituents want them to deal with poverty seriously. The more people get involved, the more the politicians listen, so don't think your action in standing up won't matter. It will!
12 October 2009 [full story]
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Employment Services: not just a job – launch of industry survey and resources
Employment Services: not just a job is an Employment Service Worker Reconnection project which is undertaken by the ASU with funding from the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). This project will investigate issues relating to the migration of workers from Job Network providers to Job Services Australia (JSA) providers and the attraction and retention of a skilled workforce for JSA. The ASU is calling this project Employment Services: not just a job.
12 October 2009 [full story]
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It’s finally time at BoysTown
After many attempts to commence bargaining over the last three years, we have finally got underway. Tuesday 6th October 2009 saw the ASU, appointed Bargaining Representatives and BoysTown management come to the bargaining table at Milton.
07 October 2009 [full story]
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October 7 World Day for Decent Work – Get the World to Work
The International Trade Union Confederation has issued a call to action headed “Get the World to Work” to encourage participation in the worldwide mobilisation to tackle the global economic and employment crisis and ensure fundamental reform of the world economy. Trade unions in every region are gearing up for activities on World Day for Decent Work (7 October).
07 October 2009 [full story]
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Do the Qantas Board Members deserve re-election?
Do the Qantas Board Members deserve re-election? That is one of the questions that will be considered by shareholders at the upcoming Qantas Annual General Meeting to be held on Wednesday 21st October 2009 at 11:00am at the River View Room, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
06 October 2009 [full story]
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Progress…. almost at Canon
The ASU met with Canon management in an attempt to further negotiate a new agreement for Technical Consultants. The meetings occurred on Thursday 30 September and Friday 1 October at North Ryde.
06 October 2009 [full story]
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ASU negotiates first collective agreement for Mission Australia Employment Solutions
Your Union has just had the first two days of negotiation meetings for your agreement.
05 October 2009 [full story]
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ASU joins Global Call Centre Action Month campaign
During October 2009 global union organisation UNI Global Union is coordinating an action month for customer service/call centre workers.
01 October 2009 [full story]
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Working Australians demand tough action on executive salaries and bonuses
Today’s report by the Productivity Commission from its inquiry into executive remuneration must send a strong message to corporate Australia that excessive salaries that encourage risk-taking will no longer be tolerated, say unions.
30 September 2009 [full story]
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Negotiations resume at AaE
The AaE National Negotiating Team met with the company on 22nd September 2009 in Melbourne for further discussions about the new AaE / ASU On Airport and Off Airport Enterprise Agreements.
28 September 2009 [full story]
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Negotiations begin for first Toll Dnata Passenger Services EBA
On Friday 25th September 2009 the first negotiation meeting was held in Sydney for the inaugural Toll Dnata Passenger Services Enterprise Agreement. After a survey of staff and endorsement of our claims, the ASU team was keen to get going and discuss our issues.
28 September 2009 [full story]
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Back to the negotiating table at Virgin Blue
The ASU has met with Virgin Blue management in an effort to get negotiations back on track following the comprehensive no vote on the EBA put to you by management.
24 September 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - 21 September 2009
This edition contains the following items: Workplace victims groups join with unions in call for stronger health and safety laws; Government invests $970 m in high quality early childhood education; World Economic Forum hears warning on growth; Market rates for 457s; plus more.
24 September 2009 [full story]
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It’s time to fix our modern Airlines Awards
Members and officials from the Australian Services Union (ASU) and Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia, Domestic / Regional Division (FAAA) hit the ground running in Parliament House in Canberra last week to talk to politicians about the consequences for our members of the modernisation of the Airline Operations Ground Staff Award and the Aircraft Cabin Crew Award.
23 September 2009 [full story]
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Big CEO and director payouts are greedy & hypocritical as workers suffer pay cuts
Greedy, hypocritical and unjustified is the only way to describe the $11m termination pay for outgoing Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon and the $4m paid to outgoing Boral CEO Rod Pearse says ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence.
22 September 2009 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
We have a WINNER of a free family pass for the movies this month. The winner of the family movie pass this quarter is Kathleen B from the Victoria. Congratulations Kathleen, you'll be going the movies with another adult and 2 children on us. Don’t forget: All Hoyts and Village children's movie tickets purchased between September 1st, 2009 and November 30th, 2009 will go into the draw to win a family movie pass. The winner will be announced in our December newsletter.
18 September 2009 [full story]
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Workplace safety will be put at risk if business gets its way on OHS changes
Big business is backing changes to national workplace health and safety laws that would put workers at risk of injury or illness because it wants to cut costs and red tape, say unions.
14 September 2009 [full story]
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Jailed trade unionist needs urgent medical treatment
The ASU is a supporter of trade union rights around the world. We have particularly supported Mansour Osanloo and endorse LabourStart's call to action.
10 September 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - 7 September 2009
This edition contains the following items: Learning from the European VET system; AIRC published the ‘final’ versions of the Stage 3 modern awards; Green Skills NSW Course Finder; Changes to education and training ministerial councils (COAG); Water Industry Employers meet with ASU; plus more.
09 September 2009 [full story]
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Modern Airlines Award cannot be allowed to stand
On 4th September 2009 the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) handed down a decision which significantly cut rates and conditions in existing airlines Awards. Remarkably the AIRC changed not one word of its draft Award which was first issued back in May 2009.
08 September 2009 [full story]
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The Smith Family bargaining update
ASU members would be aware that a survey of TSF staff was conducted in recent months to establish key issues for enterprise bargaining. From your feedback in the surveys, the ASU has put together a draft ‘log of claims’. We are asking that all union members at TSF participate in an online ballot to vote on the issues in the claim.
02 September 2009 [full story]
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Australians want workplace safety rights protected under new OHS laws - new poll
A new national poll has revealed nearly eight out of ten Australians (78%) believe employers should do more to protect the health and safety of their workers, even if it means more costs or red tape for their business. Workers turned out in force at OHS rallies across the country this week in support of better OHS laws.
02 September 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - 26 August 2009
This edition contains the following items: ASU launches human rights petition to outlaw the death penalty; Unions and environmental organisations; Minister slams state barriers; Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreement; CRC for Rail Innovation Safety Research; California Public Workers Under Attack; plus more.
31 August 2009 [full story]
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New alliance seeks action on gender pay gap: women workers still being short-changed
A woman starting work today will retire having earned $1 million less than a man doing the same job unless decisive employer and government and is taken to end the scandal of pay inequality, say unions. Launching an alliance of 135 organisations to mark Equal Pay Day (September 1) ACTU President Sharan Burrow said: “It is unacceptable that working women are still being short-changed in their pay packets.
31 August 2009 [full story]
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Workers call for stronger health & safety laws with national meetings and rallies
Thousands of workers and families of people who have died or been injured at work will call on state, federal and territory governments today to bring in stronger workplace health and safety protections at a series of nation wide events on Tuesday 1 September.
31 August 2009 [full story]
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Gold Coast City Council: Union EBA report back – STOP WORK
Union members across Gold Coast City Council stoped work for 24 hours Tuesday 25 August 2009 in an effort to progress their EBA campaign for employment security and a fair and decent wage increase that matches industry standards. Members should today be very proud of their efforts to come together collectively to show Council that we are serious about our campaign. Future Stop Works are planned for 2 and 9 September.
26 August 2009 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from June-July 2009
On 1 July 2009, the long awaited Fair Work Act was delivered. Amidst the trumpeting heralds, the ticker tape and all manner of other fanfare, the ASU remains cautiously optimistic of what this new era will bring for our members and workers in general.
26 August 2009 [full story]
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Redundancy claim is legal, say lawyers
At the last meeting with Canon the company alleged that the ASU Claim on redundancy was not legal under the Fair Work Act. The ASU and NCC have now obtained legal advice from specialist industrial lawyers Slater and Gordon.
24 August 2009 [full story]
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Australian women are underemployed and underpaid, warns major new report
High levels of underemployment and chronic low pay for Australian women are set to worsen as a result of the global recession warns a major new report to be released today (Monday).
24 August 2009 [full story]
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Gold Coast Council workers to stop work on Tuesday
Monday’s council meeting is the last chance to avert a stoppage. Thousands of Gold Coast City Council workers will stop work for 24 hours on Tuesday, 25 August, unless the council improves its pay offer and provides ongoing job security provisions by Monday, the Australian Services Union – Queensland Services branch (QSU) said today.
21 August 2009 [full story]
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Penalties for ex-Hardie directors are not enough
The penalties and bans handed down to former James Hardie executives and directors today are not enough considering the extent of their immoral and illegal behavior and the harm the company’s deadly asbestos products have caused, say unions.
20 August 2009 [full story]
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Australian business needs to do more for women
Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, said the Survey into Paid Maternity Leave, Sex-Based Harassment Initiatives and the Gender Pay Gap, released today by the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA), drives home again the need for stronger efforts to deliver gender equality in the workplace.
20 August 2009 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
The ASUshop is delighted to announce a special competition for all ASU members wishing to help brand their workplace and show their support for union solidarity. For the remainder of August, all orders for any ASU merchandise or clothing listed below will go into a draw to WIN A MOVIE PASS FOR 2 ADULTS. That's right, simply order any of the items from our latest bulletin and you will have a chance to go to the movies on us.
20 August 2009 [full story]
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Poor safety record adds to case for stronger protections of workers
Australia is falling well short of national targets to reduce workplace deaths and injuries and proposed new national Occupational Health and Safety laws could put Australian workers further at risk, say unions. With an estimated 7000 Australians dying each year as a result of injuries or diseases from work, it is essential the proposed new OHS laws do not undermine standards and put more Australian workers and their families at risk.
19 August 2009 [full story]
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ASU rule change
The National Executive of the Union at its meeting held on 28-29 July 2009 approved alterations to the rules of the Central & Southern Queensland Clerical and Administrative Branch of the Union.
18 August 2009 [full story]
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Back to the table at Canon
This week (11th and 12th August) your ASU delegates and NCC representatives, with ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White, met with Canon management to recommence negotiations of the Technical Consultants Agreement after the company’s draft was overwhelmingly rejected by technical consultants. Tabled at the meeting were the petitions signed by you and your colleagues across the country, outlining what techs want in their new agreement.
14 August 2009 [full story]
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Virgin Blue collective bargaining report back
ASU members are advised that the ASU has now attended several meetings alongside the TWU with your employer. Members may recall that the ASU has previously been excluded from Collective Bargaining with Virgin Blue, although we have continued to successfully act on behalf of members over many individual issues over the years.
14 August 2009 [full story]
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Geelong "steak sandwich" workers reinstated
ASU members Mick Van Beek and Peter Anderson have both been reinstated to their positions at Drysdale Depot in a hugely successful result for both workers.
13 August 2009 [full story]
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UN International Youth Day – 12th August 2009
One billion young people will reach working age within the next decade. Providing them with the opportunity to secure productive employment and decent work is a societal, national and global challenge.
12 August 2009 [full story]
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ASU members to strike in support of 'steak sandwich' workers
ASU members in the City of Greater Geelong's blue-collar sector, including those working in parks and gardens, roads, networks and tip facilities, have gone on strike from normal starting time today in support of 'steak sandwich' workers Peter Anderson and Mick Van Beek.
11 August 2009 [full story]
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“Dinosaurs” urged to evolve and support clean energy jobs
Welfare, union, environment, and research organisations today launched a national multi-media campaign calling on “dinosaurs” in politics and business to stop blocking urgent climate action in Australia, saying this is holding up the creation of hundreds of thousands of new clean energy jobs.
09 August 2009 [full story]
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ASU launches human rights petition to outlaw the death penalty
The ASU has today launched a petition calling for the national outlawing of capital punishment to protect Australians both here and abroad from the death penalty.
07 August 2009 [full story]
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Latest decision by City of Greater Geelong towards staff sacked over steak sandwich ‘absurd’
Australian Services Union Branch Secretary Brian Parkinson has labelled the decision by the City of Greater Geelong to reinstate only one of the two sacked workers after the steak sandwich debacle as ‘absurd’.
06 August 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - 4 August 2009
This edition contains the following items: Senate Inquiry into Child Care; ASU calls on local councils to provide free access to water facilities; Carbon Capture & Storage Fund; Contemporary Union strategies in Australia and beyond - Where is this world’s Trade Union headed? IMF austerity chills crisis countries; plus more.
06 August 2009 [full story]
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Linda White, Julie Bignell and Jenny Thomas elected to ALP National Executive
ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White has been re-elected for a third term to the ALP National Executive, having been first elected in 2004.
03 August 2009 [full story]
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Malaysia Airlines staff say YES to a new varied agreement
The Malaysia Airlines Certified Agreement has been accepted by the staff as their new agreement for the next three years.
31 July 2009 [full story]
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New laws bring an end to WorkChoices - what does this mean at Mission Australia?
The Fair Work Act has now replaced the legislation we all know as 'WorkChoices'. The Fair Work Act brings a number of changes to the way we bargain for workplace agreements. What does this mean for employees at Mission Australia Employment Solutions?
31 July 2009 [full story]
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Sacked Geelong Council workers are the meat in the sandwich
Australian Services Union Victorian Branch Assistant Secretary Igor Grattan has announced that the Union will do whatever it takes to get unfairly sacked members Mick Van Beek and Peter Anderson their jobs back at the City of Greater Geelong’s Drysdale depot.
29 July 2009 [full story]
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Rangers reveal abuse and assault on the rise in NSW
A new report released yesterday by the United Services Union has revealed 46 per cent of council rangers across NSW have been subjected to some form of physical abuse.
29 July 2009 [full story]
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New laws bring an end to WorkChoices - what does this mean at Canon?
The Fair Work Act has now replaced the legislation we all know as ‘WorkChoices’. There is a transition period for some parts of the new Act which will come into effect in it’s entirety in January 2010. What does this mean for bargaining at Canon?
29 July 2009 [full story]
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ASU wins decision against QTAC in good faith bargaining obligations
The Australian Services Union yesterday successfully applied to Fair Work Australia to have bargaining orders issued against Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre Ltd.
29 July 2009 [full story]
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Unions push for action on job security, support for families and better workplace rights
Securing jobs, supporting families, protecting workplace rights and sustaining economic growth are at the heart of a new action plan for working Australians launched today by the ACTU.
28 July 2009 [full story]
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AaE – is there anybody out there?
As ASU members know your ASU negotiating team has met with AaE on 27th April and 18th May 2009 about the negotiation of our next EBAs at AaE to replace our agreements that expired on 16th February 2009.
27 July 2009 [full story]
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Jose Ramos-Horta to speak in support of Western Sahara self-determination
The President of Timor Leste and co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, Jose Ramos-Horta will headline a discussion on the status of “Africa's last colony”, Western Sahara, in Melbourne on Thursday, July 23.
22 July 2009 [full story]
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Voting begins at Malaysia Airlines
Voting is set to commence for the Malaysia Airlines Certified Agreement 2009. Your final agreement has been emailed to you along with explanatory notes on how the ballot is to take place. For staff with no email access, hard copies of the agreement and information have been provided.
22 July 2009 [full story]
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Nowra call centre ripping off employees
It’s a case of not-so-well-done at the Well Done Call Centre in South Nowra after it was revealed the centre’s 38 employees are being systemically underpaid, harassed and bullied by management.
21 July 2009 [full story]
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It’s finally happening - one step closer to consistent rates!
Last week ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White met with Gary Taylor, General Manager of Toll Dnata to begin discussions about a new agreement to cover all staff. The company has agreed that it is time to start discussions and they have indicated they are keen to start the process with ASU representatives. After months of talks amongst staff and union members it is now time to put our talk into action with an agreement.
20 July 2009 [full story]
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Job Summit warns recovery is a long way off: unions urge action to protect workers’ entitlements
With forecasts of 5,000 workers to lose their jobs each week over the next 12 months, unions are calling for urgent action to protect workers’ entitlements and more support for working families to survive the economic downturn.
20 July 2009 [full story]
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Qantas EBA 8 wages and allowances set to increase
ASU Qantas EBA 8 provides for a pay rise from the first pay period on or after 1 July 2009 and also provides for a range of allowances to be adjusted for CPI (i.e. cost of living) or in line with the wage rise.
15 July 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - 13 July 2009
This edition contains the following items: Queensland Not For Sale; NSW Govt rejects applications for rate variations; Spread of Influenza A H1N1; Climate Change Action; Toronto public sector workers on strike; Investing in in Tasmania’s rail infrastructure; $220 million Boost to Community Infrastructure Program; plus more.
14 July 2009 [full story]
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ASU calls on local councils to provide free access to water facilities
The ASU has called for local councils throughout Australia to provide greater public access to free water facilities to encourage less dependence on water sold in plastic disposable bottles.
14 July 2009 [full story]
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Gender pay gap set to widen following freeze on wages for the low-paid
The gap between men’s and women’s pay will widen following last week’s decision to freeze the minimum wage, say unions. Women are over-represented among the low-paid, and the adverse decision by the Australian Fair Pay Commission will worsen inequality, said ACTU President Sharan Burrow.
13 July 2009 [full story]
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Technical Consultants say a definite NO at Canon
A resounding no vote was registered after 97% of Technical Consultants voted in the Canon Australia Pty Ltd Technical Consultants Collective Agreement 2009.
08 July 2009 [full story]
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Working Australians to suffer as WorkChoices-era pay commission saves its worst for last
Today’s decision by the soon-to-be-scrapped ‘Fair Pay Commission’ to freeze the Federal minimum wage and all other award wage rates is another kick in the teeth for working Australians from the Liberals’ WorkChoices. ASU National Secretary Paul Slape said, "We are outraged by this decision, especially as it comes at such a time of severe hardship for many workers and even runs diametrically opposite to the Federal Government's stimulus policies."
07 July 2009 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
We have been informed of a small price increase by both Village and Hoyts movie tickets effective as of 1st July 2009.
02 July 2009 [full story]
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Sexual orientation and gender identity: national poll shows support for new anti-discrimination laws
Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Innes, today welcomed the results of a new national poll that found Australians support the introduction of laws that would prohibit discrimination against people on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.
01 July 2009 [full story]
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Time to celebrate new IR laws - stronger rights and protections for Australian workers
New industrial relations laws, which begin today, represent an historic step forward for the rights of working Australians and their families. The new laws mark a turning point and will provide workers with a raft of stronger rights and protections in the current economic downturn, and in better times ahead, says the ACTU.
01 July 2009 [full story]
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What you need to consider before you vote tomorrow at Canon
You need to consider the following issues very carefully before you cast your vote on your collective agreement which will cover your employment for the next 3 years.
01 July 2009 [full story]
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Employment Services news - new category
We have created a new category for "SACS: Employment Services news" which from 1 July 2009 will house all news relating to this sector. Earlier news relating to Employment Services can be located in the general SACS news section.
01 July 2009 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - July 2009
The current edition includes the following items: Publications and papers for the information of PSI Local Government Affiliates; Council of Australian Local Government; Let’s Invest Superannuation in Local Government and Utilities; Public projects tainted by private failure; Asian Pacific PSI Regional Executive; Child Labour Worsening Due to Global Crisis; ILO adopts “Global Jobs Pact” aimed at creating jobs; plus more.
01 July 2009 [full story]
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Let’s invest superannuation in local government
During last week’s Council of Australian Local Government, the ASU called for the Australian Government to work with the superannuation industry to ensure finance is available to local government authorities for infrastructure construction as opposed to the need to use PPPs (Private Public Partnerships).
30 June 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - 29 June 2009
This edition contains the following items: Council of Australian Local Government; Let’s invest superannuation in local government and utilities; First energy companies to make the 15% superannuation levy; New Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government; End child labour; Workers in NSW are protected by the world’s best workplace safety laws; plus more.
30 June 2009 [full story]
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Additional $245 million for community infrastructure makes Rudd investment over $1 billion
ASU National Secretary Paul Slape today praised the Australian Government’s announcement that it would inject an additional $220 million nation-building investment in community infrastructure such as libraries, community centres, and sports grounds and environmental infrastructure.
26 June 2009 [full story]
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Global Day of Action for Justice for Iranian Workers – Friday 26 June 2009
Trade unions internationally are calling for a global day of action on 26 June to highlight the situation of detained union leaders, political activists and journalists in Iran, to demand their release and to highlight human rights abuses against the people of Iran.
25 June 2009 [full story]
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Service Skills Australia wants to hear from all workers in the service industries
How do workers benefit from training? Service Skills Australia is calling for workers in the service industries to participate in a survey and contribute to the future direction of accredited training in Australia.
24 June 2009 [full story]
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Workers vote YES to a 4% increase at Rex
The Regional Express (Rex) Airline Services Collective Agreement ballot has concluded. The overwhelming majority of employees have voted yes!
24 June 2009 [full story]
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Women in local government
There has been no shortage of activity within the local government sector in the last five years designed to promote the participation of women into executive and elected leadership roles. Yet, the most recent reviews have revealed that even against the backdrop of this activity there has been little improvement.
23 June 2009 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
School Holidays are just around the corner once again and what better way to economise this winter than with discount movie tickets. As usual, we will be giving away a family movie pass every 3 months for all children's tickets purchased via the ASUshop.
22 June 2009 [full story]
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Qantas Unions Bulletin: Urine drug testing “unjust and unreasonable” says umpire
All Qantas employees will be aware of the company’s proposal to introduce urine testing for drugs and alcohol – and your unions’ campaign against it. A recent case by a Full Bench of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) determined that saliva testing is a better and fairer way than urine testing. Since Day 1 of our campaign almost 5 years ago, we urged Qantas to use saliva testing not urine testing. We raised many of your concerns - but the Qantas “experts” were not persuaded by our representations.
19 June 2009 [full story]
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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Workers’ Rights are on the march!
The 2009 ACTU Congress saw the first ever official caucus held for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Congress attendees. The discussions surrounded many of the current issues facing LGBT workers and how their issues would continue to be pursued by unions.
19 June 2009 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from May-June 2009
Award modernisation sounded like a good idea at the time. But, and it is a big but, we know all those awards out there were created for good reason and reflect different circumstances across the country. We were immediately sceptical that the process could be completed without disadvantaging employees. Award modernisation now seems to be a Trojan horse that we let in, in good faith, but now it is pillaging the wages and conditions that we had enshrined in awards over generations. We need to act to stop this happening.
18 June 2009 [full story]
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Report-back on latest negotiations at Canon
Negotiations continued by teleconference on 12th June 2009. The following is a summary of the current position.
18 June 2009 [full story]
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Airlines Modern Award Crash Lands
On 12th June 2009 the ASU filed a submission in the “modern Award” proceedings for the Airlines Operation Ground Staff Award which condemns the cutting of rates and conditions that have been proposed by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) in its first draft Award.
16 June 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - 9 June 2009
This edition contains the following items: Queensland Government moves to privatise public sector assets; ASU Submission Electricity-Energy Industry White Paper 2009; Rail Industry Standards and Safety Board; ACTU Congress; Councils getting on with the job of delivering key stimulus projects; New UN super-agency for women; New Local Government Act means stronger local government: Minister (QLD); Amalgamation a dirty word, says LGAT (TAS); plus more.
12 June 2009 [full story]
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Unions welcome changes to employee share ownership
In a submission to Treasury today, four unions welcomed the Government's proposed changes to employee share ownership schemes (ESOPs).
12 June 2009 [full story]
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Equality before the law is the heart of the matter
Contrary to much of the media coverage of the event, most of our time at ACTU Congress was spent not on the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) or workplace laws but on discussing the broader agenda of unions about jobs and the economic crisis facing Australia.
11 June 2009 [full story]
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International survey of workers' rights violations
2008 was another difficult and often dangerous year for trade unionists around the world, according to this year's ITUC Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights Violations, which details abuses of fundamental workers' rights in 143 countries.
11 June 2009 [full story]
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What are we waiting for at Canon?
Since the last negotiations at the end of May, it has been very quiet at Canon.
09 June 2009 [full story]
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ASU makes submission to Job Services Australia tender inquiry
The ASU has lodged its submission for the Senate Inquiry into the Job Services Australia tender process. Our submission highlights the concerns of our members about the process and focuses on how future processes can be improved and the negative effects experienced during this round can be avoided.
09 June 2009 [full story]
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A fair go for Australian industry by government purchasing will support local jobs
Workers will today rally outside a soon-to-be-closed uniform and clothing factory to call for state and federal governments to use their purchasing power to protect local jobs and safeguard Australian industry.
04 June 2009 [full story]
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Rex Airline Agreement ready for voting
The Regional Express (Rex) Airline Services Collective Agreement negotiations have concluded and all employees will now have a copy ready for voting on.
03 June 2009 [full story]
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Let the games begin at AaE
Your ASU negotiating team at AaE met with the company reps on 18th May 2009 in Melbourne to table our ASU log of claims which had been endorsed by meetings of members across the country.
02 June 2009 [full story]
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Unions to outline agenda for job security, workers’ rights and a fairer Australia at ACTU Congress
Job security, rights at work, and a vision for a more prosperous and equal Australia will be at the top of the agenda when hundreds of delegates meet for the ACTU’s national Congress this week.
02 June 2009 [full story]
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No, No and more Nos – that’s the answer at Canon
Negotiations continued at Canon Australia for a collective agreement for Technical Consultants. The latest meeting was scheduled for two days. As a result of unforeseen circumstances Canon management called the meeting to an end before any negotiation had commenced on the second day.
27 May 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - May 24, 2009
This edition contains the following items: ASU public sector divisions meet; Federal Govt discussion paper on waste minimisation; Water Reforms Queensland; Service Skills Australia wants to hear from Australian workers; Tasmania - ASU continues to press the new water corporations; Australia takes action against torture; plus more.
27 May 2009 [full story]
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Sorry Day still highlights need for ongoing efforts
The power and meaning embodied in this year’s National Sorry Day should motivate us to maintain our national efforts to achieve healing for members of the Stolen Generations and their families and to make headway in developing a national compensation scheme, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said today.
26 May 2009 [full story]
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Employment services engage in disgraceful conduct
In the wake of the announcement of changes to the employment services system, it appears that a number of providers who have lost contracts are trying to avoid their liability to make redundancy payments by forcing displaced staff to sign resignations so they can take up new jobs with other providers.
22 May 2009 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - April 2009
The current edition includes the following items: Asian Development Bank; PSI on ADB Forum; Responses to the Global Crisis - charting a progressive path; Australian Electricity - industry government reform white paper; Influenza A (H1N1) aka swine flu; Employee Free Choice Act; How Canadian citizens benefit from public spending; plus more.
19 May 2009 [full story]
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Pay equity is still an issue because women’s work is not valued
The National Pay Equity Coalition and the Women’s Electoral Lobby have appeared before the House of Representatives Inquiry into Pay Equity and Associated Issues Related to Increasing Female Participation in the Workforce to present their Supplementary Submission. The submission addresses the concerns also raised by the ASU in the award modernisation process and how this process deals with the issues of women, pay equity and the opportunity to raise equal remuneration principles.
19 May 2009 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from April-May 2009
Paid parental leave is not just about mothers and fathers. And it’s not just about working families in all their diversity. It is about every single new Australian baby having access to the kind of care that can make the difference in physical, mental and social health.
15 May 2009 [full story]
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The moves at Canon are all tiny steps!
Negotiations for Technical Consultants at Canon continued on the 12 and 13 May 2009. While agreement has been reached on minor points there remain a number of significant issues outstanding.
14 May 2009 [full story]
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Call Centre Survey winners announced: RACV, Brisbane City Council and Qantas Telesales workers win!
RACV consultant Andrea Platt is going to be busy over the next few weeks learning how to use her new Apple laptop after winning the top prize in the ASU’s national call centre campaign survey. Fellow call centre workers at Brisbane City Council and Qantas Telesales in Hobart claimed the second and third iPod prizes.
13 May 2009 [full story]
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ASU members at Community Connections to take action in the name of good faith bargaining
Members of the ASU working at Community Connections (Vic) Ltd (CCVL) will take industrial action across the Barwon region in the form of a Stop Work meeting on May 15 commencing at 1.00pm. Please support the workers by sending an email to CCVL management asking them to enter into good faith negotiations.
13 May 2009 [full story]
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Federal Government moves to fix problems with modern Clerks Award after ASU campaign
The ASU welcomes the variation to the award modernisation request issued by Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard. The variation singles out the problems with the decisions of the AIRC in relation to the modern Clerks Private Sector Award. If left to continue, the AIRC decisions would have savagely reduced the safety net and take home pay of office workers around the country. The move by Minister Gillard follows a strong campaign by the ASU, which included a survey of members, public submissions and lobbying.
12 May 2009 [full story]
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Loyal Myer worker ruled unfit for job because she could not squat
Grandmother Patricia Pitfield was forced out of her job by retail giant Myer - because she was could not do squats and the ASU NSW United Services Union Branch has taken up her case and shone the light on the plight of our member who has worked for Myer for 30 years and been in her clerical position for 10 years.
12 May 2009 [full story]
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Workers’ lives at risk: new union push for tougher national health and safety laws
Tougher national health and safety laws are urgently needed to tackle the terrible toll of death, disease and injury for Australian workers, say unions. We are asking all OHS supporters to sign the petition calling on all levels of Australian governments to create the strongest OHS laws.
11 May 2009 [full story]
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We did it - paid parental leave is in the 2009 budget!
ASU members have played their part in ensuring the Federal Government includes paid parental leave in the 2009 budget. Whilst the detail is still to be analysed and the start date isn't until 2011, there is much to celebrate.
11 May 2009 [full story]
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Getting down to the detail – bargaining at Canon
ASU Delegates and NCC Reps sat at the bargaining table with Canon management to go through the detail of your claims for a new 2009 agreement (EA). The meeting took place on the 29 and 30 April 2009 in North Ryde.
08 May 2009 [full story]
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Justice at last – pay recognition for Queensland SACS workers
In an historic decision, with significant national implications, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) ruled late yesterday that the work of social and community services workers in Queensland had been undervalued and that wage adjustment to the Queensland Community Services and Crisis Assistance State Award was needed to remedy this situation. As a result this decision provides for wage increases of between 18% and 37% phased in over a three year period starting in July 2009.
07 May 2009 [full story]
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Travel and tourism workers surveyed about training
If you work in the travel and tourism industry, the ASU encourages you to take part in a new survey being run by your industry skills council. They want to find out how you feel about the training you receive so improvements can be made in the future.
07 May 2009 [full story]
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Industry Skills Councils want to hear from local government workers
Service Skills Australia and Government Skills Australia are calling for workers in the local government industry to participate in a survey and contribute to the future direction of accredited training in Australia. The ASU encourages local government members to take part.
07 May 2009 [full story]
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Better investment in child care needed in budget, not more money
Targeted and controlled investment was needed in the child care sector to meet the Rudd Government’s commitment to the Education Revolution, according to the Australian Services Union (ASU).
07 May 2009 [full story]
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ASU appalled at Vision Australia redundancies
The ASU - one of the unions that represent employees at Vision Australia (VA) - is absolutely appalled at the treatment that VA has shown staff in the last couple of days.
07 May 2009 [full story]
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Save jobs by making police, fire-fighters, and defence uniforms in Australia, say unions
All uniforms and clothing for essential services and government workers such as police, firefighters, ambulance officers and Defence Force workers should be made in Australia, say unions.
06 May 2009 [full story]
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Award modernisation "soul destroying", says ASU
The ASU has used the Senate inquiry into the transitional IR legislation to argue that the AIRC has made modern awards that clearly disadvantaged whole classes of employees, predominantly women.
06 May 2009 [full story]
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Carbon reduction plan will be good for jobs and good for the environment
A revised Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme announced by the Government today is a positive settlement that will protect jobs in exposed industries and set Australia on the path towards a potential 1 million climate friendly, green jobs in coming years.
05 May 2009 [full story]
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ACTU responds to Govt plan to increase Comcare death benefits
The ACTU has commented on the Federal Government's announcement on Comcare death benefits.
05 May 2009 [full story]
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Swine Flu Update
ASU officials met with Qantas HR and industrial relations management in Sydney on 30 April 2009 to discuss the Company’s response to the swine flu outbreak and the precautions being put in place for staff with direct passenger contact.
01 May 2009 [full story]
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The Smith Family agreement re-negotiation
TSF staff would be aware that the TSF Social Enterprise Agreement 2007 will expire in mid June 2009. Over the next few weeks the Australian Services Union (ASU) delegates and members will be asking staff to assist with a survey in preparation for the next agreement. The survey will need to be sent back by no later than Friday 22 May, 2009.
01 May 2009 [full story]
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Union calls for National Child Care Body in wake of ABC Learning collapse
The Australian Services Union has today called on the Federal Government to establish a formal body to oversee child care funding, planning and quality in Australia – Child Care Australia.
30 April 2009 [full story]
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Jobs lost for 91,000 young victims of the Global Financial Crisis: unions call for action
Measures must be taken to prevent a generation of young Australians becoming victims of long-term unemployment as a result of the Global Financial Crisis, say unions.
30 April 2009 [full story]
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May Day 2009
The first day of May is an international day for celebrating workers and their struggles over the years to achieve fairness in our societies. In some states of Australia, Labour Day holidays closely coincide with May Day so look out for events under both banners.
29 April 2009 [full story]
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Paid maternity leave will help redress gender inequality and must be in Federal Budget
The ACTU is backing the call by Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick for the Federal Government to include a paid maternity leave scheme in the May Budget.
29 April 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - April 23, 2009
This edition contains the following items: Government Skills Australia – Local Government Forum in Canberra; ASU & ITF Railway Action Day; Careers in local government; New performance reports on Australia’s water utilities; Union Charter of Workplace Rights Petition online; AFTINET Trade Justice Dinner; plus more.
28 April 2009 [full story]
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Australian workers grieve for lives lost in workplaces: April 28 is International Workers' Memorial Day
Families of victims of workplace deaths will join with unions at rallies and memorial services tomorrow (Tuesday 28 April) to mark lives lost in workplace accidents.
27 April 2009 [full story]
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Workers stuck on WorkChoices job contracts are $7500 a year worse off: call for Govt to act
Hundreds of thousands of Australian workers need an exit strategy from WorkChoices agreements that have locked them into sub-standard pay and conditions for years to come, say unions.
26 April 2009 [full story]
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New solutions needed to boost Australia’s skills and raise productivity for economic growth
Fresh approaches to national skills training are urgently needed in order to meet the challenges of the economic downturn and to position Australia for a return to growth and prosperity, according to a consortium of peak industry, trade union and youth advocacy bodies.
23 April 2009 [full story]
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Vale John Maynes
John Maynes, who died on April 15, was a key figure in the Federated Clerks Union of Australia (FCU), of which he was Federal/National President and Victorian Branch President for many years. The FCU was one of the three Unions which amalgamated in 1993 to form the Australian Services Union.
17 April 2009 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from March 2009
Nanotechnology could revolutionise our world, but it can also take us back in time to repeat the mistakes of asbestos. Unions are speaking out to demand that we proceed with caution.
16 April 2009 [full story]
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20 percent of ABC Learning staff to join unemployed
The Australian Services Union (ASU) has expressed its concern that the ABC Learning Receiver has today announced job losses for 20 percent of affected child care staff.
15 April 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - April 14, 2009
This edition contains the following items: ASU calls for local councils throughout Australia to provide greater access to the public for water facilities; Public Water for Public Health; ASU-NSW US Branch wins legal changes protecting council officers; Local government employers asked to employ more council and water industry workers; New $1 billion Jobs and Training Compact; plus more.
15 April 2009 [full story]
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GFC hits Qantas: 1750+ redundancies on way
On Tuesday 14th April 2009 Qantas announced to the stock exchange and then to Australia their intention to, among other things, cut flying capacity by 5% resulting in the loss of 500 management positions and a further 1250 equivalent full time positions (FTEs) from areas of the Group. As we all know FTEs can mean more people.
15 April 2009 [full story]
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Nanotech poses possible health and safety risk to workers and needs regulation
Nanotech poses possible health and safety risk to workers and needs regulation. The rapidly growing nanotechnology market in Australia requires urgent regulation to protect the health and safety of workers and consumers, say unions.
14 April 2009 [full story]
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Workers rally against Job Network decision
Unemployed job placement workers and their supporters will rally around the nation today at protest meetings against the Federal Government’s Job Network decision.
08 April 2009 [full story]
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Singapore Airlines & Cargo asks for wages freeze and the staff say?
The vote has been counted in the Singapore Airlines and Cargo (SIA) ballot to freeze wages for the next two years. The ballot was counted by ENT members in head office Sydney commencing at 11am, Monday 6 April 2009 and observed by the ASU.
07 April 2009 [full story]
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Stop the job cuts in employment services – national protest April 8
Join the national protest – be part of the solution. Wednesday 8th April at 1pm in your capital city. Download the flyer for details. For further information about the campaign visit http://www.saveourjobs.com.au/
06 April 2009 [full story]
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5000 jobs gone in Job Network – and no one knows if it’s them
Up to 5,000 job placement workers could be unemployed following last night’s announcement of new employment service contracts.
03 April 2009 [full story]
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Pay equity assaulted by award modernisation process
The Federal Government is conducting an Inquiry into pay equity and associated issues related to increasing female participation in the workforce. The ASU, other unions, women’s lobby groups, employers and employer groups have been making representations to the Committee.
03 April 2009 [full story]
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Fight discrimination, harassment and violence against LGBT workers
International unions recognise issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender union members in supporting the second phase of a report published this week. The ASU through the ACTU is a member of the International Trade Unions Confederation (ITUC). The ITUC has a strong arm of equality and works on many levels to ensure that issues for LGBT unionists are not disregarded.
03 April 2009 [full story]
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Negotiations continue at Malaysia Airlines
Negotiations continued at Malaysia Airlines headquarters, Sydney, 12 March 2009. The focus of this meeting was to provide the feedback following the company road show and to pursue an agreeable outcome to wage increases in your agreement.
03 April 2009 [full story]
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Union launches national campaign to save Job Network workers
The Australian Services Union is today launching a national campaign and website to pressure the Federal Government to save the jobs of Job Network staff. The national campaign follows the announcement by the Government that 28% of current contracts will be cut.
02 April 2009 [full story]
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Close the Gap Day 2009 - keep governments accountable on Indigenous health outcomes
The ASU believes that ongoing community support for the Close the Gap campaign is vital if the Government is going to be kept accountable on their commitment to close the gap on life expectancy and health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. In that spirit, and as a formal supporter of the Close the Gap campaign, the ASU participated by staging a staff event today.
02 April 2009 [full story]
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Bargaining gets underway at Canon
The first round of bargaining commenced at Canon North Ryde offices, with your ASU delegates, the NCC and management. The ASU Log of Claims was presented to Canon and we received claims from Canon. A detailed description of those claims are listed below.
02 April 2009 [full story]
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Union flags national campaign - Fear and loathing grips employment services
The Federal Government’s proposed radical overhaul of employment services is causing fear and loathing throughout the employment services sector says the employment services union, the Australian Services Union.
01 April 2009 [full story]
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Climate change could be an economy saver
The bitter lessons of climate change have never been more evident in the past few months. Firestorms in a drought ravaged Victoria and floods in Queensland are evidence of the extreme weather behaviour that appears here to stay.
01 April 2009 [full story]
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NCR just don't get it
Following the counting of the conclusive "No" vote to the NCR agreement, the ASU wrote to NCR.
31 March 2009 [full story]
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Victorian community sector workers’ long service leave portability scheme at risk
At a Portable Long Service Leave Reference Group meeting held on 25 March 2009 it has emerged that there is significant employer opposition to the proposed Portable Long Service Leave (PLSL) Scheme, which will place its establishment in jeopardy.
31 March 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - March 30, 2009
This edition contains the following items: Public Water for Public Health; $200 million for stormwater capture initiative; $1.75 billion for the nation's local roads; Global Unions have told Kevin Rudd and the Australian Government to invest in Quality Public Services; Unions rally in London for G20; Ports, power may be on O'Farrell privatisation list; plus more.
31 March 2009 [full story]
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Ansett Employee Update Number 57
The latest Employee Update from the Ansett Administrators (Update 57) is now available on this website. It provides an update on current litigation and a link to the Ninth Report to Creditors.
31 March 2009 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
School holidays are coming up once again... need a cheap day out with the kids? That's right everyone, due to the success of this offer, we will be giving away a family movie pass every three months for all children's tickets purchased via the ASUshop.
27 March 2009 [full story]
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Airline Awards are being industrially skyjacked
Last week the Australian Industry Group (AIG) representing most of the overseas airlines flying to Australia and ground handlers like Menzies Aviation urged the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to slash Airline Award wages by between $3,963 - $17,241 per year.
25 March 2009 [full story]
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Jetstar abandons Tasmania
Jetstar has today announced that it will no longer be employing passenger handling staff at Hobart and Launceston Airports from May 19th & 20th.
24 March 2009 [full story]
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NCR customer engineers say NO to undercutting wages and conditions
The ballot to vote on the non union, conditions cutting agreement proposed by NCR closed at 5.00pm yesterday Monday 23 March 2009. Customer Engineers at NCR voted overwhelmingly NO.
24 March 2009 [full story]
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ASU consults members over safety after Sydney airport tragedy
As the media has reported, gang violence erupted in Sydney Airport's domestic Qantas terminal 3 yesterday when a group of bikies bashed a rival gang member to death in front of terrified passengers and Qantas staff. ASU members work as customer service agents at check–in for Qantas at terminal 3 and at airports around the country.
23 March 2009 [full story]
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Unions push for $21 a week pay rise for low-paid workers to stimulate economy and safeguard jobs
Unions are seeking a $21 a week pay rise for workers on minimum wages to protect jobs by maintaining the purchasing power of working families and stimulate the economy.
23 March 2009 [full story]
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Exceptional training – Exceptionally unfair
It’s great that Qantas has initiated new training for staff. Everyone welcomes the opportunity to enhance their skills and product knowledge through attending Qantas’ Exceptional Training in Sydney.
23 March 2009 [full story]
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Paid maternity leave Week of Action keeps up the pressure for inclusion in Federal Budget
Unions and community organisations will take part in a national week of action to persuade the Rudd Government to include a universal paid maternity leave scheme in the May federal budget.
23 March 2009 [full story]
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New IR laws are a major step forward for Australian workers
New industrial relations laws passed by the Federal Parliament on Friday 20th March are a major step forward for working Australians and the nation.
23 March 2009 [full story]
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Senate IR change will put more workers at risk of unfair sackings during the downturn
The vote late yesterday by Coalition and cross-bench Senators to amend the definition of a small business is a major change to Labor’s Fair Work Bill that would leave more than a million workers with less protection from being unfairly sacked.
20 March 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - March 19, 2009
This edition contains the following items: It really is crunch time now; Senate must pass new IR laws or leave workers exposed to unfair sackings in the downturn; Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme; Cooperation not coercion needed for WA reform; Infrastructure projects announced; plus more.
20 March 2009 [full story]
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Senate must pass new IR laws or leave workers exposed to unfair sackings in the downturn
The Senate must pass the Fair Work Bill in the next 24 hours, or leave WorkChoices in place and millions of Australians without protection from being sacked unfairly as the economic downturn worsens, unions say.
19 March 2009 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from February 2009
The ASU is a long time supporter of Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA and as such we encourage ASU members and friends to support their work. The annual UAA-APHEDA raffle is on right now and is a great way to contribute – click on the link to the left to buy tickets.
18 March 2009 [full story]
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Indigenous workers survey
The ACTU has developed the Indigenous Workers Survey to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers the opportunity to voice their opinions and values about their working lives. The ASU encourages all our Indigenous members to participate to ensure our views are heard.
17 March 2009 [full story]
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Employees to take wage cut with no protection at Singapore Airlines?
Singapore Airlines and Singapore Cargo have announced to the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) that the current financial situation of the company requires employees to take a wage freeze.
15 March 2009 [full story]
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NCR says we can go jump…
NCR have refused to continue to negotiate a new agreement for customer engineers at NCR and instead have decided to put an agreement out to vote which is non union and cuts conditions.
15 March 2009 [full story]
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ASU delegate wins national ACTU Delegate of the Year award
ASU delegate Maria Scafi was named a joint winner of the ACTU Delegate of the Year Award during a ceremony in Melbourne recently.
15 March 2009 [full story]
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Red hot anger over job cuts while banks get taxpayer support for GFC
There will be red hot anger in the community over the latest banking job cuts by the ANZ, says the ACTU.
13 March 2009 [full story]
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Call to action for Social and Community Services workers - tell Senator Fielding it is time to pass the Fair Work Bill
The Federal Parliament is currently debating the Fair Work Bill which will replace the discredited and unfair WorkChoices laws brought in by the previous Howard Government.
13 March 2009 [full story]
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National Youth Week 2009
National Youth Week (NYW) is Australia's largest celebration of young people. Young people across Australia are getting ready to get into the NYW2009 theme: Make a Move! It’s all about making a difference, showing off your creativity, and having a good time!
13 March 2009 [full story]
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Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA Raffle on now
It's that time of year again - time for the annual UAA-APHEDA Raffle! Help to Make Life Fair Everywhere and go in the draw to win a trip around the world for two! Read on for more prizes and details
12 March 2009 [full story]
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Qantas Workers: Charter of Workplace Drug and Alcohol Management Info Sessions
Your unions are concerned that Qantas Management have stated to implement an unfair Drug and Alcohol (DOA) testing regime.
09 March 2009 [full story]
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2009 “Tell Us What You Really Think” survey results are in
International Women’s Day (IWD) is just around the corner on March 8. With the views of ASU women from our Tell Us What You Really Think? survey now released we have a clear direction on the key issues women are celebrating and fighting for in 2009.
06 March 2009 [full story]
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International Women’s Day 2009: pay gap may widen because of GFC says new report
Australian women risk losing pay, skills and access to decent work as a result of the Global Financial Crisis unless employers do more to protect jobs and we see the introduction of a Government-funded paid maternity leave scheme, say unions.
06 March 2009 [full story]
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Misleading ad shows Queensland Liberal-National Party can’t be trusted on jobs
The political advertisement in today’s Courier Mail newspaper by Lawrence Springborg is an attempt to con Queenslanders about the Liberal-National Party’s plan to cut jobs and slash services in the Queensland public sector says the ACTU.
05 March 2009 [full story]
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Qantas closes Hobart Travel Centre
Late yesterday Qantas has announced that it is closing the Qantas Travel Centre in Hobart on 29th May 2009. This means that the 6 staff remaining in the centre and an additional sales staff member will be made compulsorily redundant unless suitable redeployment options can be found for them. We believe the company MUST do everything possible to ensure suitable redeployment is available.
04 March 2009 [full story]
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AaE seeks EOIs in response to the Global Finanical Crisis
ASU representatives have met with AaE HR and senior management in recent weeks about the company’s business and the effects of the Global Financial Crisis.
03 March 2009 [full story]
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Taxpayer support for business must come with obligation to cut executive pay and protect jobs
The vast majority of Australians believe that businesses that receive Government support during the economic downturn should be required to cut executive bonuses and retain local jobs, according to a new survey.
03 March 2009 [full story]
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ASU delegates meet company for first 2009 consultation
As part of our ASU Jetstar EBA negotiations in 2007 the company agreed to hold regular consultation meetings with ASU delegates on a national basis to discuss issues of concern across ASU areas.
03 March 2009 [full story]
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Qantas announces closure of QBT Adelaide and calls for expressions of interest
Qantas has announced their intention to close the Qantas Business Travel (QBT) offices in Adelaide which will see 21 staff made redundant from 31st March 2009.
03 March 2009 [full story]
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ASU calls on Government to act on air rage
The ASU has once again lodged a submission for the Federal Aviation Policy Review as a follow up to our original submission in July 2008. As the largest union in the Aviation industry in Australia we have raised key issues of Aviation Safety, Security and Foreign ownership in our submission.
03 March 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - February 26, 2009
This edition contains the following items: Award Modernisation – Electricity/energy industry award; Why is Australia the only developed nation in the world without a bill of rights; 20th February World Day of Social Justice; PSI Women, Water, Workers and Health Website; Police to replace transit officers on public transport; Councils need funding to help revive childcare industry; plus more.
27 February 2009 [full story]
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Qantas Drug and Alcohol Testing Update and Mass Meetings
In December last year Qantas Management stated to implement a new Drug and Alcohol (DOA) testing regime with very little union consultation.
27 February 2009 [full story]
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Tax reform must make the system fairer while strengthening and protecting the economy
Australia’s recovery from the economic slowdown may take longer because of biases and inefficiencies in the tax system, a major conference will hear today.
25 February 2009 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - February 16, 2009
This edition contains the following items: Unions express sadness at bushfire losses and pledge $250,000; Rudd Government secures extra $500 million for local community infrastructure; Workplace Relations Ministerial Council Meeting; Colombia - more than 2,300 municipal workers dismissed; National Logistics Safety Code welcomed; plus more.
24 February 2009 [full story]
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Paid maternity leave in May Budget would ease economic hardship for families
More than 100 prominent Australian women gathered in Canberra this morning for a Women’s Forum Breakfast to step up the campaign for a government-funded paid maternity leave scheme in the Federal Budget, and other measures to improve the working lives of Australian women.
24 February 2009 [full story]
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World record bargaining meeting at NCR
How many times do you need to say no in one meeting to set the record? Well NCR gave it a really good nudge today when we lost count after at least 20 NOs to our claims. But we added one more NO when we rejected the company’s 2.5% wage increase with no real substantial changes to any other key claims.
24 February 2009 [full story]
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Malaysia Airline’s management respond to staff claims
The much awaited response from Malaysia Airlines management to staff claims was received at the latest bargaining meeting on the 17 February 2009.
24 February 2009 [full story]
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Senate told that local government is key to the future of child care following ABC Learning collapse
The Australian Services Union has stepped up its campaign for child care to be transferred to local government in the wake of the collapse of ABC Learning Centres.
23 February 2009 [full story]
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ASU members tell Senate of need for change
ASU members from Toll Dnata and from the community sector together with union officials from both Victorian Branches and the National Office fronted a Senate Committee hearing in Melbourne today, arguing for new work laws to improve collective bargaining, access to arbitration, a better award modernisation process and the need for a workable system of multiple enterprise agreements (MEAs) which can be used by SACS members.
17 February 2009 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from January 2009
When the ASU published its condolence message early last week we did not expect the horrific fires to still be burning now. The sheer magnitude of the disaster has urged a corresponding response to provide support to all those affected. The ASU along with many other organisations will continue to provide that support whilst grieving the losses in the ASU family.
17 February 2009 [full story]
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Child care public forum in Melbourne - Get the market out of child care
The failure of ABC Learning has proven that child care should not be for profit. A public forum endorsed by the ASU has been organised to discuss the issues in the Melbourne suburb of Coburg on February 28. ASU National Secretary Paul Slape will speak at the forum.
13 February 2009 [full story]
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Ongoing support for ASU members affected by the Victorian bush fires
When the ASU published its condolence message earlier this week we did not expect the horrific fires to still be burning by the end of the week. The sheer magnitude of the disaster has urged a corresponding response to provide support to all those affected. The ASU along with many other organisations will continue to provide that support whilst grieving the losses in the ASU family.
13 February 2009 [full story]
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One year on - apology reminds us much still needed to improve lives of Indigenous Australians
The anniversary of the historic national apology to the Stolen Generations reminds the nation that much is still needed to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians, unions said today.
13 February 2009 [full story]
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Unions express sadness at bushfire losses and pledge $250,000 to Red Cross appeal
The ASU and the Australian Council of Trade Unions have today expressed their sadness and condolences at the tragic loss of more than 100 lives in the bushfires that swept Victoria over the weekend.
09 February 2009 [full story]
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Call centre workers it’s your call - survey deadline looms
The deadline to complete the ASU’s “It’s your call” survey is 9am on February 27. The ASU wants to know how we can improve working in Australian call centres and we are asking all workers in the industry to tell us. You could also win a laptop or iPod by providing your feedback.
05 February 2009 [full story]
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International unions deliver powerful jobs message to World Economic Forum
The global financial crisis threatens to become a social time bomb if the world's governments don't act together with unions to save and create sustainable jobs, according to global trade union leaders attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
30 January 2009 [full story]
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NCR responds – wages increases funded by making jobs redundant!
NCR management tabled a document to your bargaining team just in time for the latest meeting (21/01/09) which responds to the claims made in this round of bargaining. The document effectively states that to offer a wage increase, the company must cut jobs. They have offered 2.5% and cut 5 CE jobs.
23 January 2009 [full story]
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Unions call for summit to prepare for economic stimulus to preserve jobs and incomes
A national summit of unions, business and governments should be held to plan an urgent stimulus package to grow and protect jobs and incomes during the economic slowdown, says the ACTU.
22 January 2009 [full story]
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Time for the Federal Government to get serious about asbestos and enforce a full ban
Unions are calling on the Rudd Government to end asbestos exemptions for the Australian Defence Organisation and to hold a national inquiry into asbestos and asbestos-related disease.
21 January 2009 [full story]
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Union heroes save passengers on US Airways flight
The quick thinking, bravery, experience and extensive training of US Airways Flight 1549 pilot, Capt. Chesley Sullenberger, co-pilot Jeffrey Skiles, the crew of flight attendants, the air traffic controllers guiding the flight low over Manhattan and the rescuers were the key factors in yesterday’s “Miracle on the Hudson,” where 155 people survived an emergency landing in the river.
16 January 2009 [full story]
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Move to diversify child care ownership welcomed - Local government provides best long term solution to ABC Learning Centres collapse
The Australian Services Union has welcomed the commitment of the Federal Government to seek a diverse range of operators for the former ABC Learning Centres.
15 January 2009 [full story]
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Employers must not use jobs market as an excuse to slash pay and conditions
Employers must not use the uncertain jobs market to pressure workers into accepting cuts to their pay and conditions, unions said today in response to new unemployment data.
15 January 2009 [full story]
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Employee claims tabled at Malaysia Airlines
Bargaining continued anew in 2009 at Malaysia Airlines for a variation to your current enterprise agreement.
14 January 2009 [full story]
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Government’s proposed IR legislation must go further to deliver ‘rights at work’, say unions
Labor’s proposed industrial relations legislation fails to fully deliver on the Rudd Government’s pre-election promise to scrap WorkChoices and restore workers’ rights, says the ACTU.
14 January 2009 [full story]
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Shared and contracted services in local government
“Councils Contracting Out Shared Services” to a third party are just not worthwhile for the community, local councils, their communities and the employees – that’s the view of an independent report prepared by the Centre for Local Government, University of New England, for the ASU.*
12 January 2009 [full story]
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Minimum wages must be protected to prevent low-paid becoming US-style working poor
The living standards of the lowest paid and most vulnerable workers must be protected as Australia faces an economic slowdown this year, say unions.
12 January 2009 [full story]
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Premier praises ASU for donation of life saving heart defibrillator
The Australian Services Union (ASU) has donated a heart defibrillator to Southern Cross Station in Melbourne to be used when visitors suffer heart attacks. Victorian Premier John Brumby launched the defibrillator this week.
08 January 2009 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - December 2008
The current edition includes the following items: Electricity Privatization NSW Australia; Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) summary paper; The illusions of competition in the water sector; Quality Public Services - addressing climate change in Australia; Debate on energy, environment and climate change and work; plus more.
07 January 2009 [full story]
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Response to slowing economy must focus on jobs and skills, not attacks on rights at work
The prospect of an economic downturn must not be used by business as an excuse to delay or alter improvements to our industrial relations system that Australians voted for at the last election.
07 January 2009 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from November & December 2008
The ASU is the union for child care workers in local government and the not-for-profit sector but even though the collapse of ABC Learning (a private sector, for profit child care provider) does not directly affect our members, we have become involved in the public debate that has followed the collapse. This is because we believe the massive corporate failure that led to frightening uncertainty for parents and resulted in centre closures and job losses for carers could have been avoided.
[Below is the digest of news from November and December 2008]
01 January 2009 [full story]
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Report finds Toll Dnata airport staff 'significantly disadvantaged' by job contracts
An investigation by the Victorian Workplace Rights Advocate has found that the AWAs and ITEAs offered to Toll Dnata staff at Melbourne’s airport 'significantly and unfairly disadvantaged' the employees, when compared to the Award.
23 December 2008 [full story]
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Qantas finally acts on air rage at airports
After years of campaigning for signage at Qantas airports, Qantas management has finally agreed to erecting signs at check in desks across the country warning passengers that threatening or abusive behaviour towards staff or passengers will not be tolerated.
23 December 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - December 22, 2008
This edition contains the following items: Low paid workers face cuts to pay and conditions under proposed new modern awards; Infrastructure Australia; Ministerial Council on Energy; Energy White Paper; Public Safety Training Package; plus more.
23 December 2008 [full story]
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Rudd Government stands by as award safety net for women clerical workers cut savagely
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) decision on the final form of the first priority modern awards has savagely cut rates of pay and conditions for women clerical workers. The cuts affect clerical workers across the country and significantly reduce their safety net contrary to Government promises that workers would not be disadvantaged.
22 December 2008 [full story]
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Paid Maternity Leave - Put it in the 2009 Federal Budget
Right now the Government is looking at whether to include paid maternity leave in the 2009 Federal Budget - the Government needs to know you think that paid maternity leave is important. We cannot let it be dropped from the agenda.
22 December 2008 [full story]
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Workforce development on agenda in Homelessness White Paper
The ASU welcomes the Federal Government’s White Paper, “The Road Home – A National Approach to Homelessness” announcement to halve homelessness by 2020 and the recognition of the importance of a well trained, well resourced and well paid workforce if the Government’s targets are to be met.
22 December 2008 [full story]
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Child care has the chance to rise like the phoenix
Now is the time to reassess the future of child care in Australia, writes Paul Slape.
17 December 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - December 15, 2008
This edition contains the following items: PPPs & Infrastructure; $4.7 billion nation building package; $1.2 billion investment in rail infrastructure; $711 million investment to build better roads; $1.6 billion to build better universites and TAFEs; Next round of infrastructure projects; plus more.
17 December 2008 [full story]
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ASU Reps ask hard questions at Qantas AGM
ASU members across Qantas nominated the ASU to represent their views at the Qantas AGM on 28 November 2008. The Agenda for the AGM focused on the departure of Geoff Dixon and changes to Board membership.
17 December 2008 [full story]
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Time for business to create new green jobs and help solve global warming
The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme announced today comes down on the side of caution by recognising the importance of existing industries, with the ACTU calling for the Government to keep open the possibility of higher greenhouse reduction target by 2020.
15 December 2008 [full story]
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ACTU sets out clear expectations for any Qantas merger
Yesterday the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ (ACTU) executive passed a resolution of support and action in relation to the recent news that the Qantas Group is pursuing merger talks with British Airways.
11 December 2008 [full story]
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Bargaining begins in earnest at NCR in 2008
Bargaining commenced at NCR on Tuesday 10 December at head office North Sydney. At the bargaining table are employee reps Alan Barnes (ASU), Michael Kane (ASU), Glenn Fuhrmann and Lindsey Lack, they are supported by ASU officials Jo Justo and Carl Harris.
11 December 2008 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
The ASUshop has some great new gear including: ASU UNION t-shirts; ASU UNION satchels; Proud to be Union stickers; ASU post-it-notes; delegate ID cards; a range of new books and lots of our usual ASU badged gear in stock.
11 December 2008 [full story]
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Ansett Employee Update Number 56
The latest Employee Update from the Ansett Administrators (Update 56) is now available on this website. It provides information in relation to the payment of an eleventh dividend, administration strategy and an update on current litigation.
11 December 2008 [full story]
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Tell Telstra it's time to listen and act
Union members in Telstra have been fighting for almost 12 months for the right make a union collective agreement. Despite strong staff support for making a union collective agreement, Telstra management are ignoring their employees and refusing to negotiate with unions.
11 December 2008 [full story]
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Councils could prevent further 241 ABC child care centre closures in NSW
The 241 ABC learning centres at risk of closure in 2009 could be prevented if Local Governments act urgently and take on the centres in their areas, said the United Services Union today.
11 December 2008 [full story]
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Government support for ABC Learning until March welcomed - but only as breathing space
The Australian Services Union (ASU) has welcomed the commitment of the Federal Government to keep ABC Learning Centres open until March next year.
10 December 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - December 8, 2008
This edition contains the following items: Quality Public Services - addressing climate change in Australian unions; New Fair Work Bill; National Skills and Workforce Development announcement; TAFE fee waivers for child care qualification; plus more.
09 December 2008 [full story]
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ITF provides world outlook
The four ASU representatives who attended the recent International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) “Aviation and Climate Change” Conference in London have all come back with a broad outlook on what other countries are doing in our industry in response to the climate change debate.
08 December 2008 [full story]
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Coalition is being loose with the truth over IR
The Coalition is trying to hold onto WorkChoices by engaging in a campaign of exaggeration and distortion over industrial relations, say unions.
05 December 2008 [full story]
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ABC Learning announcement welcomed but only as short term solution
The Australian Services Union (ASU) has welcomed ABC Learning's receivers' commitment to continue to keep child care centres open into next year.
05 December 2008 [full story]
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Qantas says downgrade all Airline Awards
In June 2008 the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) was asked by the Federal Government to review and “modernise” all Federal and State Awards over the next 18 months to form the basis of a new industrial relations system to commence on 1 January 2010. This process is known as Award Modernisation.
05 December 2008 [full story]
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Safe Work Bill changes are needed to strengthen workplace health and safety laws
All politicians should accept the Senate amendments to the Safe Work Bill and allow a swift passage for the legislation, says the ACTU. The Safe Work Bill 2008 will create a new national workplace health and safety body to oversee major reform of the nation’s health and safety laws.
04 December 2008 [full story]
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Qantas seeks to impose more Drug and Alcohol Testing
Qantas Group Management has written to each of your unions to inform us that they want to implement a new Drug and Alcohol testing regime.
04 December 2008 [full story]
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Defend child care and defend jobs – Moreland Protest
Bring child care back into public hands. Give child care workers decent training and pay. ABC Learning centres look after 320 children in Moreland. Come to the protest rally this Saturday, December 6, at 11am at the Coburg Mall to raise your voice.
04 December 2008 [full story]
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Don’t be too polite girls! Tell us what you really think
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for Housing and Minister for the Status of Women officially launched the “Don’t Be Too Polite Girls! Tell us what you really think” 2008-2009 survey for ASU women members and their co-workers at the 2008 ASU National Conference Women’s Breakfast in Melbourne recently.
03 December 2008 [full story]
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Health equality for Indigenous Australians a step closer: Close the Gap Coalition welcomes COAG funding
The Close The Gap coalition has congratulated the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on taking substantial steps towards making health equality for Indigenous Australians a reality.
02 December 2008 [full story]
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Towards a Green New Deal: economic stimulus that will be good for the planet
The Federal Government can drive a massive increase in green jobs by combining focused economic stimulus with climate policies like a strong 2020 carbon pollution reduction target, a broad coalition of social, union, environment and economic groups said today.
02 December 2008 [full story]
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Women across Australia unite for paid parental leave
The ASU along with a range of national women’s organisations have united to pressure the Federal Government to confirm that paid parental leave will be included in the 2009 Budget.
02 December 2008 [full story]
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ASU calls for support for local councils to take over failed child care centres
Many communities across Australia face the prospect of the closure of child care centres across their municipalities in the new year.
28 November 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - November 28, 2008
This edition contains the following items: Local Government Training Package; The Evatt Annual Lecture - Robert McClelland on Human Rights; Climate change is an opportunity to create one million ‘green jobs’; Introduction of the Fair Work Bill; Liberals are still being evasive on industrial relations laws; ABCC laws in disarray as DPP drops charges against unionist; plus more.
28 November 2008 [full story]
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New Year closure of ABC Learning Centres sparks ASU call for move to local government
The recent announcement that hundreds of ABC Learning Centres may close as early as 1 January 2009 has led to renewed calls from the Australian Services Union (ASU) to bring forward plans to transfer as many centres as possible to local government.
27 November 2008 [full story]
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Australia-wide rallies on Dec 2 in support of equal rights for all workers
STOP PRESS: DPP drops charges against Noel Washington. More information at Rights on Site media release "ABCC laws in disarray as DPP drops charges against unionist"
Mass rallies will be held in cities and towns across Australia in support of Noel Washington, a CFMEU official facing the possibility of a six month jail sentence for refusing to attend an ABCC interrogation about a union meeting. Noel faces court in Melbourne 2 December 2008.
26 November 2008 [full story]
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STOP PRESS - Charges against Noel Washington dropped
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has dropped charges against the CFMEU official Noel Washington today. This is a great victory for commonsense and a blow to the draconian ABCC. A new rally has been organised for Melbourne on December 2, details below. Check with your local labour council for other events around the country.
26 November 2008 [full story]
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Victorian Government issues death warrant to Workplace Rights Advocate
The Victorian Government’s decision to axe the Office of the Workplace Rights Advocate was a loss for Victorian workers, particularly private sector employees, ASU branch secretary Ingrid Stitt said today.
26 November 2008 [full story]
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Paid maternity, paternity and parental leave should become a basic right for all
ASU National Industrial Officer Jo Justo spoke at the Productivity Commission hearing yesterday in regard to paid maternity, paternity and parental leave becoming a basic right for all Australians.
26 November 2008 [full story]
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Violence against women: the great silent crime of our time
One in three Australian women will be a victim of physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, this could be your mother, sister, daughter or friend, but there is something you can do to change this. By wearing a white ribbon on White Ribbon Day 25 Nov you are showing your support for the campaign that is working to prevent this widespread human rights abuse.
25 November 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - November 24, 2008
This edition contains the following items: Australian Council of Local Government; Asbestos Awareness Week; Catalyst / AIER forum Restoring Rights at Work; Climate change is an opportunity to create one million ‘green jobs’; Child care sector in crisis; plus more.
24 November 2008 [full story]
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Market volatility and your super
Super and share markets: what can you do? How’s your super doing? This question means a lot in times of economic uncertainty. Your super’s an investment, and investors everywhere are feeling the effects of market volatility.
24 November 2008 [full story]
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Asbestos time bomb still haunts homes and workplaces
Asbestos-related disease remains a ticking time bomb for Australians because there is no nationally consistent approach to asbestos removal and management in buildings and infrastructure and poor data collection across states and territories.
24 November 2008 [full story]
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ASU National Office audited accounts, financial statements and operating report
The Workplace Relations Act requires that the financial affairs of unions are checked and audited every 12 months to make sure union funds are administered properly and to detect any shortcomings. Unions are also required to prepare an operating report. The National Executive and the Branches of the ASU each conduct their own audit and prepare their own reports.
21 November 2008 [full story]
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ASU says climate change is an economy saver
The Australian Services Union (ASU) says this week’s announcement of $300 million dollars in funding for Local Government should be used to further develop and maintain ‘green’ public services which could help boost the economy by creating thousands of new jobs.
20 November 2008 [full story]
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Paid Maternity Leave not negotiable in 2009 Federal Budget
The ACTU has outlined the immediate economic and social need to include an 18 week paid maternity leave scheme in the 2009 Federal Budget, in its latest submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Paid Parental Leave.
20 November 2008 [full story]
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Second child care crash increases pressure for return to local government
With the collapse of a second for profit child care provider, CFK Childcare Services, the Australian Services Union (ASU), has renewed its calls on the Federal Government to support a major return to local government for child care services.
20 November 2008 [full story]
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Union holds workplace blitz in Melbourne CBD to launch call centre campaign
About 100 union members will take to the streets in Melbourne’s CBD aided with calling cards and cup cakes and ring tones to launch a national call centre campaign today.
20 November 2008 [full story]
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The vote is in - congratulations Mission Australia workers!
Mission Australia workers from across the country have voted “Yes” to their new Collective Agreement. 465 workers of 1167 voted. The “Yes” vote was overwhelming at 90% – however it only represents the views of a little over one third (36%) of workers. We understand the low voting rate – try as we might to engage everyone – it’s been a long journey!
19 November 2008 [full story]
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Climate change is an opportunity to create one million ‘green jobs’
A new report finds that climate change is both a challenge and an opportunity for workers in industries like electricity, water services, and local government which the Australian Services Union represents.
19 November 2008 [full story]
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ASU 2020
The ASU National Conference 2008 commenced today in Melbourne. Deliberations will be based on the key theme of looking to the year 2020 and the challenges the Union will face.
18 November 2008 [full story]
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Take action to say that all workers should have the same rights
On the 2nd December, union official Noel Washington is facing jail. If you thought that union officials in Australia couldn't go to jail for doing their job, in a few days you might be proven wrong.
18 November 2008 [full story]
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ASU calls for federal help for ABC child care centres
The Federal Government and ABC Learning administrators, McGrathNicol, should give priority to local governments seeking to buy or operate ABC Learning centres, according to Australian Services Union National Secretary Paul Slape.
16 November 2008 [full story]
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Put Paid Maternity Leave in 2009’s Federal Budget
Right now the Government is looking to drop paid maternity leave from 2009's federal budget. Opinion polls, talk back radio and letters to editor clearly show time after time that Australians support government-funded paid maternity leave.
14 November 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - November 13, 2008
This edition contains the following items: Child Care - Public Vs Private; Economic Survey of Australia 2008; Industry Skills Council for the Public Safety Sector; plus more.
13 November 2008 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from October 2008
The ASU National Office has been preparing for the Union’s biennial National Conference in earnest, to be held next week in Melbourne. To follow suit with the new Government, we have decided to make future targets the focus of our deliberations.
11 November 2008 [full story]
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Ansett Employee Update Number 55
The latest Employee Update from the Ansett Administrators (Update 55) is now available on this website. It provides information in relation to the administration strategy, further dividends and an update on current litigation.
11 November 2008 [full story]
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Public education for our future
Australia’s public schools are among the best in the world. They deliver high quality education to millions of students every day.
10 November 2008 [full story]
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SACS workers do it for love and money
An historic pay equity case will start in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) tomorrow (Monday, 10 November) aimed at securing pay rises of between $15,000 and $18,000 per year for front line workers in over 2000 social and community service (SACS) organisations in Queensland.
10 November 2008 [full story]
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At Qantas the more things change, the more they stay the same – cast your AGM vote now
The meeting notices and proxy forms for Geoff Dixon’s swansong Qantas AGM and the first for new Chairman Leigh Clifford are hitting staff home letterboxes right now. The Qantas Annual General Meeting is on Friday 28th November 2008 at 11am EST in the Plaza Terrace Room of the Bisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Southbank, Brisbane.
10 November 2008 [full story]
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Paid Maternity Leave more important than ever for families and the economy in uncertain financial climate
A government-funded paid maternity leave scheme is even more crucial to the health of Australia’s economy in the current difficult financial climate, says ACTU President Sharan Burrow.
07 November 2008 [full story]
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Bargaining brings results in Airlines
Airline employers who have been trying to use WorkChoices for as long as they can have been dealt a blow as a majority of recent airline agreements have been secured as varied and extended agreements avoiding the harsh realities of WorkChoices.
07 November 2008 [full story]
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New OHS laws must make employers provide safe workplaces
Unions back new proposals to increase the maximum fines for companies and directors who cause death or injury to workers, but believe the fines need to be even higher if they are to act as an effective deterrent and are concerned that bad employers will still find it easy to escape prosecution.
06 November 2008 [full story]
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Have you had your say - getting ready to bargain @ NCR?
ASU officials have held a preliminary meeting with NCR to discuss the arrangements to commence bargaining. You will have received surveys both from the ASU and the EB working group.
05 November 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - November 3, 2008
This edition contains the following items: Say NO to violence against women; Pay deal for 125,000 Qld workers shows importance of collective bargaining say unions; Child Care Tax Rebate; New partnership to tackle NT skills shortages; Darwin City Council ASU members secure pay rise; Building Indigenous skills in the NT brick by brick; Queensland New Local Government ACT; Premier committed to better local services and facilities; plus more.
03 November 2008 [full story]
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Telstra workers let down by an industrial umpire that lacks dispute settling powers
Telstra’s workforce needs a strong industrial umpire with dispute settling powers to break the long-running stalemate over a new collective agreement, unions said today.
03 November 2008 [full story]
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There’s nothing modern about downsizing women’s awards
Nationwide, a large and diverse group of associations concerned with women’s recognition and rights in the workplace have united to oppose the downsizing of women’s awards.
31 October 2008 [full story]
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Bargaining tips for ASU members at Virgin Blue
A number of our members at Virgin Blue have asked us to provide guidance, support and advice as the next bargaining round at Virgin Blue begins.
30 October 2008 [full story]
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Green Gold Rush report: almost a million green jobs for Australia by 2030
Australia could become a world leader in creating green industries generating up to a million green collar jobs by 2030 and multi-billion dollar export opportunities in green technology, according to a new report released today by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF).
30 October 2008 [full story]
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Don’t take away office worker penalty rates say ASU members
Today in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) the ASU has defended long held penalty rates and loadings of private sector office workers across the country.
30 October 2008 [full story]
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ASU endorsed candidates for Qantas Staff Credit Union election
The elections for four Directors of the Qantas Credit Union is underway and CSM Guy Maclean and Capt Colin Adams, both long time current Qantas staff, have decided to stand in an endeavour to bring more equitable balance and representation to the Credit Union current Board.
29 October 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - October 27, 2008
This edition contains the following items: Wage certainty secured for local council workers; ABCC has no place in local government; Japanese Unions meet with ASU National Electricity and Energy Division; Virtual children’s hub for parents and carers; ASU lodges submission with Infrastructure Australia; Steering Committee to recommend local government reform; $546 million to improve home and community care in NSW; plus more.
27 October 2008 [full story]
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Wage certainty secured for NSW local council workers
Local government workers across New South Wales are set to be guaranteed a $22 a week or 3.2% minimum wage increase after the State Government tabled legislation to immediately de-corporatise councils.
24 October 2008 [full story]
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Safe Work Week a timely reminder of human cost of workplace tragedies and need for strong OHS laws
The unacceptably high human cost of workplace death and injury highlights the need for stronger national workplace health and safety laws.
24 October 2008 [full story]
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Gold Coast district health administration staff strike
Angry hospital administration staff at several locations in the Gold Coast district participated in a stop work between 8am and 11am yesterday, as part of their industrial campaign for a better pay rise from the Queensland Government.
23 October 2008 [full story]
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Signed, sealed and delivered at Qantaslink
Successful voting has concluded on the variation and extension to the Eastern and Suntate (QantasLink) Agreements.
22 October 2008 [full story]
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Paid Maternity Leave a must in 2009 Federal Budget
A government-funded paid maternity leave scheme is more important then ever with Australian families now facing great economic uncertainty in the wake of the global financial crash, unions say.
20 October 2008 [full story]
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Queensland Working Women’s Service still left in the dark over ongoing funding
After months of campaigning, letter writing and meetings with departmental officers, the Queensland Working Women’s Service is still waiting for the green light to be switched on in their attempts to gain ongoing funding from the Federal Government for their important service to women in Queensland.
17 October 2008 [full story]
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Security for jobs and wages must be top priority in economic planning
Job security and protecting workers’ income must not be ignored in the national strategy to weather global financial havoc, unions said today.
17 October 2008 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from September 2008
Australian unions including the ASU support and participate in activities during Anti-Poverty Week (APW) not only because we support social justice, but because we know that poverty both in Australia and around the world is closely related to workers' rights.
16 October 2008 [full story]
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Government correct to rein in executive pay and tighten corporate governance
Unions have welcomed moves towards increased regulation of executive remuneration in the banking sector as part of better protection for Australian households.
15 October 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - October 13, 2008
This edition contains the following items: Building and Construction Industry legislation – the ABCC; Justice Wilcox confirms Howard Govt watchdog discriminates against construction workers; Local Government Victoria; Water market regulations finalised; Mapping of all local government training packages; Labour photo of the year - voting begins; Productivity places skilling Australians for the future; plus more.
15 October 2008 [full story]
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Working families & retirees will benefit from Labor Govt economic stimulus package
Low and middle income families, first home buyers and retired workers will be the main beneficiaries of a decisive move by the Rudd Labor Government to head off the impact of an economic downturn through a package to stimulate the economy the Australian Council of Trade Unions said today.
14 October 2008 [full story]
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Untold damages: new booklet details impact of WorkChoices on working women
One woman lost her job after 18 years, another woman had her hours of work repeatedly threatened. A group of women were told to meet their union in a toilet block and another group were not allowed to have a say over their new job contracts. These are the real stories outlined in a new booklet produced to inform politicians about the detrimental effect that WorkChoices is having on Australian women.
14 October 2008 [full story]
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Mission Australia - a new agreement?
Mission Australia an Employer of Choice? You be the judge…
10 October 2008 [full story]
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Justice Wilcox confirms ABCC discriminates against construction workers
An important new report by Murray Wilcox QC confirms that the Howard Government’s building industry watchdog, the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), discriminates against construction workers and infringes on their rights.
10 October 2008 [full story]
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We can end poverty by telling the politicians it’s what we want!
Australian unions including the ASU support and participate in activities during Anti-Poverty Week (APW) not only because we support social justice, but because we know that poverty both in Australia and around the world is closely related to workers’ rights. APW was established in Australia as an expansion of the United Nation’s annual International Anti-Poverty Day on October 17. We encourage all our members and friends to do a little to end poverty by getting involved!
10 October 2008 [full story]
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Office employees’ working hours under threat
The ASU is seeking the assistance of members to help protect the working conditions of clerical and administrative employees in offices throughout the country. Unless action is taken, office employees may find themselves working on Saturday mornings as part of their normal pattern of working time and without additional payment.
07 October 2008 [full story]
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Banks must pass on interest rate cut to avoid economic downturn and help struggling families
An interest rate cut is needed to avoid an economic downturn and to help families struggling with high levels of debt, say unions.
07 October 2008 [full story]
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October 7 is World Day for Decent Work
Global economic turmoil has made the right to decent work and full employment more essential than ever, Australian unions say.
07 October 2008 [full story]
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Time to vote on Singapore Airlines agreement
The Singapore Airlines Union Collective Agreement 2008 (Incorporating Singapore Airlines Cargo) has now been made available for all staff to read and understand prior to voting.
06 October 2008 [full story]
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COAG decision step in the right direction: Victorian home care service to be protected
The Australian Services Union (ASU) has welcomed the decision by COAG to establish a working group that will be responsible for delivering the services for Victorian home and community care (HACC) into the future.
03 October 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - September 29, 2008
This edition contains the following items: ASU Energy Branches to meet; ASU – Infrastructure Australia; Brazil - President Lula approves law extending paid maternity leave to six months; Workers’ right to collective bargaining must be at centre of IR laws say unions; World Day for Decent Work, 7 October; Peter Waldorff addresses WTO Symposium on GATS Mode 4; New Zealand transport unions back Wellington Bus Drivers; NSW public sector employees have achieved a 4% per year increase; 2008 'Light on the Hill' Address; plus more.
31 September 2008 [full story]
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18 weeks Paid Maternity Leave a huge step forward, but employers should contribute more
The Productivity Commission’s proposal for an 18 week, government-funded paid maternity leave scheme would bring relief and financial security to tens of thousands of working mothers and their families, says ACTU President Sharan Burrow.
30 September 2008 [full story]
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Eastern QantasLink – your agreement is ready for voting
After many months of arduous negotiations, changes to Federal legislation on how we bargain and getting your Agreement right, the ASU can now recommend the Agreement to you.
29 September 2008 [full story]
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Workers’ right to collective bargaining must be at centre of IR laws say unions: new TV ads
Unions will ramp up the campaign to scrap WorkChoices and ensure the rights of Australian workers to collective bargaining are at the centre of a new IR system with the broadcast of two TV advertisements from today.
28 September 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - September 22, 2008
This edition contains the following items: Union left in the dark on radical change to home care funding; Collective bargaining rights for workers at risk under Labor’s IR plan; ‘Forward with Fairness’ fact sheets; Council workers in Scotland strike over pay dispute; Global Unions call on IFIs to respond to food and financial crises; First meeting of Australian Council of Local Government; Mongolian health workers demand decent pay and living conditions; plus more.
25 September 2008 [full story]
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National Hearing Care call centre job agreement on hold after failing Workplace Authority test
The employment agreement offered to call centre and office workers at National Hearing Care in Melbourne and disputed by the ASU, has failed the Workplace Authority’s No Disadvantage Test.
25 September 2008 [full story]
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Mission Australia - some wins, some problems
Since late August your Negotiation Team has been waiting for Mission Australia management to provide some crucial information in relation to your new Union Collective Agreement.
25 September 2008 [full story]
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A small glimpse on the big screen of the life of the Saharawis
The power of film to put us in the shoes of people whose lives are so different from our own has always been an effective way of raising support for worthy yet little known causes. Two films portraying the experiences of both the children and women of Western Sahara will be screening at ACMI in Melbourne next month. They give us the opportunity to understand what the dispossessed Saharawis are suffering.
23 September 2008 [full story]
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It’s time to vote YES at Sunstate
After many months of negotiations, your agreement is ready to be voted on.
23 September 2008 [full story]
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Union left in the dark on radical change to home care funding
ASU Branch Secretary Brian Parkinson has slammed the Federal Government’s plan to shift funding arrangements in home and community care services (HACC), fearing a negative outcome for employees in the sector and the elderly they care for across the state.
18 September 2008 [full story]
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Toll Dnata check-in job contracts don’t pass Workplace Authority test
After months of waiting staff working for Toll Dnata at Melbourne’s International Airport were notified this week that their employment contracts have failed the Workplace Authority’s No Disadvantage Test.
18 September 2008 [full story]
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Western Sahara Human Rights Defender wins 2008 RFK Human Rights Award
Aminatou Haidar is the 2008 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award Laureate. Ms Haidar is being recognised for her courageous campaign for self-determination of Western Sahara from its occupation by Morocco and against forced disappearances and abuses of prisoners of conscience. Regularly referred to as the “Sahrawi Gandhi,” Ms Haidar is one of Western Sahara’s most prominent human rights defenders.
17 September 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - September 15, 2008
This edition contains the following items: ASU Energy meets with the Federal Minister for Resources and Energy; Award modernisation; NSW energy privatisation collapse; Global Unions call on IFIs to respond to food and financial crises; European Parliament move on hedge funds; Passing EFCA tops Obama’s agenda; Campaign to head off postal privatisation in France; Latest news from Government Skills Australia; plus more.
17 September 2008 [full story]
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Message is clear to Telstra: respect employees’ right to union representation
Unions today urged Telstra management to respect the rights of its workers to be represented by unions after the company’s offer of a non-union job contract was rejected by employees.
17 September 2008 [full story]
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Small business employees must have access to redundancy pay in modern award system
Australians employed in small businesses must have access to redundancy pay in the Labor Government's proposed new modern award system, unions said today.
15 September 2008 [full story]
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Award modernisation fails office workers at first hurdle
The Rudd Government’s award modernisation process has failed workers at the first hurdle, with Victorian office and administration employees set to lose pay and conditions under the draft award released by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC).
15 September 2008 [full story]
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ASU launches national SACS magazine
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services Bill Shorten launched the ASU’s national magazine for the Social and Community Services (SACS) sector in Canberra on 1 September 2008. The launch was attended by MPs and representatives of peak organisations and SACS ASU delegates, members and officials from around Australia.
12 September 2008 [full story]
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ASU calls for creation of a sustainable aviation fund in government submission
This week the ASU lodged its submission to the Rudd Government’s green paper on the introduction of a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, calling for the creation of a Sustainable Aviation Fund to investigate alternative fuel technologies and best industry practice.
12 September 2008 [full story]
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Discounted kids movie tickets and family pass giveaway
With school holidays upon us, we thought we'd remind you about our discounted movie tickets as a cheap way to entertain the kids these holidays.
12 September 2008 [full story]
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Air New Zealand employees vote YES for a good deal
Negotiations have concluded at Air New Zealand with a vote of employees yesterday, 10 September 2008. An overwhelming majority of employees have voted in favour of varying the current Agreement, keeping WorkChoices out and keeping the Union in!
11 September 2008 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from August 2008
One of Australia’s biggest employers, Telstra, is showing workers everywhere why it is so important that unions are involved in negotiating workplace agreements. And they’ve done this by denying their workforce the right to be represented by their unions!
10 September 2008 [full story]
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Liberals confirm they still support worst aspects of WorkChoices
Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop has confirmed that the Liberal Party still supports the parts of WorkChoices that were most unfair for Australian workers say unions.
09 September 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - September 8, 2008
This edition contains the following items: Rail Award Modernisation; Infrastructure Division Conference; ASU speaks up for need for extra workers and skills; Retired Members – can they help the Union; ASU Child Care; Queensland Electricity Distribution; plus more.
08 September 2008 [full story]
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Workers to sue their boss for denying them rights to genuine collective bargaining
Workers at a major Victorian truck parts making plant are suing their employer for refusing to allow them to be represented by a union in genuine collective bargaining.
08 September 2008 [full story]
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It’s time to talk Enterprise Bargaining again at AaE
The two ASU Enterprise Bargaining Agreements with Australian Air Express expire on 16 February 2009 and in consultation with the ASU delegates we have now produced a survey to establish what claims ASU members want to make this time around in negotiations.
05 September 2008 [full story]
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Australian leadership remains crucial to global climate change solution
The latest recommendation by Professor Ross Garnaut for a softer start to a carbon trading scheme needs to be carefully considered by the federal government on two critical fronts says ACTU President Sharan Burrow.
05 September 2008 [full story]
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Admin workers let down by Queensland Health offer
The ASU, the union representing clerical and administrative support workers in Queensland hospitals has expressed disappointment with the first offer made today by Queensland Health in enterprise bargaining negotiations.
05 September 2008 [full story]
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Australian superphosphate not so super
As the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice starts a tour of North Africa and Incitec Pivot holds an extraordinary General Meeting in Melbourne, the Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA), would like to draw attention to Western Sahara, the unresolved issue that affects the North African region.
05 September 2008 [full story]
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Books improve life outcomes for Indigenous Australians
Every effort should be made to improve poor literacy standards and overcome the educational disadvantage faced by Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said today on Indigenous Literacy Day.
03 September 2008 [full story]
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Banks must pass on more than RBA’s interest rate cut to help working families
The major commercial banks must pass on all of any Reserve Bank interest rate cut and then some more to ease some of the financial pressure being felt by working families, unions said today.
02 September 2008 [full story]
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ASU/USU members take action and stand strong as NSW Government unveils "Plan B"
USU members around the state took action and withdrew their labor on Friday afternoon in response to the NSW Government's "plan b".
01 September 2008 [full story]
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Total chaos for Westpac & Qantas customers as IBM blocks pay talks
Major airlines, banks, customs and other key services face meltdown this week as a result of IBM refusing to negotiate a collective agreement with employees.
01 September 2008 [full story]
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Energy workers strike over NSW Government's decision to sell out
Energy workers across NSW have walked off the job this afternoon to protest the Government's decision to sell off retailers in the power industry.
29 August 2008 [full story]
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The Green Paper & Aviation
In 2010 the Government intends to introduce a ‘Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme’ to get businesses and consumers to reduce their pollution. They have recently released a green paper outlining an emissions trading scheme which will include the aviation industry as well as impact our daily lives as consumers.
29 August 2008 [full story]
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QantasLink - Eastern and Sunstate EB marathon draws to a close!
We reported at the beginning of this month that your negotiating teams for Eastern and Sunstate have been attempting to settle new collective agreements since May 2007.
28 August 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - August 25, 2008
This edition contains the following items: Tasmanian Government to buy a new PowerStation from the private sector; Decision in Etheridge Shire Case; Frontiers In Infrastructure Conference; Minister Albanese announces opportunity for input into Infrastructure Australia; Energy Unions in Qld – now set to vote; plus more
28 August 2008 [full story]
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Petition launched to support Toll Dnata airport workers
The ASU has launched a petition to support Toll Dnata workers at Australian airports and protect the industry from a drop in standards.
27 August 2008 [full story]
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IR Ministers need to deliver new laws that restore workers’ collective bargaining rights
The Rudd Labor Government must move quickly to scrap the rest of Work Choices and give Australian workers a strong legal right to collective bargaining, unions said today.
22 August 2008 [full story]
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Roy Morgan sackings highlight weakness of current unfair dismissal protection
The sudden sackings of almost 60 young workers by market researcher Roy Morgan has turned the spotlight onto the lack of protection from unfair dismissal under the current industrial relations system.
22 August 2008 [full story]
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Climate change and aviation
The debate on climate change has a lot of jargon and issues that can be hard to understand. As the aviation industry is always discussed in climate change debates, the ASU’s National Airlines Division Council has made education of ASU members on this issue a priority.
21 August 2008 [full story]
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Media Release: Toll Dnata uses Labor’s ITEAs to cut pay and conditions of Airport workers by $5,000 a year
Toll Dnata, an airlines company owned by Emirates and Toll Holdings, is seeking to exploit Labor’s transitional IR laws to cut the pay and allowances of customer service and check-in staff at Melbourne’s international airport by at least $5,000 a year.
20 August 2008 [full story]
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Mission Australia - staff negotiation update
Negotiations with Mission Australia have been progressing well and we believe we have now reached an in-principle agreement. A full update on negotiations will be provided shortly. In the meantime below is a brief update.
20 August 2008 [full story]
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Maintain the rage - National Young Workers Conference
The Young Unionists’ Network is hosting the 2008 national young workers conference in Melbourne on 12 & 13 September 2008. We invite young workers, activists, students, organisers and those interested in issues for young people to join us this
September for discussions, actions, workshops and celebrations under the theme ‘Maintain the Rage’.
19 August 2008 [full story]
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Who On Earth Cares? The ASU does!
Who on earth cares? Well actually, when it comes to climate change, there are a lot of us. Who On Earth Cares (WOEC) is an exciting campaign encouraging Australians to express their concerns about climate change and actively do something about the issue. Leading actor Cate Blanchett is the face of WOEC, encouraging the Australian public to put themselves ‘on the map’ and show they care while asking our leaders to also act responsibly on climate change.
19 August 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - August 19, 2008
This edition contains the following items: ASU calls for extra funding for local government; Standards Australia Electricity Distribution/Transmission group meets; State govts must accept inevitable downsizing; Regional Projects Grants; ACCC grants authorisation to central Queensland regional councils; plus more.
19 August 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - August 14, 2008
This edition contains the following items: PSI statement on outcome of WTO talks; ITF Rail Union Report; National Quality Standards Framework Consultations; Minister affirms commitment to continue work with the OECD; Future Tax System Discussion Paper; Online petition to support health and safety at work; $1million to expand White Ribbon Day activities in rural and regional Australia; Protect the future - maternity, paternity and work - gender equality at the heart of decent work; plus more.
18 August 2008 [full story]
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Time to deliver on new workplace laws
Signs of a slowdown in the economy underline the need for the urgent scrapping of WorkChoices and restoration of a strong safety net of rights and entitlements for Australian workers.
13 August 2008 [full story]
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Banks are putting profits ahead of customers under financial pressure
Australia’s banks are selfishly putting their profits ahead of their customers who are under financial pressure from high interest rates.
13 August 2008 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from July 2008
Of all the issues on the industrial landscape, the one that strikes a deep chord everywhere is occupational health and safety – everyone wants to make it home in one piece after a shift at work.
12 August 2008 [full story]
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Stop the big business push in its tracks: email your MP now
This time last year, it was clear who was threatening our rights at work - the Howard Government. Now the threat to our rights at work is more subtle. In the pages of newspapers, in Parliament House meeting suites, in clubs and dining rooms and the Qantas Chairman's Lounge - big business is mounting a push back.
11 August 2008 [full story]
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QantasLink Eastern and Sunstate EB Campaign 2007/2008
Since May 2007 you have been waiting for real responses to your bargaining claims. During this time the federal legislation changed, allowing the negotiations to refocus on keeping the agreements you have currently in place, including all union related matters and negotiating new items.
11 August 2008 [full story]
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Henry Review must not be an excuse for more big tax cuts for the wealthy and big business
The chief priorities of the Rudd Government’s review of Australia’s Future Tax System must be to ensure our tax system is fair and progressive and provides sufficient revenue to fund the services and benefits Australian working families rely on.
07 August 2008 [full story]
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Sign up to Your OHS Rights at Work
The Federal Government and all state and territory governments have agreed to move towards a simpler approach to occupational health and safety (OHS) laws in Australia. This is to be achieved through harmonisation, i.e. through the creation of a uniform set of laws. Please sign the petition to ensure your OHS rights are protected in the new laws.
06 August 2008 [full story]
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ASU speaks up for office workers
The ASU has made detailed submissions to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) on the need for protection of the wages and working conditions of office employees throughout Australia as the award modernisation process heats up.
05 August 2008 [full story]
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Redundancies in holding pattern at Qantas
ASU reps met with Qantas Group General Managers for People from most Qantas business segments on Friday 1st August 2008 to try and get a handle on the ASU areas that are being targeted for redundancies as a result of the recent announcement.
05 August 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - August 4, 2008
This edition contains the following items: ASU occupational health and safety; UK - support a fair deal for public service workers; ACCC accepts undertaking for interstate rail access; Census of child care services; ASU Local Government Industry Division; Electricity networks association; Young Australians encouraged to enrol to vote; Building workers should have the same rights as the rest of the workforce; Time to Deliver - A National Paid Parental Leave Scheme; Sport and Recreation Review; plus more.
04 August 2008 [full story]
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Homelessness - it's not who you think
This week is National Homeless Person's Week and as the largest union covering workers in the social and community services sector, the ASU encourages everyone to become more aware of the real facts behind homelessness. There's a crisis out there with too many Australians sleeping rough every night of the year because there are not enough facilities to house them. Many are children.
04 August 2008 [full story]
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Telstra MOU lawful: management should abide by the umpire’s ruling and resume talks
Telstra Human Resources should abide by a ruling of the federal Department of Workplace Relations and immediately resume talks with unions about a new enterprise agreement.
04 August 2008 [full story]
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Time marches on at BoysTown
Your Union, the ASU has recommenced meeting with BoysTown management in an effort to have negotiations for a new agreement for all BoysTown staff put in place.
04 August 2008 [full story]
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Negotiations in the final stage at Air New Zealand
Negotiations have progressed to the point where a final draft of the agreement for Air New Zealand is being compiled. The table below provides the latest on each of the key issues. Your JCC Rep and ASU Organiser will be holding meetings over the next week to take you through the details.
01 August 2008 [full story]
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Close the Gap presents national Indigenous health targets
The Close the Gap coalition this week (on July 29) presented the Federal Government and Opposition with a set of national Indigenous health equality targets to address the 17-year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The ASU is a formal supporter of the Close the Gap campaign.
31 July 2008 [full story]
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Fight against draconian Building Commission to intensify
Today, Victorian trade union delegates confirmed their deep anger at the continued existence of the undemocratic, anti-worker and anti-union Australian Building Construction Commission (ABCC) and resolved to intensify the fight to have it abolished along with the underpinning legislation and code. They also declared their support for the CFMEU’s Noel Washington who is facing six months jail for defying the ABCC, and the delegates called for mass rallies on the day of his court hearing.
30 July 2008 [full story]
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Progress at the Air New Zealand bargaining table
A full day’s negotiation took place on 23 July 2008. A range of claims have been progressed and the update is reported below.
30 July 2008 [full story]
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Big push starts for better pay for social and community service workers in Queensland
The Australian Services Union Queensland Services Branch (ASU-Services) will this evening (30 July) launch its campaign for significant improvements in pay and conditions for thousands of social and community service workers in the non-government sector at a special function in Brisbane.
30 July 2008 [full story]
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Employers are taking advantage of restrictions on union entry to cut rights at work
Unions have called for workers’ rights to meet with union officials to be strengthened following reports that access to workplaces has been prevented by over-zealous employers. Employers are taking advantage of restrictions on union rights to enter workplaces to make it virtually impossible for workers to discuss industrial issues with union organisers.
29 July 2008 [full story]
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Update on Qantas redundancies
On Friday 18th July 2008 Qantas announced their intention to cut 1,500 jobs across the Group by December 2008. Despite this announcement we have been unable to get exact details of which areas will be hit by job cuts, instead we have been told by Qantas management that the ASU will be involved in a series of meetings with the Group General Managers of Human Resources for each of the business segments to get an indication of where they believe the job cuts will come from.
28 July 2008 [full story]
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Victorian social and community services workforce survey
The ASU Victorian Authorities and Services Branch is embarking on the largest SACS workforce survey undertaken in Victoria. Results will be collated and released at our second annual SACS members conference, to be held on 4th and 5th of September this year. The results will be used to support our campaign claims to improve workforce issues in the sector and related submissions.
25 July 2008 [full story]
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Unions and business in joint pact on skills
Australia’s unions and the nation’s two largest employer bodies will hold an historic meeting today (Tuesday) to forge a shared approach to the skills and training needs of the national economy.
22 July 2008 [full story]
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Stop the Sell-Off: send a message to the politicians
As the Stop the Sell Off Campaign intensifies over the next fortnight, please send a message to your local member in New South Wales and express your concerns with the State Government's plan to privatise areas of the NSW power industry.
21 July 2008 [full story]
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Telstra's HR managers walk out on 32,000 workers: take urgent action now!
Sometimes a company will treat its workers with such disdain it can take your breath away. On Thursday, Telstra's Human Resources managers decided to completely cancel collective agreement talks with its workers.
21 July 2008 [full story]
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Union anger over Qantas 1,500 job cuts announcement
The Australian Services Union has reacted strongly to Qantas’ announcement that it plans to cut 1,500 jobs by December.
18 July 2008 [full story]
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Deaths of workers underline need for stronger health and safety laws
Australia’s poor record on workplace death and injury, including the death of two construction workers on the Gold Coast last month underlines the need for the highest possible national workplace health and safety standards, ACTU Assistant Secretary Geoff Fary said today.
17 July 2008 [full story]
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Unions welcome Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme as urgent and necessary
Unions strongly welcome the Rudd Government’s plan for a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. “The alarm bells have been ringing for years, and we finally now have a government prepared to listen and to act to safeguard future generations,” says ACTU President Sharan Burrow.
16 July 2008 [full story]
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Harvey Norman using IR confusion to rip off sales staff
Retail giant Harvey Norman has been caught red-handed using an unfair AWA months after they were banned to cut the take home pay of a sales worker by up to $146 a week, a press report revealed yesterdeay. This shows a major employer is taking advantage of confusion over the IR laws and the fact that WorkChoices has not yet been fully scrapped to rip off a worker, say unions.
15 July 2008 [full story]
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Voters losing patience with business push for delay in restoring workers’ rights: new poll
In a clear warning that the public is losing patience with the demands of business lobby groups who want to keep major aspects of WorkChoices, a major new national poll shows Australians want to get rid of WorkChoices as soon as possible.
15 July 2008 [full story]
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More support needed to help carers balance their work and family commitments
Action is needed to help workers who care for elderly or disabled relatives or Australia will face a work/care collision from an ageing population, unions say. Unless measures such as more flexible working hours and improved carer's leave are introduced, workers who look after relatives who are elderly, chronically ill, disabled, or even school-aged children will face the same pressure to choose between their job and family as parents of pre-schoolers.
11 July 2008 [full story]
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Minimum wage pay decision begins to repair damage done by WorkChoices
Today’s pay decision for more than a million award-dependent workers has begun to address some of the damage caused by WorkChoices, but more needs to be done, according to the ACTU.
08 July 2008 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - June 2008
The current edition includes the following items: Asian Development Bank must fund public services before private profits; Paris to re-municipalise its water; Different management models in water in the Asia Pacific Region; Korean electricity; Ghost Town NSW Water Review campaign video; Regional utilities another move at the ADB; plus much more.
08 July 2008 [full story]
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Let’s save ahm
The ASU United Services Branch (or USU) has launched a petition to urge Australian Health Management fund (ahm) CEO, Mick McLeod, not to go ahead with the takeover by Medibank. Hundreds of workers in Wollongong face an uncertain future while Mr McLeod decides the fate of ahm.
07 July 2008 [full story]
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New powerful climate alliance to drive tough and fair solutions
For the first time peak social, union, research and environmental organisations have formed an historic and powerful alliance to tackle climate change. The Southern Cross Climate Coalition, launched yesterday, is pushing for climate policy to be fairly implemented and maximise the opportunities for investment and jobs growth whilst emphasising that all sections of society have an urgent responsibility to act.
07 July 2008 [full story]
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Climate change will cut the wages of working Australians - urgent action needed
Working Australians will be hit hard by inaction on climate change and urgent action is needed says the ACTU and the ASU. Professor Garnaut’s report released today estimates working Australians will face job losses in key industries, including agriculture and tourism, as well as wage cuts of between 7.8% and 14.8% depending on the severity of climate change-induced drought.
04 July 2008 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from June 2008
Plenty of comedians get mileage out of the fact that many Australian call centres are now being run from places like India and the Philippines, but the serious side of this issue is not getting the attention it deserves.
03 July 2008 [full story]
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Paid Parental Leave - what does it mean and why should we have it?
Paid parental leave is the generic term used to describe the working conditions which family members should be entitled to in order to maintain a balance between their work and family life. Paid leave also recognises that workers need to continue to provide for their families whilst raising them and in particular those most important early years.
03 July 2008 [full story]
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Joint statement by Mission Australia and the Australian Services Union (ASU)
We are pleased to let you know that Mission Australia and the ASU had a positive meeting earlier this week and have agreed to future arrangements aimed at getting negotiations back on track and achieving a quick finalisation of the Collective Agreement.
03 July 2008 [full story]
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ASU members make key contribution to aviation policy development
The ASU’s submission to the Federal Government’s aviation policy development draws on the survey responses to the ASU Aviation Issues Survey 2008 received from almost 800 frontline aviation workers across Australia.
02 July 2008 [full story]
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And now onto the next issue for social and community services workers
After a few tense moments last week, the Coalition agreed to support the Federal Labor Government’s amendments in the Senate to restore the use of income net of reportable fringe benefits as the measure for the level of Family Benefits payable. This move recognised the significant level of salary packaging in community services organisations.
01 July 2008 [full story]
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ASU makes submission to Homelessness Green Paper
The ASU has made a submission in response to the Federal Government’s Homelessness Green Paper which highlights the need to address the serious workforce development challenges which are evident in the community services sector and the housing sub sector.
30 June 2008 [full story]
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Bargaining begins at Air New Zealand for 2008
Following the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting on the 12 June where bargaining was a JCC agenda item, a full day of bargaining was set down for the 18 June in Sydney.
30 June 2008 [full story]
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Qantas EBA 8 wages and allowances set to increase
ASU Qantas EBA 8 provides for a pay rise from the first pay period on or after 1 July 2008 and also provides for a range of allowances to be adjusted for CPI (i.e. cost of living) or in line with the wage rise.
27 June 2008 [full story]
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PSI backs fight against power sell off
ASU National Secretary Paul Slape has welcomed the support of global union Public Services International (PSI) for the campaign against selling off power in New South Wales by the Iemma Government.
26 June 2008 [full story]
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Gender diversity and work related issues
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has continued to build on the groundbreaking work undertaken on the “Same-Sex: Same Entitlements” Inquiry and the impending federal legislative changes that have resulted. Members of the public have been invited to be involved.
25 June 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - June 23, 2008
This edition contains the following items: United Nations Public Services Day – Monday 23 June 2008; Free Trade Agreement Update; EE-Oz Training Standards; Ministerial Council on Energy Documents; ASUshop; New employment standards are a step towards plugging the gaps left by WorkChoices; Better quality information to parents; plus more.
24 June 2008 [full story]
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The silence is deafening on offshoring
Last month the Services Unions of Australia (which includes the ASU) launched an economic research report titled 'Off-shore and Off-work' that identified that one in ten service sector jobs could be sent offshore over the next 20 years. The research highlights the real policy implications for workers in Australian services industries if our governments do not recognise the significant contribution of this sector and it also recommends root and branch overhaul of existing policies.
24 June 2008 [full story]
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Collective bargaining lifts pay and community standards say unions in new TV ads
Unions are ramping up the campaign to scrap WorkChoices and bring in new laws that protect workers’ rights with the release of two new union TV advertisements that highlight the value of collective bargaining for Australian workers.
23 June 2008 [full story]
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ASU welcomes Federal Government action on salary packaging
The Australian Services Union (ASU) welcomes the Federal Government announcement last night that the Government will move urgent amendments to the law next week in the Senate to restore the use of the net reportable fringe benefits definitions for Family Assistance. This will maintain the current position and so ensure that thousands of ASU members in the community and not-for-profit sector who salary package do not lose the benefit of Family tax or child care benefits after the 1 July 2008.
20 June 2008 [full story]
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More Government cuts for community workers?
With the community services sector and workers in not-for-profit and charitable services still reeling from the effects of changes to tax arrangements due to come into effect on July 1st, another serious challenge has emerged for the Government in relation to the proposed efficiency dividend of 2% that the Government imposed on most departments as part of the budget.
19 June 2008 [full story]
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Aviation Survey deadline extended
We have decided to extend the deadline for responses to the ASU’s Aviation Survey until Monday 23 June 2008. The responses will form part of our submission in response to the Federal Government’s aviation issues paper.
19 June 2008 [full story]
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Government to act on SACS salary sacrifice problem
At a joint press conference in Canberra yesterday Treasurer Wayne Swan and Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin said they will act to fix proposed changes to the way income is calculated for the purpose of determining Family Assistance payments for social and community services (SACS) workers who have been utilising salary packaging because of the PBI status of their employer.
19 June 2008 [full story]
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June 20 - WA rally for social and community services workers and supporters
The ASU WA Branch is staging a vital rally for social and community services (SACS) workers tomorrow in Perth. ASU members and supporters are urged to attend the rally to show the Parliament that you deserve respect!
19 June 2008 [full story]
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A super start in correcting discrimination
ASU lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members (GLAM) congratulate the Rudd Labor Government for the advancements in superannuation for same sex couples which will come about as a result of the introduction of the “Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws - Superannuation) Bill 2008”.
17 June 2008 [full story]
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Pressure builds on Federal Government to make changes to SACS salary packaging
As a result of the ASU campaign launched on 5 June 2008, Federal Ministers Jenny Macklin, Joe Ludwig and Wayne Swan have received hundreds of emails from workers affected by the changes that are being made to the way that income is calculated by Centrelink for the purpose of determining Family Assistance payments.
17 June 2008 [full story]
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Update on Qantas Holidays takeover
ASU Reps met with QHols management in Sydney on Wednesday 11th June 2008 to discuss outstanding matters related to the proposed takeover of Qantas Holidays Ltd by Jetset Travelworld.
17 June 2008 [full story]
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Getting down and serious in bargaining at Air New Zealand
ASU Delegates, officials and management of Air New Zealand have got down to business commencing the talks for bargaining your new union collective agreement.
17 June 2008 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from May 2008
Not all workers become parents but at some stage, we were all babies in need of 24/7 care from our parents. More and more research is showing that the availability and the quality of that care can have far reaching consequences for the nature of our society.
17 June 2008 [full story]
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Pay commissioner pockets 53% pay rise over two years: workers hope for same
A decision by the Remuneration Tribunal to give public office holders a 4.3% pay rise from 1 July 2008 sets the benchmark for what low paid working Australians should at least expect from the forthcoming Fair Pay Commission minimum wage case decision says the ACTU.
13 June 2008 [full story]
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Casuals are no solution to the chaos at Qantas Telephone Sales
This week the Manager of Telephone Sales in Hobart boldly issued a memo to staff suggesting that she will be recruiting ex staff to work as casuals during July 2008. What she failed to realize is that Qantas has an EBA and agreement about how casuals can be engaged and this clearly states that an agreement with the ASU must be reached before casuals are engaged. NO discussion on this issue let alone an agreement has been reached.
12 June 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - June 9, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Review of the revenue framework for local government - terms of reference (NSW); NSW Budget - $22.6M to ensure fair and productive workplaces; National Transport Commission; 15th World Congress of the International Industrial Relations Association (IIRA); Transferred employees; New website tracks councils' water saving efforts (NSW); Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA; Child Care Family Assistance Legislation Amendment Bill 2008; Workplace Ombudsman updated fact sheets.
11 June 2008 [full story]
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Employers can afford paid maternity leave
The ACTU is calling on all businesses to help fund a national paid maternity leave scheme which would provide Australian women with at least 14 weeks paid leave.
11 June 2008 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear and gear on sale!
The latest catalogue for the ASUshop has been released. Read about new and sale items below or downloaded the catalogue.
10 June 2008 [full story]
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Partial victory for Working Women’s Centres – the fight goes on for Queensland
On April 30 this year, the ASU instigated an email campaign in support of Working Women’s Centres (WWCs) in South Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland who were facing funding cuts from the Federal Government. Although we have managed to secure funding for SA and NT, the fight goes on for WWCs in Queensland.
10 June 2008 [full story]
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Staff negotiations for a union agreement at Mission Australia
Negotiations are under way with Mission Australia for a new Certified Agreement that will set your working conditions for the next three years. The first stage of negotiations
was conducted over two days of last week – May 28th and May 29th. The negotiations were slow and in the opinion of your
negotiators very little progress was made.
10 June 2008 [full story]
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Rex Airline Services negotiations begin
The Regional Express (Rex) Airline Services Collective Agreement negotiations have commenced. Your Regional Express Airlines Services Committee (RASC) met in Sydney on 3 June 2008 to commence negotiations on your new agreement.
06 June 2008 [full story]
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Urgent information on salary packaging and SACS workers
As a result of recommendations by a Howard Government Ministerial Taskforce on Child Support back in May 2005, a number of changes are being made to the way that income is calculated by Centrelink for the purpose of determining Family Assistance payments.
05 June 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - June 1, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: 23 June Public Services Day - ASU Public Services Day; Ghost Town NSW Water Review campaign; EE-Oz Training Standards Weekly E-Bulletin; Aged care loan applications close June 6; Public acceptance of recycled water on the rise; Local government projects given reprieve; ASU arguing for reform on the Northern Territory Long Service Leave Act; Dump Railcorp - Give NSW commuters the transport services they deserve.
03 June 2008 [full story]
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14 weeks paid maternity leave for all women
All Australian women would benefit from a national paid maternity leave scheme which allows for a minimum of 14 weeks leave at full pay as proposed by the ACTU in its submission to the Productivity Commission inquiry into paid parental leave.
29 May 2008 [full story]
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It’s time for a new ASU agreement at Rex!
The Regional Express (Rex) Airline Services Collective Agreement 2008 is due to expire on 30 June 2008. This doesn’t mean that it no longer applies, but it does mean that until a new agreement is negotiated there will no further increase in your wages or allowances.
29 May 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - May 26, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Infrastructure Australia; Communiqué from Australian, State, Territory and New Zealand Workplace Relations Ministers Council; ITF Railway News; State-wide power stoppage in Queensland; Unions continue campaign for workers' rights with new TV advertising campaign; WTO issues new proposals for services sector; New Era in Water Management – Tasmania; AFTINET (the Australian Free Trade and Investment Network); Zimbabwe: Union Leaders’ Trial Set for 23 June Global Action.
29 May 2008 [full story]
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New report counts costs of globalisation - massive offshoring to wash through Australian service sector
850,000 service sector jobs face the chop as new economic modelling projects the biggest expatriation of Australian jobs in our history, according to the most comprehensive analysis of Australian labour market trends ever undertaken.
27 May 2008 [full story]
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We need your views on the future of aviation in Australia
In April 2008 the Federal Minister for Transport Anthony Albanese announced the Government’s intention to develop a comprehensive National Aviation Policy Statement.
27 May 2008 [full story]
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Sorry Day provides a chance to turn sentiment into action
National Sorry Day (Monday, 26 May) is the perfect catalyst to turn sentiment into action for members of the Stolen Generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said last week.
26 May 2008 [full story]
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Unions continue campaign for workers' rights with new TV advertising campaign
The ACTU will continue its conversation with working Australians about their rights at work, through an advertising campaign launched yesterday (Sunday 25 May).
26 May 2008 [full story]
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ASU fact sheet for Toll Dnata
This week Toll Dnata is meeting with some employees to offer them direct employment on individual contracts. These employment contracts are called Interim Transitional Employment Agreements (ITEAs). In this fact sheet the ASU has prepared some basic information about ITEAs and your rights when you are offered one.
26 May 2008 [full story]
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Salary sacrifice for motor vehicles at Qantas now available
Following on from the meeting with Qantas on 8th April 2008 we have received a letter dated 19th May 2008 from Qantas Industrial Relations confirming that salary sacrifice of motor vehicles will be available from 1st September 2008 to ASU Qantas EBA 8 staff subject to Qantas policy and the financial ability to meet repayments.
23 May 2008 [full story]
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Unions walk out of Energex negotiations
Union negotiators yesterday walked out of wages talks with Energex, in frustration at ongoing State Government interference in the negotiations.
23 May 2008 [full story]
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Linda White appointed to Australian Social Inclusion Board
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the members of the inaugural Australian Social Inclusion Board at the Board’s first meeting in Melbourne yesterday (21 May 2008).
22 May 2008 [full story]
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State-wide power stoppage in Queensland today
After the overwhelming success of the statewide 24 hour stop work protest in Queensland's power industry on May 14th, the ASU has lodged another notice with Energex, Ergon and Powerlink to inform them that the next 24-hour stop work protest will be held on Wednesday 21st May. And the combined power unions intend to continue industrial action until the power corporations and the State Government start taking the current round of EBA negotiations seriously.
21 May 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - May 19, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Power Industry Day of Action; ASU National Electricity and Energy Division to meet; Inquiry into a New Regional Development Funding Program; ITF railway report; Australian Industrial Relations Commission Amendment Rules 2008; Donate online, over the phone or by post NOW – Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA; EE-Oz Training Standards; Strong link between offshoring of jobs and trade; Victorian State-Local Government Agreement signals new era; plus more.
20 May 2008 [full story]
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ASU intervenes as National Hearing Care fails to listen to workers
The ASU has stepped in to assist call centre and administration workers at National Hearing Care as the company attempts to move staff off AWAs and onto a collective agreement that does not guarantee annual pay increases and takes away Award conditions.
19 May 2008 [full story]
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International Day Against Homophobia has special significance in Australia in 2008
This year, the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHo), 17 May 2008, has special significance for everyone in Australia. “This is a historic year for Australia, with the federal government committing to implement the recommendations of HREOC’s Same-Sex: Same Entitlements report to change the 58 financial and work-related federal laws that discriminate against gay and lesbian couples and their children, as well as to change around 40 additional discriminatory laws,” said Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Innes.
16 May 2008 [full story]
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Qantas executives are putting profits ahead of the living standards of workers say unions
Unions believe it is unethical and unfair for Qantas executives to be denying aircraft maintenance engineers a pay rise that meets their cost of living expenses while at the same time the company is forecast to make a record $1.5 billion profit.
15 May 2008 [full story]
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Paid maternity leave is long overdue
Australia and the United States are the only two OECD countries that do not offer paid maternity leave. Without a statutory paid maternity leave scheme, two thirds of women workers, with little bargaining power, receive no financial support to take leave to have a baby. You can help ensure that this situation changes by making a submission to the current Productivity Commission review.
14 May 2008 [full story]
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Budget is a good step towards undoing the damage of WorkChoices
The 2008 Federal Budget is a good step towards undoing the damage of WorkChoices and relieving the pressure on working Australians and their families.
14 May 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - Budget Edition - May 13, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: QR welcomes Budget infrastructure investment; Long term, co-ordinated and focused effort for children welcomed; Brave new world for urban public transport; Budget is good step towards undoing the damage of WorkChoices; Fresh ideas for work and family; Local communities share $1.86 billion in grants; $20 million gets infrastructure reform rolling; Early childhood initiatives to benefit individuals, the community and the economy; $1 billion plan to help secure cities' water supplies; plus more.
14 May 2008 [full story]
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Burma Cyclone Relief Appeal
‘This is a humanitarian disaster on an unimaginable scale and we are asking all Australians to donate through Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA to the disaster relief work already underway by Norwegian People’s Aid and grassroots organisations on the ground,’ said Sharan Burrow of the ACTU.
13 May 2008 [full story]
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Don’t tear apart Queensland’s rail community
Rail workers are angry about Transport Minister Mickel’s decision to tear Queensland Rail (QR) into six separate private companies. This comes a year after the similar carve-up of electricity which has hit the public in the hip pocket.
13 May 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - May 9, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: ASU Railway & Public Transport Division meeting with ARA; Railway Industry Skills; ASU Railway and Public Transport Branches; ASU Railway & Public Transport Division; ASU Local Government Division meets with state local government associations across the country; ASU Local Government Industry Division Branches meet; $1.8 MILLION to help prepare for climate change; Want to know more about international trade and the WTO; Government’s repurchase of rail and ferry operations great news for rail workers and NZ; Dubbo City Council to cut airport landing fees.
12 May 2008 [full story]
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Senators’ threat to block Labor’s IR laws will resurrect WorkChoices
The threat by two Senators to join with the Coalition and block the next stage of Rudd Government’s industrial relations laws are an affront to the majority of Australians who voted to scrap WorkChoices at the last election says the ACTU.
12 May 2008 [full story]
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Qld power industry day of action coming this Wednesday 14th May
Members employed by Ergon, Energex and Powerlink will be holding a 24-hour strike from 6:00am this coming Wednesday 14th May 2008 to 6:00am the next morning. The purpose of the strike is to alert the power companies and the State Government (their owner) that their current offer of a 4.3% wage increase is unacceptable (the State's own CPI is 4.8%!) and that attempts to reduce safety are equally unacceptable. Rallies will be held at a number of key locations around Queensland during the strike, and you can obtain a brochure outlining when and where these rallies will be held by clicking here.
12 May 2008 [full story]
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Education and training targeted by ACTU as 2008 Federal Budget priority
ACTU President Sharan Burrow today will call for greater investment in vocational education and training, the restoration of workers’ rights lost under Work Choices and for the Federal Government to begin undoing the social and economic damage caused by the former Liberal Government in next week’s Budget.
08 May 2008 [full story]
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Building SACS campaign momentum
An opinion piece by ASU Branch Secretary Sally McManus published on the ABC News website has instigated a lively blog debate. Sally's piece covers the crisis facing workers in the social and community services sector, a issue the ASU has been actively campaigning about since the publication of extensive research last year. We encourage you to participate in the blog to ensure your views are heard.
08 May 2008 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - April 2008
The current edition includes the following items: PSI – Utilities Workshop – outcomes reported to APREC; PSI APREC UTILITIES meets with APEC; PSI & ADB; 28th April - World Day for Safety & Health; Labour clauses in public contracts – ILO Convention 94; PLN signs five long-term IDR portion credit facilities; 'Crossroads of Privatization' by Robert Bestani; FIJI water reforms; Partnership or Powerplay? Oxfam paper calls for rethink on EU trade deals; Australia’s natural gas - issues and trends; plus more.
08 May 2008 [full story]
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How Australia can help create an independent Western Sahara
Western Sahara is often compared to East Timor in that they are both former colonies which, upon the exit of their colonial overlords in the 1970s, were annexed by neighbouring powers against the democratic will of the people. Western Sahara may be further away than East Timor but there are many connections to Australia that make the Western Sahara independence cause one of great relevance to us. And a cause Australia has much to contribute to politically.
08 May 2008 [full story]
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Canon: know your rights @ work
ASU Delegates are working on a number of issues raised by members across the country and they want to make sure you know your rights @ work.
08 May 2008 [full story]
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Treasury report confirms Howard Govt knew WorkChoices cut workers’ pay & conditions
The release of a Treasury report to a newspaper today confirms the former Howard Government knew WorkChoices was stripping Australian workers of their rights and conditions, the Australian Council of Trade Unions said today.
07 May 2008 [full story]
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Give 30 seconds of your time to help mums around the world
Last week 2500 people signed the Maternal and Child Health Pledge. Help us reach 10,000 by Mother's Day this coming Sunday. Mothers in developing countries around the world are suffering due to lack of health facilities and trained health professionals. This is your chance to do something for mum's everywhere!
07 May 2008 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from April 2008
The ASU National Office will be embarking on a redevelopment of the national website, ASU National Net, over the next many months. We need your help with ideas about how to make the new website better, stronger and faster than the current one!
06 May 2008 [full story]
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United we bargain at Virgin Blue
As you are aware, the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement has come up for re-negotiation at Virgin Blue. The ASU has written to the TWU to seek their support in forming a "single bargaining unit" for this round of negotiations. This would mean that we work together to ensure both members of the TWU and ASU are represented at the table.
06 May 2008 [full story]
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Working Women’s Centres nationwide may close
National Working Women’s Centres (NWWCs) in Queensland, Northern Territory and South Australia are facing closure as a result of verbal advice by Julia Gillard’s office that the Federal Government will not renew their funding. The ASU is urging you to support the Centres and the workers they assist by sending an email asking for funding to be maintained.
30 April 2008 [full story]
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May Day 2008
The first day of May is an international day for celebrating workers and their struggles over the years to achieve fairness in our societies. In some states of Australia, Labour Day holidays closely coincide with May Day so look out for events under both banners, some of which are listed below. And in this year of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, remember that workers’ rights are human rights.
30 April 2008 [full story]
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Employer push to downgrade health and safety rights could put workers at risk
The push by big businesses to overhaul the federal workers’ compensation scheme could put the health and safety rights of workers at risk says the ACTU.
30 April 2008 [full story]
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Federal Government delivers pre-election promise to same-sex couples and their families
The ALP made a commitment over five years ago to audit all parts of federal legislation to determine where discrimination occurred. In 2007, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s (HREOC) “Same-Sex: Same Entitlements” report was released. Through both of these actions an end will come to the many complex layers of discrimination found in Australian federal law.
30 April 2008 [full story]
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Ergon Energy staff to stop work tomorrow - pay offer not good enough
Australian Services Union Queensland Services Branch (ASU-Services) members at Queensland’s regional electricity distributor, Ergon Energy, will stop work for twenty-four hours tomorrow morning (Wednesday 30, April 2008) in the Rockhampton and Townsville Control Rooms as part of their campaign to secure a better pay and conditions agreement with Ergon.
29 April 2008 [full story]
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Update on post EBA 8 meetings
Qantas EBA 8 provided for a number of additional issues to be considered after the approval of the EBA. ASU reps held meetings on a range of these issues including staff travel, superannuation and salary sacrifice options in Sydney on 8th April 2008. The following is a summary of what was discussed.
29 April 2008 [full story]
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New figures show 14 weeks paid maternity leave more critical than ever
Australian women are going backwards in terms of paid maternity leave, putting the health of new mothers and babies at risk and undermining the capacity of many families to keep up mortgage repayments, says ACTU President Sharan Burrow.
29 April 2008 [full story]
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Update from Qantas Holidays meeting
ASU representatives met with Qantas Holidays management on 23rd April 2008 to discuss issues arising from the proposed sale of Qantas Holidays to Jetset Travelworld and then the subsequent purchase of 58% of Jetset Travelworld by Qantas Airways Ltd.
28 April 2008 [full story]
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Unions call for urgent asbestos probe on International Workers' Memorial Day
Unions will use today’s International Workers' Memorial Day to call on the Federal Government to launch a national Asbestos Inquiry.
28 April 2008 [full story]
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Menzies EBA vote = Yes!
After a long period of negotiations we finally have a new Agreement! The ballot last week was highly successful with a large voter turn out across Melbourne and Sydney, with 98% of voters voting in favour of the agreement.
28 April 2008 [full story]
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Mission workers vote for a union agreement
Mission Australia workers from across the country have overwhelmingly voted (401 to 67!) in support of having a union based collective agreement. Well Done!
28 April 2008 [full story]
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Join the Mothers' Day Classic and run/walk/hop/skip/jump with the Your Rights at Work Team
On May 11 2008, for the second time, the Mothers Day Classic fun run or walk will feature dedicated Your Rights At Work teams in every regional and capital city event around the country. Join the Your Rights at Work team and support two important community campaigns!
24 April 2008 [full story]
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On April 28 mourn for the dead and fight for the living
Every year, workers around the world gather to commemorate those who were killed or injured at work, or who became sick from exposure to workplace hazardous substances. Workers' Memorial Day is the day when we 'mourn for the dead and fight for the living', drawing attention to the plight of over 2 million people worldwide who die each year as a result of their work.
24 April 2008 [full story]
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ASU members say Ergon offer not good enough
Tuesday 22nd April saw the ASU take industrial action at Ergon Energy with a 4 hour stop work meeting from 8am—12noon, of all ASU members across all Ergon Energy Depot and Office locations.
24 April 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - April 21, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Child care and local government; Productivity Commission report into local government revenue raising; 28th April - World Day for Safety & Health; Labour clauses in public contracts – ILO Convention 94; EE-Oz Training Standards Weekly E-Bulletin; May Day 2008; ASU Water Industry – Tasmanian Branch; ITF Rail Union report titled " Privatisation of KTM (Malaysian Railway)”; Report reveals NSW Government starving communities of funds; Visit to occupied territories in Western Sahara by international trade union delegation; Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA study tour to East Timor.
23 April 2008 [full story]
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Walking the dog better paid than caring for the homeless
People paid to walk dogs earn more than those who care for homeless people, a new wage analysis by the Australian Services Union (ASU) has found, highlighting a crisis in the community services sector and state of neglect pay rates are in.
23 April 2008 [full story]
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ASU seen and heard at 2020 Summit
As previously reported, ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White and SA/NT Branch Assistant Secretary Katrine Hildyard were invited to attend the Australia 2020 Summit last weekend. As delegates to the “Strengthening Communities, Supporting Families and Social Inclusion” stream, both Linda and Katrine were keen to have the concerns of our community sector heard.
22 April 2008 [full story]
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ASU welcomes Workplace Advocate’s report highlighting unfair Qantas valet AWAs
The ASU today welcomed the Workplace Rights Advocate’s report into the AWAs offered to customer service staff during the Qantas Valet Parking dispute.
21 April 2008 [full story]
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Tell our governments we want to Close the Gap
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have a life expectancy 17 years less than other Australians. Yet this is a situation that can be changed. The “Close the Gap” campaign calls on federal, state and territory governments to commit to closing the life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians within a generation. April 22 is National Close the Gap Day - join us in showing your support.
18 April 2008 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear - orders for bomber and pea jackets close April 22
It’s getting close to that time of the year again where we need to bring out the extra layers of clothes to help shield us from the slight to steep drop in temperatures outside. For those of you who prefer to buy something new and seasonal, we have a new range of ASU jackets and raincoats to do just the thing.
18 April 2008 [full story]
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Child care and local government
The Australian Services Union (ASU), Australia’s largest local government child care union, has welcomed the call by the Prime Minister for increased recognition and greater provision of child care education services as well as the Prime Minister’s statement that this should involve universal access for all Australian families, including one stop shops for parents.
17 April 2008 [full story]
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Facing up to Australia's skills challenge: industry sets key priorities to address the skills crisis
The National Skills Policy Collaboration has today released a ten-point plan to meet Australia's skills challenges head on.
17 April 2008 [full story]
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Ergon members to go on strike
Following the breakdown of EBA negotiations, members working for Ergon Energy have voted to take protected industrial action in the form of bans and work stoppages to show their displeasure at the company's refusal to negotiate in good faith.
17 April 2008 [full story]
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ASU recommends YES vote for Menzies
After consultation with ASU members in Sydney and Melbourne over the last two weeks the ASU recommends that staff covered by the ASU Customer Service Employees (Menzies Aviation) Enterprise Agreement 2007 vote YES to approve the EBA when voting commences tomorrow on Thursday 17th April 2008.
16 April 2008 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from March 2008
In March, unions announced they would pursue a $26 a week increase for the federal minimum wage. Workers set to benefit from this modest increase are amongst the lowest paid in our society. We at the ASU take this annual assignment very seriously.
16 April 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - April 14, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Planning for water infrastructure in Victoria; EE-Oz Training Standards; AIRC award modernisation request; Northern Territory ASU members elected as Aldermen; Superannuation (Pacific National) Order 2008; Iemma Government to establish Clean Coal Council; Australian Local Government Training (ALGT) - Report on women in local government; AER to review rate of return for energy network businesses; Speech to CEDA/KPMG water for the future forum; plus more.
15 April 2008 [full story]
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Ansett Employee Update Number 54 and Eighth Report to Creditors
The latest Employee Update from the Ansett Administrators (Update 54) is now available on this website. It provides information about the payment of the tenth dividend and an update on current litigation. The Eighth Report to Creditors is also now available.
15 April 2008 [full story]
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Linda White addresses the 2008 ACOSS Conference
ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White addressed the 2008 ACOSS National Conference on 9 April 2008 in Melbourne about the ASU’s view on the policies and practices that will need to be adopted if Australia is to become a more socially inclusive society.
15 April 2008 [full story]
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Climate change: workers want a say in creating greener workplaces
Working Australians want to do their bit to tackle the problem of climate change and unions believe it is important they are given a say in their workplace, including to create greener workplaces.
15 April 2008 [full story]
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Captain Community comes to Darwin and launches union/NTCOSS campaign for social inclusion through a strong community sector into the future
Urgent issues threaten the non government community sector’s capacity to deliver quality services to the most disadvantaged Territorians into the future.
14 April 2008 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear - launch of movie tickets
The ASU is proud to announce a special offer for its members and families in conjunction with various cinemas Australia wide. Various cinemas including Hoyts, Village, Greater Union, IMAX, Dendy and many more are proud to offer union members and their families’ savings of up to 30% off the regular price of movie tickets. Ticket prices include postage.
11 April 2008 [full story]
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Job & wages data show ‘coast is clear’ for $26 a week pay rise for low paid workers
The latest ABS jobs data and Government wages figures show that despite a tight job market there is no wages pressure on inflation and that the coast is clear for a $26 a week pay rise for low paid Australian workers say unions.
11 April 2008 [full story]
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ASU members elected to Northern Territory municipal councils
The recent local government council elections held throughout the Northern Territory (NT) on Saturday March 29, 2008, resulted in two NT ASU members being elected to the Palmerston City Council and the Alice Springs Town Council.
11 April 2008 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - March 2008
The current edition includes the following items: Women call for access to safe water; United Nations officially launched the International Year of Sanitation; Privatisation in Turkey; Philippine cities show the way to dynamic development; Thailand - establishment of a civil servant union; Harassment and violence at work; ILO 28 April World Day for Safety & Health; EU program to help Pacific power utilities focus on upgrading skills for energy efficiency; Water reform in Australia; plus more.
11 April 2008 [full story]
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Canon: Balanced Score Card
As previously reported, Canon management have responded to your demands on the Balanced Score Card.
11 April 2008 [full story]
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Respect the Workers, Sustain the Services - Victorian SACS campaign launch
The ‘Respect the Workers Sustain the Services’ Victorian campaign is about non-government social and community services workers ensuring they are valued, have secure jobs and decent wages so they can support the most vulnerable Victorians. Adequately staffed and resourced services are central to addressing such disadvantage.
10 April 2008 [full story]
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ASU has 2020 vision
One of the new Rudd Government’s first initiatives has been to organise the 2020 Summit to be held in Canberra from 19-20 April. It aims to bring together 1,000 delegates from all over Australia to discuss how best to deliver Australia’s future. Two ASU officials have been selected to attend. Assistant National Secretary Linda White and SA/NT Branch Assistant Secretary Katrine Hildyard will be participating in the “Strengthening Communities, Families and Social Inclusion” stream of the Summit.
10 April 2008 [full story]
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Together we can make a difference - launch of NT SACS campaign
The ASU-SA/NT Branch is launching your campaign in the non-government community services sector in the Northern Territory on Wednesday, April 16, 2008.
10 April 2008 [full story]
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Unions, business and HREOC: paid maternity leave vital for Australia’s economy and working families
HREOC Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, ACTU President Sharan Burrow and Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Heather Ridout have joined forces to call for a national, taxpayer-funded paid maternity leave scheme for all Australian women.
08 April 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - April 7, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: New skills and new positions – extra employment in ASU public services areas; National Local Government Employer and ASU Meeting; Water industry skills investment; ILO General Survey on Convention 94, on the rights of workers affected by contracting out; Local Government and Planning Ministers' Council - Communiqué; plus more.
08 April 2008 [full story]
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$47million of Ansett super remains unclaimed
Almost seven years since the collapse of Ansett it appears that almost $47million worth of superannuation remains unclaimed by around 1,959 former Ansett employees whose super was transferred to AUSfund after Ansett Airlines collapsed in September 2001.
04 April 2008 [full story]
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Australian workers need stronger health and safety protections: review welcome
With an estimated 6,700 Australian workplace deaths each year and some indications that the number has been rising, the review is an important first step in improving workplace health and safety standards and is sorely needed say unions.
04 April 2008 [full story]
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How much longer are you prepared to wait?
We informed you in November ‘07 that we had been waiting for some time for a response from QantasLink about EBA negotiations… We told you in February ‘08 that we thought there was progress and now in March ‘08 guess what…? We are still waiting.
04 April 2008 [full story]
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ASU action nets results in Community Health Centres
The action of many ASU members who took the time to email, fax and post letters to Victorian Health Minister Daniel Andrews about the tax situation for workers in Victorian Community Health Centres has netted results. Workers in Victorian Community Health Centres can now continue to salary package at their previous amounts until 30 June 2008. A review of the tax decision is being carried out during this time.
03 April 2008 [full story]
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National Youth Week 2008 - Shout.Share.Live.Unite.
National Youth Week (NYW) is Australia's largest celebration of young people. NYW 2008 will take place from 5-13 April 2008 and there are plenty of ways for you to get involved.
03 April 2008 [full story]
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Combating HIV/AIDS through awareness
HIV/AIDS is of particular concern to transport workers. Mobility and long absences from home make transport workers vulnerable. The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), of which the ASU is an affiliate, is helping to combat HIV and AIDS by raising awareness among road transport industry workers.
02 April 2008 [full story]
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ASU honours Union legend Harry Krantz
The South Australian / Northern Territory Branch of the ASU opened a library in honour of former Branch Secretary Harry Krantz on Sunday 30 March 2008.
31 March 2008 [full story]
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Union strategies for creating future prosperity
Unions are workers coming together to defend and advance their rights today, but they are also looking towards the future. And with the specialist knowledge of how workplaces function, unions have a lot to say about how to shape the workplaces of tomorrow, with fairness and prosperity entered into the equation. ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence spoke at today's "2008 Economic and Social Outlook Conference" held at Melbourne University, with ideas about boosting labour supply, a very current issue in the midst of widely publicised skills shortages in Australia.
28 March 2008 [full story]
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Our food bowls flourish while Saharawis remain dispossessed
The exploitation of the rich phosphate reserves in Western Sahara by the illegally occupying Moroccans is just another example of the systematic impoverishment of the long suffering Saharawis. As a major beneficiary of the phosphate trade, it is incumbent on Australia to push harder for a just solution in Western Sahara.
28 March 2008 [full story]
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Seeking messages of solidarity a crime?
Iranian trade unionist Mahmoud Salehi was due to be freed from prison on 23 March. But the authorities now accuse him of "communicating with those outside prison for the purposes of issuing messages of solidarity". As a result, he has not yet been released and has gone on hunger strike. Amnesty International and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) are waging a global campaign to demand his freedom. The ASU is an active supporter of the oppressed Iranian trade unionists.
28 March 2008 [full story]
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Unions welcome start of ban on new AWAs & vow to continue campaign to scrap WorkChoices
Unions welcome the ban on new Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) that takes effect today (12 midnight Friday 28 March) but plan to continue the campaign to scrap WorkChoices in its entirety.
28 March 2008 [full story]
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Time for paid maternity leave to become standard in all workplaces say unions
The move by major retailer Myer to introduce six weeks parental leave for its 10,000 full-time staff is a welcome first step towards a national paid maternity leave system say unions. Australia lags behind the world in terms of paid maternity leave and moves like this from Myer will send the right message to government and other businesses that paid maternity leave should be standard practice.
27 March 2008 [full story]
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A call to action for Victorian Community Health Centres
Further to our previous ASU bulletin regarding our concern that some employers would be removing the ability for staff to salary package from 1 April 2008, due to advice from the ATO, this has in fact happened. A number of members have been in touch with the ASU, letting us know that they have received advice that they will be losing the ability to salary package as currently the case, from 1 April 2008.
27 March 2008 [full story]
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Ombudsman’s report confirms no transmission of business
Commenting on the release of the Workplace Ombudsman’s report into the Qantas Valet Parking dispute, ASU Victorian Branch Secretary Ingrid Stitt said it was because there was no transmission of business that the workers were left exposed under WorkChoices laws.
27 March 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - March 25, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Australian Fair Pay Commission (AFPC); My life, my work, my safe work - Managing risk in the work environment; Rudd Government invests in water industry skills; More time for submissions to country water utilities inquiry (NSW); ASU affiliate organisation AFTINET; PSI bulletin; ASU National Executive meets; Fabian Society debate - Union Control of the ALP?; Electricity reforms working in WA; Community urged to nominate a child care professional (ACT); Workcover NSW bulletin.
27 March 2008 [full story]
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Pay grab by Liberal MPs responsible for WorkChoices smacks of double standards
Reports today that senior Liberals, including those responsible for introducing WorkChoices, are ‘mounting a behind-the-scenes push to get extra pay for being a shadow Minister’ are a sign of double standards says the ACTU.
26 March 2008 [full story]
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World Water Day 2008 - Sanitation is the key to health
This year’s 22 March World Water Day is renamed the World Sanitation Day in recognition of the International Year of Sanitation 2008. Modern sanitation (removal and treatment of sewage) is arguably the most important ever advance in public health - an important component in reducing waterborne diseases, essential for safe, reliable water supply. Water is of fundamental importance to everyone on this planet, yet sanitation is the lost cousin of the water sector.
22 March 2008 [full story]
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Senate IR inquiry recognises Qantas Valet Parking dispute as unethical and major example of AWA abuse
The recent Qantas Valet Parking dispute led by the Australian Services Union was highlighted in this week's Senate report into the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Bill 2008.
20 March 2008 [full story]
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Ban on new AWAs will start to restore protection for working Australians say unions
A ban on new Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) will begin to restore the rights of Australian workers taken away by the former Liberal Government’s WorkChoices IR laws say unions.
20 March 2008 [full story]
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What Mission workers want – time to decide
Over recent months over 100 Mission staff have decided to join the Union. By forming a Union, standing together and making your views heard you have already begun to influence the process to get you a fair deal for the work you do – this is a fantastic achievement so far, well done!
20 March 2008 [full story]
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ASU continues to pursue solution for community health workers’ pay
As reported earlier this month, a ruling of the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) regarding the status of community health centres in Victoria has the power to make a catastrophic impact on the income of workers in the sector. The ASU has been pursuing both state and federal ministers, along with other strategies, to ensure that members’ wages are secured.
19 March 2008 [full story]
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Rudd Government using carrots rather than sticks
Part of the March ASU National Executive meeting was held at Parliament House in Canberra to allow various federal politicians to address our delegates. The impression given by these guest speakers was that the new Rudd Government is of an entirely different complexion to its predecessor.
17 March 2008 [full story]
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Unions reject employer bid for pay cuts - low paid workers must get decent pay rise
As submissions closed last Friday for the Fair Pay Commission’s 2008 minimum wage deliberations, the ACTU repeated its call for a $26 a week pay rise for the low paid, rejecting bids by employer groups for real pay cuts for minimum wage workers.
17 March 2008 [full story]
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Federal Government leaves indigenous community services workers fighting for basic entitlements
Workers at Karu Aboriginal Child Care Agency in Darwin in the Northern Territory are arguing for their final fortnight's pay and long service and redundancy entitlements.
14 March 2008 [full story]
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Give low paid workers $26 a week pay rise
ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence will announce for the first time today (Wednesday) that unions will seek a $26 a week pay rise for 1.6 million Australian workers that rely on minimum award wages in this year’s national Minimum Wage Case.
12 March 2008 [full story]
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Building a fairer Australia: the role of unions and workers’ rights
On 12 March 2007 Jeff Lawrence, ACTU Secretary made the following speech to the National Press Club.
12 March 2008 [full story]
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ASU members at Canon stick together and the results speak for themselves
ASU delegates and officials met with Canon management on Monday 10 March 2008, following our raising of a dispute with them regarding the Balanced Score Card (BSc).
11 March 2008 [full story]
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ASU National Executive meets in Canberra
The first 2008 meeting of the ASU National Executive begins today in Canberra. The venue was chosen to take advantage of the Parliamentary sitting week which provides ASU officials with the opportunity to meet with various Rudd Government representatives. In addition to the normal business of the Executive, the Union will be ensuring that new Federal Ministers are well versed in the concerns of ASU members as they relate to the Ministers’ portfolios.
11 March 2008 [full story]
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What do Mission workers want?
The ASU has surveyed workers to determine what they want in a new Collective Agreement. Over 100 surveys have been returned from across NSW.
10 March 2008 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from February 2008
On February 13 a momentous event occurred in our Federal Parliament – the past policies of our national governments which led to unjust suffering by our indigenous people were recognised and, importantly, our Parliament said, “Sorry”.
07 March 2008 [full story]
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Tax Office ruling rocks Victorian community health centres
The Victorian Hospitals' Industrial Association (VHIA) and the Victorian Healthcare Association (VHA) have received advice from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) regarding the status of community health centres in Victoria. This advice confirms a past ruling that the government control of community health centres means they can be characterised as government organisations, and so they are unable to be charitable or benevolent institutions. This means salary packaging utilizing the tax status of a Victorian community health centre will no longer be available to employees from 31 March 2008.
07 March 2008 [full story]
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Equal pay, stronger rights for women would boost Australian economy
Equal pay and stronger rights for women will be the focus of discussions at today’s International Women’s Day – Working Women’s Summit held by the ACTU. The ASU is well represented at the Summit with Assistant National Secretary Linda White, National Women's Officer Jo Justo and a contingent of Branch people.
07 March 2008 [full story]
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Retrospective laws needed to protect Qantas Valet Parking staff: ASU tells Senate Inquiry
The Australian Services Union today highlighted the recent Qantas Valet Parking AWA dispute during its submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Bill 2008.
07 March 2008 [full story]
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Business as usual – but only for some
This was the clear message to staff when ASU Qantas Holidays representatives from Brisbane and Sydney met with Qantas Holidays / Jetset Travelworld CEO designate Peter Collins and other management in Sydney on 3rd March 2008.
06 March 2008 [full story]
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Two footy codes, two footy comps & $2000 up for grabs!
In 2008, ACTU Member Connect and Members Equity Bank are pleased to present union members with TWO footy tipping competitions for both NRL and AFL supporters!
05 March 2008 [full story]
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Members identify big problems with Mission agreement
Details are beginning to emerge about Mission Australia HR’s proposed axing of pay and conditions and workers are expressing a whole series of major concerns with the plans and actions of their employer. Mission workers are joining their Union in record numbers. Mission Union members know that to have a strong voice in negotiations they need the numbers. Workers from across Australia are coming together to protect and improve their pay and conditions.
05 March 2008 [full story]
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Young and vulnerable worker becomes MP
The new federal Member for Kingston in South Australia, Amanda Rishworth, has acknowledged her past as a “young and vulnerable worker” in her first speech in the Australian Parliament.
05 March 2008 [full story]
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International Women's Day 2008
What does International Women’s Day mean for women across Australia? It is always a time to refocus our thoughts on where we are and where we need to go. And by “we” is meant everyone, male and female, because inequality harms everyone in one way or another.
05 March 2008 [full story]
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Women earn 16% less than men - International Pay Equity Report
Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, a global study of sixty-three nations has revealed women across all industries and age groups are being paid on average 16% less than men.
04 March 2008 [full story]
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ASU to participate in Global Day of Action in solidarity with Iranian and Colombian unionists on 6 March
As part of the ASU commitment to ITF International Railway Safety Day, we will be joining with International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and ACTU affiliates in supporting two critical issues this week. Trade unions internationally are calling for a global day of action on March 6 to highlight the situation of detained union leaders in Iran, to demand their release and to highlight human rights abuses against the people of Colombia. Australian unionists, including ASU members, will be participating in a series of events around the country.
04 March 2008 [full story]
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Too soon to inflict another interest rate rise on working families
It is too soon for working families to be slugged with another interest rate rise and the Reserve Bank should wait and see before inflicting another increase on home buyers this week says the ACTU and unions.
03 March 2008 [full story]
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Ansett Employee Update Number 53
The latest Employee Update from the Ansett Administrators (Update 53) is now available on this website. It provides a litigation summary and advice that the Eighth Report to Creditors will be released in March.
29 February 2008 [full story]
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Staff work last shifts as new AWA contractor takes over Qantas Valet Parking
About two thirds of staff at Qantas Valet Parking at Tullamarine Airport are expected to work their last shifts today as a new AWA contractor takes over.
29 February 2008 [full story]
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Together we can make a difference
Attention community services workers, employers, representatives of peak bodies and other stakeholders in the Northern Territory. Would you like to be part of addressing urgent workforce attraction and retention issues in the non government community sector so that high quality services can continue to be provided to Northern Territorians?
29 February 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - February 25, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: ASU & ACTU; International Federation of Journalists & ASU; Industry Skills Councils; Rally to “Stop the Sell Off”; ALP members rally against power plan; Local government workers join tribute to Hilton bomb victims; Funding changes threaten local government jobs; Electricity Council - a voice for the community; Comparative Performance Monitoring Report; Transition Bill in line with expectations; plus more.
29 February 2008 [full story]
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Workers win $10 while pay commissioner pockets $38,000
News that pay commissioner Professor Ian Harper pocketed a $38,000 pay rise last year while award wage workers got a measly $10 a week is proof that the former Howard Government’s Work Choices IR laws favoured big business and executives at the expense of ordinary workers say unions.
28 February 2008 [full story]
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Canon Techs say enough is enough
The Canon National Consultative Committee (NCC) met Wednesday 27 February 2008 via teleconference. Your NCC Reps have informed Canon, on your behalf, that they do not accept the Balanced Score Card being forced upon any of you.
28 February 2008 [full story]
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Who on earth cares?
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing Australians today. It’s up to all of us – individuals, businesses, organisations and government – to act quickly to ensure we protect this wonderful country for our kids and their kids, too. The ASU is an active backer of green programs and now we have become a formal supporter of the “Who On Earth Cares” initiative.
27 February 2008 [full story]
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Qantas should stand up for the wages and conditions of valet parking workers say unions
Qantas should immediately step in and save 170 valet parking workers from major cuts to their wages and conditions say unions. The workers have been given a deadline of the end of this week to either accept a pay cut or lose their jobs.
26 February 2008 [full story]
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Qantas Valet Parking contractor re-issues AWA offer not once, not twice, but three times in nine days
An AWA offer has been re-issued not once, not twice, but three times in just nine days by the new contractor due to take over Qantas’ Valet Parking service this Saturday.
25 February 2008 [full story]
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Fair Pay Commission gets it wrong — wages for most low paid workers fall in real terms
Wages for around 1.5 million low paid workers reliant on awards fell below the rate of inflation last year says the ACTU.
25 February 2008 [full story]
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Banks must exhaust all options before closing the door on working families
Unions are calling on banks and home lenders to change the way they deal with families struggling to pay their mortgages, after reports of homeowners returning from work to find their locks had been changed.
22 February 2008 [full story]
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QantasLink (Eastern) EBA 2007/8 campaign
It has been a long wait since your ASU delegates met with management in November 2007! The wait has been worth it… Almost. The meeting at Sydney APC on Monday 18th February 2008 has made significant progress.
22 February 2008 [full story]
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Women still losing out, here and abroad
One day a year women’s issues take centre stage – March 8, International Women’s Day. It seems the rest of the year women are less visible. When the new member for Bennelong, Maxine McKew, made her “maiden” speech (how is a speech maiden-like?) in the Federal parliament, she drew attention to the continuing inequities women face in the workforce and the impact that has on their quality of life.
21 February 2008 [full story]
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Support Qantas Valet Parking workers
About 170 workers across major airports in Australia currently need your support. In the dying days of AWAs in Australia, the new firm contracted to provide Qantas' Valet Parking wants to put all staff on a five year AWA.
21 February 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - February 18, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: No AWAs in Federal Public Services areas; Bondi Rescue (TV show) are local government employees; QLD local government workers to get employment security; Comcare; PSI Campaign 2008: Water, Women, Workers - sources of life 8-22 March 2008; New employment standards to create strong, modern safety net; plus more.
20 February 2008 [full story]
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ASU report shows SACS industry crisis looming
A survey by the ASU of over 2100 workers has revealed that there is a crisis in attracting and retaining staff in the social and community services industry. Unless this crisis is addressed, the new focus on the goal of greater social inclusion by Australian governments will not be achieved.
18 February 2008 [full story]
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ASU refers Qantas Valet Parking AWA offer to Workplace Rights Advocate
The Australian Services Union has today asked the Victorian Workplace Rights Advocate to investigate an Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) being offered to Qantas Valet Parking staff at Tullamarine Airport.
18 February 2008 [full story]
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Countdown to change in Iran
In another three weeks, on 6 March, trade unions around the world are holding an international day of action in solidarity with the workers of Iran.
15 February 2008 [full story]
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Company flouts AWA reforms – union starts legal action and calls for retrospective legislation
The Australian Services Union (ASU) today criticised a taxpayer funded community sector call centre for underhanded tactics which flout the will of the Australian people. The ACE call centre, which is situated in the Prime Minister's own electorate, is continuing to offer AWAs to its staff despite the Rudd government's current efforts to abolish the use of AWAs. The company seems to be in denial that without federal government funding, the ACE call centre wouldn't exist.
15 February 2008 [full story]
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Qantas Valet Parking staff face cuts in wages and conditions as unfair AWAs still allowed to threaten workers rights
In the same week a transition bill enters Federal Parliament to reform the nation’s industrial landscape, Qantas Valet Parking staff at Tullamarine Airport are facing the loss of significant entitlements and a collective agreement due to a change in contract.
15 February 2008 [full story]
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Mission proposes radical changes to agreement
Mission begins negotiating a new enterprise agreement for community service workers. Mission is beginning a process to negotiate a new enterprise agreement for its staff who are covered by the Social And Community Services Award. This process is being overseen by a new Human Resources team that has started with Mission and they have taken charge of our Enterprise Agreement renegotiation. They are proposing RADICAL changes to your pay and your rights at work.
14 February 2008 [full story]
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Mission Australia Community Services Agreement 2008
Your pay and all your working conditions are up for negotiation. Do you want to get the best Agreement possible?
14 February 2008 [full story]
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First step towards dismantling WorkChoices is welcome for working Australians
The Labor Government’s proposed new workplace relations law, tabled in Parliament today, is an important and welcome first step towards reversing the damage done to working Australians by the Liberal and National Parties’ unfair ‘WorkChoices’ laws, say unions.
13 February 2008 [full story]
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SORRY.
The ASU endorses the new Rudd Government’s apology to the stolen generations. This should have been done long ago by the previous federal government and we are pleased that Kevin Rudd has seized the opportunity provided by the first sitting of the new Parliament to make a fresh start on reconciliation with the symbolic gesture of “sorry”.
13 February 2008 [full story]
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Growing campaign against NSW power privatisation: public meeting and rally
Public opposition has grown against the NSW Iemma Government plan to sell its electricity retail business and lease its power generating plants for 99 years to private companies.
12 February 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - February 11, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: ASU members serving our cities, suburbs, regions, bush and country; Storms across Eastern Australia; Australasian Railway Association; Hobart Water - Federal Employment Ombudsman; Greenhouse gas emissions and energy reporting, policy paper released; Skilling and retention within the Australian electricity supply industry workshops/meetings; World Rail Day will also back Osanloo; APHEDA - ASU members wanting to lend their support to the Western Sahara Movement; The Australasian Railway Association communiqué on RISSB Standards; plus more.
12 February 2008 [full story]
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Banks should help struggling families hold onto their homes
Banks have a moral responsibility to help struggling families hold onto their homes say unions. With the profits of the major banks at record levels they also have the financial capacity to negotiate with customers hit hard by the latest interest rate rise and be flexible with individual mortgage and loan repayments.
07 February 2008 [full story]
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Thousands more workers to be hurt by WorkChoices while Liberals stand by AWAs
Thousands more Australian workers will be hurt by WorkChoices as a result of today’s decision by the Liberals’ to defend the use of AWA individual contracts and oppose the Labor Party’s new industrial relations laws say unions.
07 February 2008 [full story]
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Let’s get serious!
Singapore Airlines ENT members met with management on 6 February 2008. You will see from the tables below the general responses to both your claims and the claims from the Company.
07 February 2008 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from January 2008
Over 200 union leaders, along with a delegation of 12 senior ASU officers, have been in Canberra this week deliberating over our future steps in the work of protecting and enhancing your rights at work.
04 February 2008 [full story]
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Reserve Bank should wait & see before working families are hit by interest rate rise say unions
Unions today warned that low and middle income working families cannot afford another rise in interest rates and are calling on the Reserve Bank to hold rates at current levels until the full impact of the global financial situation is clearer.
04 February 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - February 4, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Local Government and Australia Day; New plan for harmonised national IR system released; Workplace fatalities make national focus on OH&S a priority; Unions vow to take on companies that continue to exploit workers; Workplace rights lost under Liberals’ WorkChoices laws must be restored say unions; ILO projects global economic turbulence could generate five million more unemployed in 2008; Las Vegas renews Veolia contract; Water reform – NSW.
04 February 2008 [full story]
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Unions vow to take on companies that continue to exploit workers
More than 200 union leaders, including a delegation from the ASU, that have been meeting in Canberra over the past three days have wound up their conference today vowing to take on big companies that don’t respect the rights of employees and continue to exploit workers.
01 February 2008 [full story]
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Workplace rights lost under Liberals’ WorkChoices laws must be restored say unions
Union leaders have been meeting in Canberra this week at an ACTU conference to discuss how to scrap the Liberals’ WorkChoices IR laws and restore the rights of workers.
31 January 2008 [full story]
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Workplace fatalities make national focus on OH&S a priority
Urgent action is needed to prevent workplace deaths, the ACTU said today. A report from the Australian Safety Compensation Council reported today shows 162 people died in workplaces in the year July 2006 to June 2007, and increase from 157 the previous year.
31 January 2008 [full story]
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Show your pride and march!
Melbourne’s Pride March is on this Sunday, February 3 in St Kilda. It is the first pride march of the year and we urge GLAM supporters to attend their local events as they happen throughout the year.
30 January 2008 [full story]
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ILO projects global economic turbulence could generate five million more unemployed in 2008
GENEVA (ILO News) – Economic turbulence largely due to credit market turmoil and rising oil prices could spur an increase in global unemployment by an estimated 5 million persons in 2008, the International Labour Office (ILO) said recently in its annual Global Employment Trends report (GET)
29 January 2008 [full story]
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Stop the NSW electricity sell off - campaign update #1
In this update: Rally against the sell-off; Bad news for the environment; Unions take community concerns to State Government.
29 January 2008 [full story]
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New plan for harmonised national IR system released
The Final Report of the Williams Inquiry into a possible national industrial relations system was released last Friday, 25 January 2008. The Federal Government is considering the Report prepared by Professor George Williams concerning the possibility of a joint national and state government industrial relations system.
29 January 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - January 22, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Local government workers protecting towns; Water industry plays a role; Local government professional life guards and beach inspectors; Electricity supply restoration; New links for ASU Quality Public Services campaign; PSI Congress; University of Technology Sydney & Public Interest Advocacy Centre Report on Electricity Privatisation; Sydney Water pricing hearing - Public Interest Advocacy Centre.
23 January 2008 [full story]
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ASU members give Qantas EBA 8 thumbs up
Qantas staff have voted overwhelmingly to endorse the ASU EBA 8 deal negotiated and recommended by the ASU's Qantas National Negotiating Team before Christmas.
21 January 2008 [full story]
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Four days to go in Qantas EBA 8 ballot
There are four days left to vote in the ASU EBA 8 ballot. Voting is online either via the website: http://www.myvote.com.au/asueba8 You can also access the online ballot via the Qantas intranet in your workplace. Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 20th January 2008.
17 January 2008 [full story]
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Employers must stop forcing staff onto AWAs ahead of laws to scrap WorkChoices
Unions are calling on employers to stop forcing staff onto Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) ahead of new laws expected to be tabled next month in Federal Parliament that will ban AWAS and begin scrapping WorkChoices.
16 January 2008 [full story]
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ASUnet news … all the news from December 2007
The most hectic part of the festive season is now over with many returning to work. At the ASU, we are preparing for a new year with different challenges from last year, but challenges that are nonetheless crucially important for the future of Australian workers.
15 January 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - January 14, 2008
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Railway industry campaign materials on the way; New superannuation breakthrough; Where are you paying your public services bills for water, electricity, or council rates; LabourStart Labour Website of the Year; Water Polo Australia vs USA being played at local government venue; Sport & Recreation – ocean life guards win by ASU.
15 January 2008 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - December 2007
The current edition includes the following items: The PFI just can’t deliver; Energy retail switching at record levels; International Gas Research Conference 2008; Asia-Pacific Action Plan for Quality Public Services; PSI-APREC Utilities & Infrastructure; PSI and Asian Development Bank Dialogue; ADB Meetings also place the sectors on the agenda; Babies and Bosses - reconciling work and family life; Public sector key in policies for climate change; Asia-Pacific Water Summit; Privatisation of Public Services (Australia); Canadian – Ontario Coalition Against Electricity Privatization; Cambodia Seeks $3 Billion for Power Plants; plus more.
07 January 2008 [full story]
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ASU Recommends "Yes" Vote for EBA 8
Voting in Australian Services Union (Qantas Airways Limited) Agreement 8 (EBA 8) commences online from 9am on Monday 7 January 2008 and closes at midnight on Sunday 20 January 2008.
07 January 2008 [full story]
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ASU condemns fines for WA construction workers
The ASU has joined with the ACTU, CFMEU and other unions to express their strong condemnation of fines up to $10,000 meted out under the Howard Government’s IR laws to 91 West Australian construction workers in a Federal Court decision in late December.
04 January 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - December 21, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Commission announces future wage-setting program; Government announces moratorium on new companies joining Comcare; Assessing local government revenue raising capacity; The PFI just can’t deliver by Margie Jaffe UNISON UK; A national approach for Public Private Partnerships; Private Equity; Protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families; Can you support this urgent online action for Mahmoud Salehi; Reductions in grain rail services will hurt local government; plus more.
02 January 2008 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - December 24, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Sport & Recreation – ocean life guards win by ASU; Eight people honoured with Rainbow Awards for creating harmony in the Tasmanian community; ASU pushes the union COAG agenda; Privatisation of public services in NSW.
02 January 2008 [full story]
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Peaceful and festive holidays to all
The ASU National Office sends its best wishes to everyone, especially our members, at this festive time of the year. It's a time to enjoy our families and friends and this year, for a change, enjoy the relief of knowing that WorkChoices will soon be no more!
24 December 2007 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
Before we get into this month’s newsletter and festive cheer, we’d like to extend a large THANK YOU to everyone who helped MAKE THE DIFFERENCE at the recent Federal Election, your support helped to show Parliament that our rights, our voice and our vote counts. We could not have done this without you and your support. To celebrate this achievement we have some commemorative limited edition pewter pins to mark the occasion.
21 December 2007 [full story]
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ASU members endorse Qantas EBA 8
ASU members at Qantas have voted overwhelmingly to endorse the EBA 8 deal negotiated by the ASU’s Qantas National Negotiating Team, following workplace meetings explaining the offer that have been held around Australia this month.
21 December 2007 [full story]
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Negotiations begin in earnest for Singapore Airlines new EBA
ENT members met with management on 19th December 2007 to discuss our Log of Claims and receive the Company’s claims. We were able to detail our claims and discuss the rationale and then hear the general response from the Company.
21 December 2007 [full story]
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Stop the sell-off
UnionsNSW and power industry delegates yesterday launched their campaign to 'Stop the Sell-Off' of the state's electricity industry proposed by the NSW Government
20 December 2007 [full story]
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Big business should follow Liberals lead - admit WorkChoices is dead and stop using AWAs
The ACTU has called on the business community to also admit WorkChoices is dead and to immediately stop pushing workers onto unfair AWA individual contracts, following the announcement of Liberal leader Brendan Nelson.
20 December 2007 [full story]
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New job for IR extremist Peter Hendy in Liberal HQ shows WorkChoices still alive & kicking
The appointment of long-time industrial relations extremist, anti-union agitator and big business lobbyist Peter Hendy to Opposition leader Brendan Nelson’s office confirms that WorkChoices is still alive and kicking in the Liberal leadership says the ACTU.
20 December 2007 [full story]
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Attention Energy Members: STOP THE SELL OFF
The union movement is strongly opposed to the Iemma Government's announcement to privatise the ele |
