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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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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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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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 electricity industry.
19 December 2007 [full story]
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New unfair dismissal laws vital for fair workplaces: time for the Liberals to stop IR 'extremism'
The Liberal Party should accept that Australians have rejected their extreme approach to industrial relations and support Labor’s plan for new laws that will scrap WorkChoices and restore protection from unfair dismissal for Australian workers.
19 December 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - December 17, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Railway Industry Action Day; Child care is not a business; Local government - is it a corporation and if so, when; Labour website of the year - the voting begins; Industry Skills Councils; DEEWR News; Korean Migrant Workers Union leaders deported; T&G targets retailers; Penny a basket for tomato pickers too much for PE-owned Burger King; Going global from Washington; Global unions press for US worker rights.
17 December 2007 [full story]
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Ansett Employee Update Number 52
The latest Employee Update from the Ansett Administrators (Update 52) is now available on this website. It provides information on payment of the ninth dividend and an update on current litigation.
13 December 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - December 12, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Unions praise workers who helped get rid of WorkChoices; Energy Unions & USU Branch meet in NSW with industry consultant; Calculating employees' super using ordinary time earnings; ITF condemns “fraudulent charges” against trade unionist; Promoting the participation agenda; Donating defibrillators for public places; Appointment of Departmental Secretaries.
12 December 2007 [full story]
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11 valuable Canon employees forced out the door
Canon did not listen. Canon did not treat the employees they were making redundant with respect. Canon did not pay the employees they made forcibly redundant correctly.
11 December 2007 [full story]
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Liberals must accept responsibility for WorkChoices disaster: new figures on AWAs
Liberal leader Brendan Nelson and Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations Julie Bishop must accept that WorkChoices was a disaster with new figures from the Workplace Authority showing the so-called fairness test and AWA individual contracts are continuing to fail thousands of workers.
11 December 2007 [full story]
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It’s time to negotiate a new EBA at Emirates
Your wages and conditions at Emirates are contained in an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA). This EBA is due to expire on 31st December 2007.
10 December 2007 [full story]
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ASU National Net News - November 2007 Digest
Another federal election has come and gone, but this one meant a great deal more to Australians than any in a generation. Getting rid of the Coalition Government has been a victory for values over voracity: our rights are more important to us than unfettered greed.
10 December 2007 [full story]
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Employers should accept the Australian voters' rejection of AWAs and WorkChoices
Employers should accept the outcome of the federal election and immediately stop trying to push workers onto five year AWA individual contracts. BHP Billiton has been caught out trying to push its workers into signing AWAs despite the incoming Rudd Labor Government’s plan to abolish AWAs.
10 December 2007 [full story]
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It is over to members to decide
Around 70 ASU Qantas delegates from around Australia met in Sydney on Thursday 6th December 2007 to discuss the Qantas EBA 8 offer that has been recommended by the ASU’s Qantas National Negotiating Team.
07 December 2007 [full story]
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Unions praise workers who helped get rid of WorkChoices
Workers who played a key role in helping get rid of WorkChoices were honoured by a formal vote of appreciation at yesterday's meeting of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Executive.
05 December 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - December 3, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: A Ministry to meet Australia’s future challenges; Rudd Government Ministry; ASU to meet with International Transport Workers’ Federation; Local government sport and recreation workers; Preferred tenderer announced for Rosehill recycled water scheme (NSW); Local govt praised on climate change and greenhouse leadership; Business and Liberals still haven’t heard voters’ message to abandon IR policies; Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA’s – the union movement’s overseas aid arm.
05 December 2007 [full story]
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Canon gets it very wrong
Canon has advised the National Consultative Committee (NCC) of the final steps in their making redundant a number of technicians’ positions.
04 December 2007 [full story]
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ASU & NCC meet with Canon regarding job losses
The ASU met with Canon 14 November 2007 (Bulletin 16 November) to receive the news from Canon that there were impending job losses. Today,30 November 2007, the ASU and then the NCC were briefed by Canon on their intended next steps to commence the process for reducing the number of jobs in the BISG sector.
30 November 2007 [full story]
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QantasLink (Eastern) will make an offer but only after you give up a piece of your pay!
Since 21 June 2007 negotiations have continued on your agreement and all we have heard from management is that they can offer you nothing until you give something up!
30 November 2007 [full story]
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Business and Liberals still haven’t heard voters’ message to abandon IR policies
There have been disturbing reports this week of employers moving to unfairly sack employees and lock workers onto lower-paid AWAs for five years prior to the incoming Labor Government scrapping AWAs and restoring protection from unfair dismissal said the ACTU.
30 November 2007 [full story]
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QantasLink (Sunstate) make an offer
The scheduled negotiations for QantasLink (Sunstate) again took place in Sydney on Tuesday 27 November 2007.
30 November 2007 [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.
28 November 2007 [full story]
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ACTU and unions pay tribute to Bernie Banton
The whole of the Australian union movement will be deeply saddened by the news that asbestos campaigner Bernie Banton has passed away said ACTU President Sharan Burrow and ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence.
27 November 2007 [full story]
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Good bye WorkChoices
What a weekend. WorkChoices will soon be no more. On Saturday, Australians rejected a political coalition that viciously attacked our rights at work - and elected a party that promises to protect them.
26 November 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - November 26, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: ALP wins in the federal election, now the real work starts in turning policy into action; Australians reject WorkChoices & the Liberals’ attack on unions & workers’ rights; PSI is calling on all affiliates to say NO to violence against women; Interview with Mansour Osanloo; Premier cops mutiny on the rails.
26 November 2007 [full story]
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Australians reject WorkChoices and the Liberals' attack on unions and workers' rights
The Australian public has totally rejected WorkChoices and the Liberal and National parties’ attack on unions and workers’ rights. This is an historic election result that confirms the Australian people believe in a fair go for all and that all Australian workers are entitled to decent rights in the workplace.
25 November 2007 [full story]
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A Qantas EBA offer to recommend
The ASU Qantas National Negotiating Team (NNT) is set to recommend an offer for settlement of our Qantas EBA 8 Claims to a meeting of ASU delegates on Thursday 6 December 2007.
23 November 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - Water Edition - November 21, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Infrastructure; Labor’s national plan to tackle the water crisis; and Labor’s plan for water savings by large industrial users.
23 November 2007 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - November 2007
The current edition includes contributions on the following issues: ASU national electricity industry division; Australian Labor Party meets with ASU national electricity industry division; Australian unions facing an important political campaign; White Ribbon Day – November 25; Australia is introducing new electricity legislation; Report from PSI Congress – a new step forward for utilities; Pakistan - trade unionists arrested as unions call for restoration of democracy; National Consultation-Workshop on the Power Industry - Philippines; plus more.
23 November 2007 [full story]
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Help for more heart attack victims at hand
Millions of people are closer to emergency medical help from today thanks to a trade union.
22 November 2007 [full story]
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On Nov 24, it's not just your future at stake, it's everyone's
What kind of Australia do you want to live in? The moment of truth arrives this Saturday, federal election day. It is the time when you can tell the politicians what you really think and this time they have to listen!
21 November 2007 [full story]
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FOI hearing reveals smoking gun: PM's secret plan for another wave of IR changes
A Freedom of Information (FOI) hearing has confirmed the existence of secret Howard Government plans to go further on its WorkChoices industrial relations reforms.
20 November 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - November 19, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: ASU & White Ribbon Day; Local Government and industrial relations; NACBCS – National Conference; Nowhere to go for hundreds of children as child-care centres close; Amendment to cut red tape for local councils (NSW); Standards Australia - electrical - energy networks construction & operation committee; New guides on sun safety in the workplace; Labor's broadband announcement; Holistic approach to heavy vehicle accreditation; Howard caught pork barrelling; plus more.
19 November 2007 [full story]
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Tassie workers left high and dry by WorkChoices as local job rate falls
Job creation in Tasmania has dropped by half since the introduction of WorkChoices 19 months ago according to a new analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) employment data.
19 November 2007 [full story]
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Airport staff shortages at chronic levels
Last week Qantas customer service staff at Brisbane Domestic Airport were booed by customers as they left their counters to assist an elderly woman who collapsed in the Qantas Club queue.
19 November 2007 [full story]
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Abbott admits workers have lost protections under WorkChoices & won’t get them back
Senior Howard Government Minister Tony Abbott has admitted that protections for Australian workers have been stripped away by WorkChoices and they won’t be coming back under a re-elected Howard-Costello Government says the ACTU.
16 November 2007 [full story]
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Liberals' secret agenda to slash apprentice wages
In an interview with the Messenger newspaper, Liberal candidate for the South Australian seat of Makin, Bob Day, has declared himself a member of the conservative HR Nichols Society and in favour of cutting the wages of apprentices.
16 November 2007 [full story]
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Becoming an Industry: The Struggle of Social and Community Workers for Award Coverage, 1976-2001
The Journal of Industrial Relations (JIR) recently published a very good paper by Briggs, Meagher and Healy outlining the history behind social and community services workers achieving award coverage. Many may not realise that SACS workers had to fight hard to gain the same rights and treatment as other workers. The protracted battle to gain recognition was finally successful as recently as the 1990s by the Australian Social Welfare Union which is now a part of the ASU.
16 November 2007 [full story]
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Qantas drops EBA claims and starts negotiating
The EBA 8 meetings with Qantas on 18 October 2007 and 15 November 2007 have seen Qantas management abandon almost all of their original claims to cut or change key conditions which would have undermined the job security of staff.
16 November 2007 [full story]
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On November 25 help make violence against women a thing of the past
November 25 is United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In Australia, the White Ribbon Day campaign has made a call to action for all political parties to pledge their commitment to develop social policies to end violence against women in Australia. Both ASU Assistant National Secretary Greg McLean and ASU WA Branch Secretary Paul Burlinson are White Ribbon Day Ambassadors this year.
16 November 2007 [full story]
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Canon announce significant job losses before Christmas
Canon national management made contact with the ASU on 14 November 2007 to advise that a series of meetings are being held with employees across Australia to announce a major restructure in the Business Imagining (BSIG) division of Canon. At this stage ASU members across Canon have no idea of exactly when or how many of them may lose their jobs and if their jobs will be gone before or after Christmas.
16 November 2007 [full story]
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Singapore Airlines converts all private health cover to MBF
Singapore Airlines announced yesterday at the Joint Consultative Committee meeting, Sydney that all company subsidised private health insurance will now be taken out with MBF.
15 November 2007 [full story]
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Qantas Board to be questioned over job security
Qantas employee shareholders from across Australia will today ask the Qantas Board to guarantee their job security and working conditions when the company is soon split into four.
14 November 2007 [full story]
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450,000 teachers, childcare & education workers could be next target for AWAs if Coalition re-elected
Australia’s 450,000 childcare workers, school teachers, TAFE and university staff could be the next target for AWA individual contracts under WorkChoices if the Howard Government is re-elected, say unions.
13 November 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - November 12, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Tasmania Government has released its long awaited report into WorkChoices; News web poll - IR and AWAs; CCOHS Guide to Fighting Workplace Violence; ITF Railway News; ASU – SPSF – CPSU – and the representatives of Fire, Police, Defence and Custodial Unions; New union TV ad highlights importance of preventing Liberals going further on IR; Union Aid Abroad; LGAQ opposes waste tax; Pakistan: Trade unionists arrested as unions call for restoration of democracy; plus more.
13 November 2007 [full story]
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Executive salaries go up 28% while wages for award workers fall under WorkChoices
New figures released today by the Australian Financial Review confirm the gap between high income earners and average workers is getting bigger under the Howard Government's WorkChoices says the ACTU, thanks to the seemingly unrestrained growth of indecent executive salaries and the effective pay cut suffered by award workers.
13 November 2007 [full story]
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New union TV ad highlights importance of preventing Liberals going further on IR
Unions launched a new TV advertisement during the weekend that highlights the importance to working families of preventing John Howard and Peter Costello going further on WorkChoices after the election.
12 November 2007 [full story]
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Sticking it to WorkChoices
In the last week a whopping 20,000 of you told the Government where you stand on WorkChoices by filling in an online post-it note at the GetUp! website. Tomorrow (Friday, November 9) we'll be in North Sydney to plaster IR Minister Joe Hockey's office in our massive 'Know Where We Stand' post-it notes - and you are invited. And if you can’t make it there, we’ll be visiting several other electorates around the country!
08 November 2007 [full story]
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Hockey confirms WorkChoices will stay but refuses to release research on future plans
At the National Press Club yesterday Mr Hockey again refused to release potentially embarrassing research that was commissioned by the Howard Government earlier this year.
08 November 2007 [full story]
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CEO gets $22 million bonus while award workers get real pay cut under WorkChoices
The fact that Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo will get a $22 million pay packet this year while one million working families will get a real pay cut of up to $800 shows the unfairness of the Howard Government’s WorkChoices IR laws said the ACTU.
08 November 2007 [full story]
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John Howard’s hollow promise on IR
John Howard’s denial that he will not change WorkChoices is a hollow promise designed to get him through the election says the ACTU.
07 November 2007 [full story]
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Workers who support our community say no to WorkChoices
ASU members who are social and community workers, council workers and regional water workers workers came together in Belmont, Geelong, on Wednesday 7 November for “Workers Who Support Our Community Day”, because they are concerned about the impact of the Howard Government's IR laws on the support they are able to provide to the community.
07 November 2007 [full story]
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ASU National Net News - October 2007 Digest
Two million members. Plus their families. Plus all the retired members. Plus all the others who understand and support what we are about (there are more in this latter group than you might at first think, from all backgrounds). We are the workers who keep this country ticking along, regardless of how “minor” our jobs might seem.
06 November 2007 [full story]
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Real wages go backwards under WorkChoices: Harvester decision anniversary
A new ACTU analysis shows that the award wages for more than a million low paid workers have gone backwards by up to $15.67 a week — or $814 a year — in real terms under the Howard Government’s WorkChoices. The analysis shows that the pay rise that workers reliant on award minimum wages got in October by the Howard Government’s Fair Pay Commission did not meet increases in the cost of living.
05 November 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - November 5, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: "Working families in Australia have never been better off." Really, Mr Howard?; Local government workers being pressured into Work Choices agreement need your help; Government Skills Australia workshops; Renewable Energy Target - 20% by 2020; Federal Govt Dept fined $30,000 for political discrimination against union members; Osanloo sentence ‘appals world opinion’; Labor promises $1 billion for national urban water and desalination plan; John Howard confirms Govt plan to reduce award coverage and go further on IR changes; ITF railways sector meeting; Councils stepping up to leadership challenges; NCVER has recently published the report 'Pre-apprenticeships in three key trades'; Labor’s policies on women’s health; John Howard’s tech college announcement smells of panic, undermines TAFE.
05 November 2007 [full story]
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A little Post-It note with a big message!
Two years ago, the Howard Government's WorkChoices laws were introduced to the Parliament. The Government ignored the fact that the majority of Australians opposed the laws. They spent $121 million of our money promoting the unfair IR laws with advertising campaigns featuring a Post-It note saying, "Know where you stand".
05 November 2007 [full story]
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Move it, move it – says QantasLink Eastern
That was the continuing scene at our latest meeting with QantasLink (Eastern) on 25 October 2007. What the company really meant was they wanted us to ‘move’ on one of their claims which is company code for giving up conditions. This was clear from the start when negotiations opened with QantasLink (Eastern) asking your negotiating team – what are we going to move on?
02 November 2007 [full story]
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Discrimination beyond financial and work-related entitlements
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has stated that they intend to follow up the “Same Sex: Same Entitlements” Inquiry whose report was launched in June this year. The original inquiry focussed on areas of financial and work-related entitlements but in submissions from the LGBTI community, concerns were raised about experiences in the workplace and with health and aged care services, amongst others.
01 November 2007 [full story]
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John Howard confirms Govt plan to reduce award coverage and go further on IR changes
John Howard has confirmed that his Government will push ahead with their plan to reduce coverage of the award safety net and would also consider changes to the fairness test if re-elected, according to a report in today's Australian Financial Review.
01 November 2007 [full story]
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Osanloo sentence ‘appals world opinion’
Commenting on news that Iranian trade union leader Mansour Osanloo has been sentenced to five years imprisonment ITF General Secretary David Cockroft said: “We have just heard that an injured, victimised trade unionist has been condemned to jail on charges that would be laughable if they weren’t so serious.”
31 October 2007 [full story]
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33,000 more job losses - the Coalition’s only plan for Australian manufacturing say unions
Workers in manufacturing, agriculture and construction will be campaigning around Australia today (Wednesday) to highlight the negative impact of WorkChoices and the Howard Government’s approach to Australia’s manufacturing industry on families and local communities.
31 October 2007 [full story]
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ASU stands up and speaks out with a record 43.7 million others worldwide
A new Guinness World Record has been set for the most people gathering in the name of a single cause. Worldwide over 43.7 million people participated in “Stand Up and Speak Out against poverty” on 17 October 2007 and the ASU was part of that record.
31 October 2007 [full story]
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Ansett Employee Update Number 51
The latest Employee Update from the Ansett Administrators (Update 51) is now available on this website. It provides an information on current litigation.
31 October 2007 [full story]
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Local government workers being pressured into Work Choices agreement need your help
Workers at Holdfast Bay City Council in South Australia need your support. Despite the clear majority of staff voting against it, management at the Council are determined to pressure staff into signing a Work Choices agreement.
30 October 2007 [full story]
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Federal Govt Dept fined $30,000 for political discrimination against union members
The Federal Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) has today been fined $30,000 by the Federal Court for discriminating against union members in the public service.
30 October 2007 [full story]
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NCR and ASU consult on NCR car policy
ASU representatives have now met with NCR management on two occasions in order to discuss issues concerning changes to the NCR car policy.
30 October 2007 [full story]
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The Perils of Payroll
For as long as anyone can remember there have been problems with the Qantas payroll system, but over recent years since the centralisation of payroll, the elimination of local payroll and the introduction of People Connect it has been on a steady decline.
30 October 2007 [full story]
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John Howard cannot be trusted on industrial relations: Govt plans 1.5 million more AWAs
John Howard cannot be trusted on industrial relations and there is no doubt the Liberals will take WorkChoices further after the election, say both the ACTU and ASU.
29 October 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - October 29, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: New independent report finds WorkChoices is bad now, but set to get even worse later; Electricity industry employers and unions formulate joint direction on skills; Award Success - NSW Industrial Relations Commission ratifies Local Government (State) Award 2007; Joint Union Government Statement – Queensland Rail; Federal Labor - New Laws On Freedom Of Information, Whistleblower Protection; ASU 2007 federal election web page; Local Government Association of NSW resolutions; Nurses win fair wages & improve quality care despite WorkChoices obstacles.
29 October 2007 [full story]
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When will the sun shine at Sunstate?
Negotiations continued this week with ASU Delegate Martin Hadfield attending the offices of QantasLink (Eastern) in Sydney to hear from QantasLink management about how they have no intention to move on any of your substantial claims.
26 October 2007 [full story]
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Report finds WorkChoices is bad now, but set to get worse
A new independent report released yesterday has found that WorkChoices has disadvantaged thousands of workers and delivered no significant benefits to the economy. The report finds that the adverse impact of WorkChoices on working Australians will become more widespread as time goes on and provides a warning to voters nationally not to re-elect John Howard and Peter Costello who are committed to taking WorkChoices further says the ACTU.
26 October 2007 [full story]
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94% vote for Jetstar EBA
The Jetstar ballot has now been counted and 94% of the staff who cast a vote (i.e. 65% of Jetstar staff) voted YES to the Jetstar/ASU EBA 3.
25 October 2007 [full story]
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ASU member featured in new 'workers like us' union TV ad
The ACTU has launched a new television ad campaign warning that a re-elected Howard/Costello Government will go further with its IR law changes. The ad shows the real faces of unionists across the country, including Sharon, a proud ASU member.
25 October 2007 [full story]
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Desperate Hockey cyber-stalks citizens in latest round of fear and smear
According to a recent article in The Australian newspaper, Joe Hockey and his staff have reportedly cyber-stalked hundreds of citizens concerned about the Howard Government's IR laws.
24 October 2007 [full story]
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Telstra pushes for pre-election WorkChoices deal
Telstra's drastic plan to rush through a non-union, WorkChoices agreement for its white collar workforce before the federal election has been greeted with deep scepticism from staff and unions.
24 October 2007 [full story]
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CPI lift leaves working families worse off
John Howard and Peter Costello's economic credentials are in tatters with a lift in inflation leaving working families struggling to cover the rising cost of housing, health, education and food says the ACTU.
24 October 2007 [full story]
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ALP child care policies released
The ALP released its child care policy on the weekend, which calls for increased funding of child care services including for the not for profit sector. This was followed up yesterday with the release of the ALP’s policy on quality for children’s services. As Australia’s largest public sector child care services union, the ASU is keenly interested in what is proposed for the sector.
24 October 2007 [full story]
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Myer Stores Agreement 2007
Myer Stores staff would be aware that a replacement Agreement is now the subject of staff consultation. The ballot will open on 29 Oct. 2007.
24 October 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - October 22, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: National rail strike in France to defend pensions and pay; Save our penalty rates’ say nurses & health workers; Living standards of working families will fall under Liberals’ IR plan; Free Osanloo now; Initiative to strengthen public services; A Tax Plan for Australia's Future; plus more.
23 October 2007 [full story]
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NFF wants Howard Govt to go further on wage cuts for rural & regional workers
Hundreds of thousands of workers in rural and regional areas across Australia face significant cuts to their wages and conditions under a new National Farmers' Federation plan to get rid of the Howard Government's 'fairness test' if the Liberals are re-elected.
23 October 2007 [full story]
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Send a message to QF Board – cast your AGM vote now
The meeting notices and proxy forms for the Qantas AGM are hitting staff home letterboxes right now as this year’s Qantas Annual General Meeting is to be held on Wednesday, 14th November 2007 at 2:00pm at The Park Room, Melbourne Park Function Centre, Melbourne and Olympic Parks, Swan Street Melbourne. There are important things to vote on – directors’ re-election, shares for Peter Gregg and Geoff Dixon and executive remuneration.
23 October 2007 [full story]
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Qantas staff raise the stakes and launch TV campaign
Following the successful launch of the Australian Services Union YouTube advertisement, the Union has now taken the campaign against Qantas cost cutting and downgrading of services to television.
22 October 2007 [full story]
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ASUshop election gear
Make sure you know Your Rights at Work this coming election! The ASUshop contains a range of resources and merchandise to help you get informed and look the part.
19 October 2007 [full story]
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Liberal Party advertisement is insulting to working families
A new negative Liberal Party political advertisement launched yesterday by leader-in-waiting Peter Costello is insulting to working families says the ACTU and ASU.
18 October 2007 [full story]
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Hockey reveals Howard Govt agenda to go further on industrial relations
Federal Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey has today confirmed the Howard Government’s intention to go further on industrial relations and get rid of trade unions altogether if re-elected.
18 October 2007 [full story]
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The kiosks are coming
Recently ASU representatives met with Jetstar management to discuss the Company’s proposals to introduce automatic check-in kiosks at Jetstar counters at airports.
18 October 2007 [full story]
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Save our penalty rates
‘Save our penalty rates’ say nurses and health workers in first big anti-WorkChoices election event. Tens of thousands of nurses and health care workers across the nation will today lead the first major election event against John Howard’s unfair WorkChoices laws.
18 October 2007 [full story]
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First timers or re-enrollers – today is your last chance!
If you are enrolling to vote for the first time, today is your last day to get your form to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) if you wish to vote in the federal election on November 24. The same applies to those who are re-enrolling after having fallen off the roll for any reason. You have until 8.00pm this evening so you’ll need to move quickly!
17 October 2007 [full story]
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Slow going at Eastern negotiations
Your ASU negotiating team has now met with QantasLink (Eastern) management on 6 occasions. During those 6 meetings – the last being Monday 15 October, QantasLink management have not moved on any of the key claims for ASU members.
17 October 2007 [full story]
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Vote YES for Jetstar EBA 3
The vote on the ASU's EBA 3 with Jetstar commences online from 0001 on Wednesday 17th October 2007 and the ASU National Negotiating Team is recommending that staff vote Yes to approve the Agreement.
16 October 2007 [full story]
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Tax cuts won't compensate for Liberals' IR plan
The tax cuts promised by John Howard and Peter Costello will not compensate working families for the WorkChoices IR laws and the Government's plan to push a further 1.5 million workers onto AWAs if it is re-elected, the ACTU said today.
16 October 2007 [full story]
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Election's called - we're off and running!
And we're off! The election has been called. We go to the polls on Saturday November 24. And it's about time.
14 October 2007 [full story]
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Federal election is an opportunity to protect the rights of working families
The Federal Election is an opportunity for working families to protect their rights at work and vote against the Liberals' and Nationals' unfair WorkChoices IR laws says the ACTU and the ASU.
14 October 2007 [full story]
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WorkChoices worsens women’s pay gap
The pay gap between men and women has widened under the Howard Government, with women on AWA individual contracts falling furthest behind.
12 October 2007 [full story]
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Holdfast Bay mayoral support - 75% staff voted NO to WorkChoices
After months of management attempts to force them onto a WorkChoices agreement they do not want, Holdfast Bay City Council staff were left with no option than to take their concerns to the Mayor and elected members.
11 October 2007 [full story]
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New leader of Public Services International (PSI) elected
Peter Waldorff has been elected general secretary of Public Services International (PSI), the 20 million-strong global representative body for public service trade unions. The 52-year-old Dane will take up the position on 1 January 2008, after working with outgoing general secretary Hans Engelberts on a smooth transition.
09 October 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - October 8, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Government plan to cut red tape for councils; Water project plans endorsed; Local Government News; Planning begins for rail freight growth; ACTU calls on Australian Government to exert maximum pressure on Burma’s military regime; Learning with the unions in the United Kingdom; Energy industry planning; Rubbery figures from Joe Hockey’s Workplace Authority cannot be trusted.
09 October 2007 [full story]
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Members endorse Jetstar deal
ASU Members at Jetstar have endorsed the deal negotiated by the ASU’s National Negotiating Team and the way is now clear for a vote of all staff on the EBA proposal.
08 October 2007 [full story]
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Rubbery figures from Joe Hockey’s Workplace Authority cannot be trusted
The rubbery figures released from Joe Hockey’s Workplace Authority cannot be trusted says the ACTU.
08 October 2007 [full story]
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STAND UP and SPEAK OUT against poverty with the ASU on October 17
This year the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is October 17, 2007, and the ASU will be participating by hosting a Stand Up and Speak Out Against Poverty event at the ASU Office in Melbourne. These events will be going on all over the globe in an attempt to break last year’s Guinness World Record for the most people to stand up for a cause. Come join us or get involved in an activity near you.
05 October 2007 [full story]
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Your Rights at Work supporters honoured in Paris
This week, the Your Rights at Work campaign supporters received a big honour overseas. We won the international title of the web campaign "Changing the World of Internet and Politics."
05 October 2007 [full story]
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Air Niugini agreement negotiations commence
On Wednesday 26 September 2007 the ASU negotiating team met with Air Niugini Management representatives to discuss the ASU’s Agreement claims and related issues.
03 October 2007 [full story]
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Airport staff take on Qantas in new YouTube campaign on service standards
In a first for enterprise bargaining campaigns, the Australian Services Union has today launched a 30 second online advertisement accusing Qantas of cost cutting and downgrading service standards in airports across the country.
03 October 2007 [full story]
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Could it happen here?
Imagine. Thirty million dollars a year to spend on union training. Eighteen thousand Union Learning Representatives on the ground, helping their co-workers to get into learning. One hundred thousand members a year learning new skills through their unions. Yes, you it read right. One. Hundred. Thousand. That’s 100,000 members each year.
03 October 2007 [full story]
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WorkChoices taking Australia in the wrong direction
A major new report prepared by Sydney University released today provides convincing evidence that the Liberals’ WorkChoices IR laws have increased the pressure on working families and, in particular, have left young workers and the low paid vulnerable to exploitation says the ACTU.
02 October 2007 [full story]
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Exploitation of young workers rife under WorkChoices
Revelations today that a 17 year old young brick worker on an AWA individual contract was required to work 12 hour shifts for almost $400 a week less than workmates doing the same job shows that Workplace Minister Joe Hockey is insensitive and out of touch says the ACTU.
02 October 2007 [full story]
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Energy industry planning
The ASU national electricity-energy division committee recently met to review the division’s work plan for 2007, review the current industry issues and update officials from each state on the current issues under negotiation, state by state across the country.
02 October 2007 [full story]
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Negotiators have deal to recommend at Jetstar
After a number of weeks of negotiation, the ASU National Negotiating Team now believe we have a deal for the Jetstar / ASU EBA3 that we can recommend to ASU members.
01 October 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - October 1, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Costello confirms Liberal Party plans to go further on IR; Crean outlines Labor's vision for regional governance; Federal Labor puts forward new transport agenda for COAG; Water and sewerage reform; New legislation to restore workers' rights lost under WorkChoices; Review of the Sport and Recreation Training Packages; Caravan Training Package Review; Govt admits fairness test farce is getting worse; Launch of the power generation training package.
01 October 2007 [full story]
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SACS delegates take issues to Canberra
This past September, during the last sitting of Federal Parliament in Canberra, ASU National and Branch officials and Social and Community Services (SACS) delegates from NSW, ACT, Victoria, South Australia and Northern Territory went to Canberra to visit key politicians to discuss the ASU’s concerns about wages, training and career paths for our members and funding of this vital industry.
30 September 2007 [full story]
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Well-paid? Watch out!
Until recently, 42 year old Andrew Cruickshank worked at Priceline as a well-paid space planner, coordinating the strategic placement of products at the retailer’s chain of stores. One Friday, without warning, he was sacked for “operational reasons”.
28 September 2007 [full story]
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Life is great in the Sunshine State so show us the money!
QantasLink (Sunstate) negotiations continued in Sydney with management providing a detailed table of their claims. These claims are those that we advised you of following our last meeting with management. On this occasion we are able to see very clearly the number of current entitlements which management wish to remove from your conditions.
28 September 2007 [full story]
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International LGBT forum moves agenda forward
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) trade unionists from all over the world have gathered in Vienna three years after the inaugural PSI-EI Forum held in Brazil. The importance of tackling homophobia was a key discussion point and a new online resource was launched as well.
28 September 2007 [full story]
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Progress? Only if you think taking away your entitlements is progress!
When last we reported to you QantasLink (Eastern) had said no to your key claims. At our latest meeting, QantasLink (Eastern) put a document to your negotiating team which clearly outlined the claims of the company.
28 September 2007 [full story]
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Govt admits fairness test farce is getting worse despite $93 million ad blitz
Despite a $93 million taxpayer funded pro-WorkChoices ad blitz, the Workplace Authority has today provided more evidence that the Howard Government's 'fairness test' simply is not working.
28 September 2007 [full story]
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Wage review shows Govt to go further on IR & young workers to be hit harder
A review of pay rates for young workers and trainees launched today by the Howard Government's pay setting body is a worrying sign that the Coalition will go further on IR and that young workers could suffer a further drop in their pay and conditions after the election says the ACTU.
26 September 2007 [full story]
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Worker threatened with being sacked for complaining about no pay rise for 3 years
A Victorian textiles company is threatening to sack a union delegate for speaking out against the Federal Government’s unfair workplace laws that have allowed the company to avoid giving around 300 workers a pay rise for nearly three years.
25 September 2007 [full story]
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Quality public services at the heart of the fight against global warming
All nations should sign up to a legally-binding UN agreement on climate change and place quality public services at the heart of the fight against global warming according to Public Services International (PSI), the 20 million-strong global trade union federation of which the ASU is an affiliate.
25 September 2007 [full story]
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Federal election delayed so taxpayer can foot Howard's ad bill
The ACTU said today that the only reason the Howard Government is delaying calling the federal election is so that it and a coalition of big business supporters can continue to broadcast dishonest and blatantly political industrial relations advertisements.
24 September 2007 [full story]
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We were wrong – Urgent Correction
In our Bulletin 206 on September 6, 2007 we indicated that the Senior Executives who didn’t do their day jobs (according to John Borghetti) while the APA takeover bid was on owed the Qantas shareholders $6,077,132.
21 September 2007 [full story]
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Jetstar EBA progresses in leaps and bounds
The ASU Jetstar NNT met with the company representatives on 18th September and held very productive discussions about the contents of the next Jetstar EBA.
20 September 2007 [full story]
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New poll finds Federal Govt IR ads turn off voters
The ACTU has renewed its call for the Howard Government to stop wasting taxpayers’ money on its misleading pro-WorkChoices advertising campaign following research showing the more the Government runs the ads, the stronger the public opposes WorkChoices.
20 September 2007 [full story]
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"Just equal"
“Before I answer any questions you may have, I just want to say that over the past year I have been incredibly moved by those people in the gay and lesbian community who have made it very clear to me that there is only one thing that they want: to be treated equally; no more and no less than any other Australian. Just equal.” These are the words of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) Commissioner Graeme Innes AM during a presentation to an ad hoc committee of the Federal Parliament on September 13, 2007. His appearance was in support of HREOC’s report “Same-Sex: Same Entitlements” that was released in June this year.
20 September 2007 [full story]
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Councils turn their backs on WorkChoices
The decision of 152 councils to discontinue their push to be covered by the Federal Government's IR laws is further evidence that business support for WorkChoices is unravelling.
19 September 2007 [full story]
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ASU-PSI Utility Bulletin - September 2007
The current edition includes contributions on the following issues: APEC declaration on climate change released; Owen inquiry and NSW government retail privatisation � Australia; Climate change as a global challenge: the road to Bali; Think outside the bottle; Water reform - Queensland, Australia; FDC urges Congress to drop water privatisation - Philipines; Suez Workers Group condemns lack of consultation on GDF - Suez merger; plus more.
19 September 2007 [full story]
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It wasn’t broke, so why “fix” it?
Recent research produced by the University of Sydney’s Workplace Research Centre (WRC), has shown that before WorkChoices was introduced, only four per cent of employers were not satisfied with the industrial relations (IR) arrangements in their workplace. It begs the question, if the IR system was working well for the vast majority of employers, why was the radical and oppressive WorkChoices legislation introduced at all?
19 September 2007 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
Every day we see more and more Government ads on TV, at bus shelters, on trains and trams, newspapers and magazines. WorkChoices isn't unfair, they claim, “It's the law.” Millions of dollars spent on covering up the truth about IR laws which get rid of our rights at work. We have to counter this whitewash. The ASUshop is now carrying the perfect items to help you get the message across!
18 September 2007 [full story]
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Spotlight abandons AWAs
A decision by major retailer Spotlight to abandon the use of AWA individual contracts confirms the Howard Government's WorkChoices IR laws are bad for both workers and businesses says the ACTU.
18 September 2007 [full story]
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IR ministers conclude WorkChoices has failed
ASU National Secretary Paul Slape today welcomed the communiqué from state and territory industrial relations ministers that concluded the Howard Government’s WorkChoices legislation has failed employers, workers and families and must be dismantled.
17 September 2007 [full story]
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What's next Geoff, working for tips?
Not content with cutting 450 customer service staff from Australian airports since 2001 and introducing hundreds of automatic check-in machines, Qantas now wants to cut the wages of new customer service agents at airports.
17 September 2007 [full story]
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Unions warn that Costello will go even further on industrial relations
John Howard’s announcement that he will stand down in favour of Peter Costello is a clear signal that the Liberal Party plans to take a hardline approach to industrial relations and will go even further on its unfair WorkChoices IR laws if it wins the next election.
14 September 2007 [full story]
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Retail and hospitality workers squeezed by WorkChoices
A new government-funded report released yesterday confirms that Australia's 1.7 million retail and hospitality workers have been hit the hardest by the introduction of the WorkChoices IR laws, with some workers losing up to a third of their incomes.
14 September 2007 [full story]
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Alarming growth in risk to workers' health & safety rights under Howard-Costello Govt
New figures released today show there has been an alarming growth in the number of workers whose health and safety rights are at risk under the Howard Government's poorly resourced workers' compensation scheme, 'Comcare'.
14 September 2007 [full story]
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BoysTown threatens defamation proceedings against the ASU
The ASU has received a letter of demand from national law firm DLA Phillips Fox in Brisbane threatening defamation proceedings by BoysTown and its management against the ASU.
14 September 2007 [full story]
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Local government to retain waste collection
The Federal Government has responded to the Productivity Commission’s report into waste collection responsibilities by rejecting many of its recommendations. The recommendations included taking waste collection away from local government and transferring it to state governments or mega state authorities.
12 September 2007 [full story]
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At Qantas no-one can hear you scream
That’s how your National Negotiating Team felt at our last EBA negotiating meeting which was held on 4th September 2007.
12 September 2007 [full story]
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Ready, aim, FIRE!
The ACTU today blamed the Coalition Government's IR laws for making it easier to sack long-term workers, following revelations that two video library attendants were sacked after eight years service at Video City stores in Devonport and Burnie, Tasmania.
11 September 2007 [full story]
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Don't let John Howard get away with it, enrol to vote now!
We all know that when the Howard Government got control of the Senate, they arrogantly ignored community opinion and rammed through WorkChoices. They also sneakily took the opportunity to do something equally undemocratic and unfair - changing the Electoral Act to try to stop people who don't like their policies from voting.
11 September 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - September 10, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Privatisation of the NSW energy industry; ASU Quality Public Services Campaign; ASU local government submission to the Senate; Job score – have you heard of the system; Despite $37 million IR ad campaign only one in ten AWAs undergoes 'Fairness Test'; ITF Railway News; Think outside the bottle; Local Government calls for Community Infrastructure Renewals Fund; Iranian union leader’s wife and sister arrested; Council feedback shapes new water system (QLD); Stand Up and Speak Out against poverty and inequality.
10 September 2007 [full story]
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What we have agreed to
We reported after the last negotiation meeting that QantasLink (Eastern) management had responded to your claims and the overwhelming reply was "no". Tuesday 4 September saw your negotiating team back at the table to hear that QantasLink had little else to offer.
07 September 2007 [full story]
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Some progress on Jetstar EBA
Since our last bulletin and our recent meetings of members, the ASU National Negotiating Team has met with Jetstar management on 13th and 30th August 2007.
07 September 2007 [full story]
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Privatisation of the NSW energy industry
Privatisation of the energy industry threatens thousands of jobs across New South Wales. Despite assurances before the State election that privatisation was not on the agenda, the NSW State Government has established the Owen Inquiry in an effort to justify a sell-off to the private sector.
06 September 2007 [full story]
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Despite $37 million IR ad campaign only one in ten AWAs undergo 'Fairness Test'
A new official report released yesterday shows that despite a $37 million taxpayer funded IR advertising campaign to promote the Howard Government's new workplace watchdog, it has checked only one in ten AWA individual contracts since the introduction of the so-called 'Fairness Test'.
06 September 2007 [full story]
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"You couldn’t get your job done, you had to sort of abandon it. You couldn’t focus on it."
That’s what John Borghetti, Qantas Executive General Manager told the American Chamber of Commerce lunch in Sydney recently was what happened when he and senior executives Geoff Dixon and Peter Gregg worked on the unsuccessful Private Equity takeover over six months from last November.
06 September 2007 [full story]
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John Howard throws our rights overboard
Andrew Cruickshank was dismissed from his job for ‘operational reasons’ under the Liberal’s IR laws, only to discover two weeks later the company re-advertised his position for $25,000 less. His wife Leanne said, “You just don’t know now, whether your job is safe, or not.” It is the same for so many workers out there and it is important that they don’t become faceless statistics.
05 September 2007 [full story]
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Fight for the Future - ASU Young Workers
In late July 2007 a number of ASU youth representatives set off to Adelaide to attend a national conference hosted by SA Unions titled “Fight for the Future”. Young workers from all over the country came together to share their experiences and hear first hand how the Federal Government’s industrial relations laws are impacting young people.
05 September 2007 [full story]
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Centenary celebrations for the PSI – creating firmer international ties for workers
The global union Public Services International (PSI), of which the ASU is an affiliate, was formed in 1907 after a number of European trade unions met to improve support between unions for the betterment of workers across the continent. Those original municipal, power, gas and water unions were subsequently joined by over 600 unions from all parts of the world.
04 September 2007 [full story]
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TNT workers say NO to non-union agreement
In a great show of solidarity and unity, the majority of staff working for TNT Shared Services in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane have voted to reject the company’s non-union substandard agreement.
04 September 2007 [full story]
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ASU local government submission to the Senate
The ASU has appeared before the Senate Inquiry into Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Democratic Plebiscites) Bill 2007 to represent the interests of local government employees and the communities they serve in respect of council amalgamations.
04 September 2007 [full story]
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Rudd visits Darwin and reasserts workers’ rights under a Labor Govt
The Federal Labor Leader Kevin Rudd was in Darwin on Saturday, September 1, and caught up with various community, business and union representatives including Darwin based Australian Services Union official Lucio Matarazzo.
03 September 2007 [full story]
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NT local government reform – ASU fights to protect jobs and conditions
The ASU is currently engaged in negotiations over how to protect our members’ jobs and conditions in the light of the “reform” proposals which will create a number of new shire councils. Principally those negotiations have been taking place between the ASU, the NT Government and the NT Local Government Association.
03 September 2007 [full story]
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Tassie local government workers transferred to Hobart Water – but what about their conditions?
In early August the ASU held a meeting of two groups of former Tasmanian local government employees with something in common: both groups had been transferred by local councils and are now employed by Hobart Water. What has remained unclear is whether they will retain the same pay and conditions they enjoyed when employed in local government.
03 September 2007 [full story]
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Global unions back Australian TNT workers for union agreement
The International Transport Federation (ITF) General Secretary, David Cockroft has sent a message of solidarity to Australian TNT workers in their bid for a union collective agreement.
31 August 2007 [full story]
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APEC must address sex slavery, people trafficking and worker exploitation in Asia Pacific
Stronger international efforts to prevent the exploitation of workers and to halt human trafficking and sex slavery in the Asia Pacific should be a priority for next week’s APEC meeting in Sydney, unions said today.
30 August 2007 [full story]
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Melbourne City Council mayor should stand down
Lord Mayor John So's likening of Melbourne City Council (MCC) to one big family was insulting, ASU Victorian Branch Secretary, Brian Parkinson, said today.
29 August 2007 [full story]
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Don't just sit there, enrol!
Have you heard that there is a federal election around the corner? Do you know that there are many issues affecting you directly that will be determined by who wins government at the next election? But frighteningly, did you know that the current Federal Government changed the laws on enrolling to vote to make it much harder for you to ensure you can vote after an election is called? If you are not yet enrolled or have moved house since you last enrolled, NOW is the time to do something about it!
29 August 2007 [full story]
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BoysTown denies workers access to union agreement
BoysTown workers are being denied access to a union collective agreement by their management. The ASU is urging the BoysTown board members to support the workers and we ask you to help them by sending an email.
28 August 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - August 27, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Cochlear dispute; Federal Labor believes that local government should be formally recognised in the Australian Constitution; Stop Howard’s race to the bottom on occupational health and safety; Workers on AWAs miss out on redundancy pay, expose gap in WorkChoices laws; Global Reporting Initiative (GRI); New rural precinct guidelines for Qld councils; Long service leave benefits put at risk; Innovation & Business Skills Australia (IBSA).
28 August 2007 [full story]
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Labor policy an important step towards better rights for working families
The ACTU said that the Labor Party’s transitional industrial relations arrangements announced today were an important step towards restoring rights for working families in Australia.
28 August 2007 [full story]
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Zimbabwe democracy leader and former trade union leader speaks out
Zimbabwe democracy leader and former trade union leader, President of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, will be speaking in Melbourne on Monday to speak about the horrific conditions in his country.
24 August 2007 [full story]
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Workers on AWAs miss out on redundancy pay
Workers on AWA individual contracts employed at the South Burnett Meatworks in Queensland have missed out on tens of thousands of dollars in redundancy pay after the plant closed while workers on a union collective agreement will get their full redundancy entitlement, with some employees getting up to $19,000.
24 August 2007 [full story]
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Jeff Lawrence takes over as ACTU Secretary & vows to intensify campaign against WorkChoices IR laws
The new Secretary of the ACTU, Jeff Lawrence, took office today vowing to stand up for working Australians and to intensify the campaign against the Howard Government's WorkChoices IR laws.
21 August 2007 [full story]
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Only strong public services can meet tough global challenges
Only strong public services can meet the big challenges now facing the world – like global warming, inequality, HIV-AIDS, and achieving the UN’s millennium development goals - according to the leader of Public Services International (PSI), the 20 million-strong international public service trade union federation of which the ASU is an affiliate.
21 August 2007 [full story]
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Foster's denies union collective agreement to Yatala workers in Australia
Foster's is refusing to negotiate a union collective agreement with more than 280 workers at its Yatala brewery, south of Brisbane. Despite overwhelming worker support in favour of union representation in the negotiation of a new collective agreement, Foster's insistence on a non-union agreement has halted negotiations since last month.
20 August 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - August 20, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: ASU National Energy–Electricity Division; Federal Government moves legislation on Queensland council amalgamations; Discrimination against low paid workers with families; Water Bill passes The Senate; WA women are doing it tough under WorkChoices; UN International Youth Day; Need for capital city policy highlighted; Government amendments to the Trade Practices Act 1974 - Secondary Boycotts; Prime Minister abandons Vale; Australasian Railway Association latest bulletin.
20 August 2007 [full story]
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WorkChoices undermines “common good”
The WorkChoices laws undermine Australia’s commitment to the “common good” as the basis of industrial relations policies, an ASU National Industrial Officer told a public forum seeking to find a Christian response to industrial relations (IR) policies and practices.
20 August 2007 [full story]
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Commerce Queensland seeks support from ASU
Commerce Queensland has written to the Australian Services Union Central & Southern Qld Branch (ASU) requesting support and a financial donation to the Queensland Business Action Fund which has been set up by a range of national employer organisations to keep WorkChoices.
20 August 2007 [full story]
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"Fairness test" farce is not protecting young workers from unfair IR laws
The Federal Government's 'fairness test' has degenerated into a farce and is clearly not protecting young workers the ACTU said.
20 August 2007 [full story]
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Hobart community forum: It's about time: women, men, work and family
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) and the Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Tasmania, invite you to join HREOC’s President and Acting Sex Discrimination Commissioner John von Doussa QC for a forum on the “It’s About Time: women, men, work and family” Final Paper.
20 August 2007 [full story]
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And the winner is...
The winner of the ASU, AMWU, TWU "Guess the Qantas Group Profit" is Andrew Whitty, ASU member at Qantas Telesales in Melbourne. Andrew was spot on with his prediction that the Qantas Group operating profit before tax would be $1032million. Congratulations Andrew!
17 August 2007 [full story]
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Get ready to say good bye to the minimum wage
A decision by the Federal Government's pay setting body late yesterday (Thurs 16 Aug.) to scrap guaranteed minimum wages for property salespeople and allow commission-only payments is a dangerous precedent that could spell the beginning of the end for minimum award wages in Australia says the ACTU.
17 August 2007 [full story]
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Women are worse off under WorkChoices!
We are not surprised that the answer is yes! Women have always had to fight for equal pay, equal access to career pathing, equal rights in a range of workplace conditions so when the Howard Government introduced WorkChoices, we knew that women would bear the brunt of this retrograde step.
17 August 2007 [full story]
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Someone was listening
Eastern Australia Airlines have finally responded to the claims you first tabled with the company on 16 May 2007, mostly they said no!
16 August 2007 [full story]
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Cochlear dispute heats up
Cochlear, the manufacturer of bionic ear implants that help hearing-impaired people around the world, is simply not listening. Twice its workers have voted to reject management offers, and now management is saying it will impose individual contracts in a bid to smash the union.
16 August 2007 [full story]
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Qantas profit up, staff wages down
Qantas has today announced a before-tax profit of $1,032 million for the 2006/07 financial year and while the news is all good for Qantas shareholders, with dividends expected to deliver millions, staff face the prospect of their work being downgraded with the introduction of lower paid positions to perform existing customer service work.
16 August 2007 [full story]
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Aviation training package due for validation
The Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council has a number of established Industry Sector Committees and Registered Training Organisations Reference Panels that provide valuable input into the design and implementation of industry training packages. In 2007 the Skills Council and the relevant Reference Panels have commenced a program of review and improvement of the industry training packages.
15 August 2007 [full story]
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You, yes you, can be the face of our next groundbreaking campaign
You think the campaign we've built together has been amazing so far, but you ain't seen nothing yet! We have a groundbreaking secret weapon up our sleeves. We want YOU to be the face of one our exciting future campaigns.
15 August 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - August 13, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: What’s the media thing about this Kevin 07; NSW Govt writes to all councils on WorkChoices; Stop Howard’s race to the bottom on occupational health and safety; Walk to Work Day; On-line tool kit for sustainable suburbs; ASU national leadership returned to office unopposed; The Safety Show Sydney; Labor’s approach to the Water Bill 2007; Local and State Government team up to tackle climate change; Sport and recreation members in local government; plus more.
14 August 2007 [full story]
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There is a clear choice at this year's federal election - and big business is making its choice obvious
A confidential memo from the president of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) has revealed a direct link between the funding of the big business pro-Liberal IR advertising campaign and the Howard Government's payments to business groups under its $40 million Employer Assistance Program (EAP) which gave money to the business groups to 'promote' WorkChoices. John Howard also stated forcefully at a function last night that there is a clear choice at the forthcoming election.
14 August 2007 [full story]
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International community calls on Iran to free jailed union leader Mansour Osanloo
The ASU, like other transport unions and concerned citizens in Australia and throughout the world, joined in to support the International Transport Federation’s (ITF) Day of Action to seek the release from prison of Iranian trade union official Mansour Osanloo.
10 August 2007 [full story]
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Adelaide Bank merger - protecting SA jobs and conditions a priority
Yesterday’s announcement of a merger between Adelaide Bank and Bendigo Bank may have boosted the share price but it has left Adelaide Bank staff and their Union concerned and uncertain about their future.
10 August 2007 [full story]
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Howard govt adds $70,000 interest to typical home loan for working families
Today's interest rate rise will put families under even more financial pressure and shows the Howard Govt is failing to manage the economy in the interests of ordinary working Australians says the ACTU.
09 August 2007 [full story]
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Why is Boystown so afraid of working with the ASU?
We have offered our assistance to Boystown now on a number of occasions regarding their attempts to change your wages structure and conditions of employment through their unsuccessfully proposed non union workplace agreement. Boystown has been silent in their reply to us. You have been advised by Boystown CEO Jack Firman, that they intend to offer Boystown workers AWAs.
08 August 2007 [full story]
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Stop Howard’s race to the bottom on occupational health and safety
The ASU calls on Australian workers to sign up to a workplace petition in support of the “Union Charter of Workplace Rights”. The Charter sets out to defend occupational health and safety (OHS) rights that are under attack by the Howard Government.
07 August 2007 [full story]
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New WorkChoices advertising scandal
A new scandal to hit the Howard Government’s IR ads today shows that it cannot hide the truth about its unfair IR laws – the fact is the laws leave young workers vulnerable to being exploited, says the ACTU.
07 August 2007 [full story]
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ASU national leadership returned to office unopposed
Australian Services Union National Secretary Paul Slape and Assistant National Secretaries Linda White and Greg McLean have been re-elected unopposed following the close of nominations recently. Also elected unopposed were Henrietta Moran and Julie Bignell to the honorary positions of National President and National Vice-President (respectively). Henrietta works for Brisbane City Council and Julie is Secretary of the ASU Central & Southern Queensland Clerical and Administrative Branch.
07 August 2007 [full story]
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Fears over more job cuts at Melbourne City Council
ASU Branch Secretary, Brian Parkinson, today called on Melbourne City Council, Chief Executive, David Pitchford, to do the right thing and work with the union in relation to the implementation outcomes of the recently held Operational and Efficiency Review.
07 August 2007 [full story]
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Day of action in support of Iranian unionists
Mansour Osanloo of the Tehran and Suburbs Workers’ Bus Company, Sherkate Vahed, was abducted on Tuesday 10 July, severely beaten and taken to an unknown destination. There is strong reason to believe the authorities were involved. ACTU is calling on affiliates to join the ITF and ITUC, and other unionists around the world to add our voices in support and show solidarity with Iranian workers to demand Mansour Osanloo’s safety and immediate release.
06 August 2007 [full story]
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IR ignites fire in the belly of the churches
Undoubtedly much to Howard’s despair, the debate around the Federal Government’s industrial relations laws shows no sign of abating. No place is this clearer than among the church communities who have joined the ACTU is calling the fairness of WorkChoices into serious question.
06 August 2007 [full story]
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Public Services Bulletin - August 6, 2007
This edition of the ASU Public Services Bulletin contains the following items: Western Australian Council not a trading corporation; Queensland local government amalgamations; ASU National Energy-Electricity division invited to Canberra; APEC 2007 - is it worth it; Fairness Test Policy Guide made public; Speech to Infrastructure Partnerships Conference (NSW); and El Salvador - Assassination of a trade union official.
06 August 2007 [full story]
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The little things that get to John Howard
It's the little things that must get to John Howard. Today it has been revealed his own party sees him as "dishonest and too old." His rhetoric about keeping interest rates low has been blown out of the water with 8 consecutive rises. His Treasurer wants his job. Trying to use the internet to look hip just highlights that he's out of touch. Every week he tries to conjure another rabbit of the hat with taxpayers' money, desperate to get a bump in the polls.
06 August 2007 [full story]
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Howard Government workplace watchdog approves $3 an hour wage for young worker
The Howard Government's workplace watchdog has approved it was legal for a young woman to be paid less than $3 an hour for working eleven hour days for a Cairns-based diving and tour company.
06 August 2007 [full story]
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ASU - AMWU - TWU Launch Guess Qantas Group Profit Competition
The ASU, AMWU and TWU have today launched a “Guess the Qantas Group 2006-07 Profit” competition for financial members of each union working in the Qantas Group.
03 August 2007 [full story]
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Qantaslink management stake their claim
Qantaslink Sydney management have staked their claim for a pound of flesh during your collective agreement negotiations in Brisbane on Tuesday 31 July 2007.
03 August 2007 [full story]
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Queensland local government amalgamations
The extent of council amalgamations is so large and potentially disruptive that the three-year transition period for councils and employees should be extended to five, the Australian Services Union – Services Branch (ASU-Services) said today.
03 August 2007 [full story]
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Business groups must now return taxpayers' money they used to promote WorkChoices
Business groups that are planning a new pro-WorkChoices advertising campaign due to start in the next few weeks should first return the millions of dollars of taxpayers' money they received from the Howard Government to pave the way for the introduction of the new IR laws says the ACTU.
02 August 2007 [full story]
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Sonnet standing up for workers Down Under
UNISON deputy general secretary Keith Sonnet is in Australia this week to learn first-hand of the unions' fight against that country's repressive industrial relations legislation.
01 August 2007 [full story]
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Fed Govt's 'no AWA, no job' IR laws used to sack worker after 24 years service
Despite saturation advertising by the Federal Government claiming that workers cannot be sacked for refusing to sign an AWA individual contract, another case revealed today shows an employer has used the IR laws to sack a service station worker after 24 years service.
01 August 2007 [full story]
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ASUshop new gear
A series of new products have recently been added to the ASUshop. There's lots of new clothing branded ASU or as part of the Your Rights at Work campaign. Stylish new ASU jackets are also part of the range. And don't forget to peruse the ASUshop Bargain Basement where some incredible deals are on offer.
31 July 2007 [full story]
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Together you can achieve anything! Ask ASU members at Garuda
The end of a long and sometimes fraught journey has arrived for ASU Delegates and members at Garuda Indonesia Airlines. Celebrations have occurred around the country as members received back-pay on the wage increase gained on the completion of the new Garuda Indonesia Union Collective Agreement 2007.
31 July 2007 [full story]
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Are we heading down the United States path?
Three hard working low paid Americans are visiting Australia over the next two weeks to warn of the dangers of heading down the United States path to an economy based on jobs with low wages where working families struggle to afford housing and healthcare.
31 July 2007 [full story]
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ACTU calls on business groups to return taxpayers' money used to promote 'WorkChoices'
The Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) should return the $600,000 it received from the Howard Government to promote the 'WorkChoices' IR laws following AMMA's announcement today that they intend to contribute $500,000 to a big business pro-'WorkChoices' ad campaign.
27 July 2007 [full story]
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They’re joking right? … Wrong!
Thursday 26 July saw Eastern Australia Airlines Management present to your ASU Delegates their vision for ‘flexibility’ in your new agreement.
27 July 2007 [full story]
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Darrell Cochrane retires after more than 40 years in the ASU
Darrell Cochrane, former Secretary of the ASU Victorian Authorities & Services Branch, recently retired after a long and successful career looking after the interests of workers. Widely lauded as one of the most honest unionists in the land who always played with a straight bat, the ASU National Executive farewelled Darrell this week, recognising his years of service and the strength of his beliefs in the rights of workers.
27 July 2007 [full story]
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Australian dream of home ownership is slipping out of reach under Howard Govt
The great Australian dream of owning your own home is slipping out of reach under the Howard Government says the ACTU.
26 July 2007 [full story]
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Landmark court ruling finds Vinnies guilty of unfair dismissals
St Vincent de Paul has been ordered to immediately reinstate two workers who were unfairly sacked for trying to resolve a dispute collectively, following a landmark decision by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission on July 24, 2007.
26 July 2007 [full story]
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CPI lift pushes working families backwards: Govt's economic credentials now in tatters
The Howard Government's economic credentials are in tatters with a higher than expected lift in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) pushing the living standards of many working families backwards says the ACTU.
25 July 2007 [full story]
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Qantas - You cannot be serious!
For an airline that is spending millions of dollars on upgrading airport lounges and improving the on-board experience it beggars belief that Qantas is still seeking to downgrade the positions of frontline customer service staff at Australian domestic airports.
23 July 2007 [full story]
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Not much joy from Jetstar
ASU reps met Jetstar management for our 4th EBA meeting on 17th July 2007. The main topics for discussion were the classification structure, pay rates, overtime / annual leave / sick leave provisions, the grading levels for operations staff, part time conversions, and rostering committees. Following is an overview of the discussions.
23 July 2007 [full story]
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Qantas stalls response on our claims
After the cancellation by Qantas of our scheduled meeting on 4th July, unfortunately our fourth meeting with Qantas management on 19th July 2007 still did not net any comprehensive or complete response to the ASU’s claims.
23 July 2007 [full story]
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Tassie state minimum wage now higher than federal minimum wage
Around twenty two thousand Tasmanians on State Awards, including many social and community sector workers, will be over $22 a week better off from 1 August 2007 as a result of a decision of the Tasmanian Industrial Commission to increase the Tasmanian minimum wage to $527.10.
20 July 2007 [full story]
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Calling the experts to bring in paid parental leave
The ASU encourages you to support the National Foundation of Australian Women (NFAW) campaign to introduce paid maternity/parental leave in Australia, campaigning for the right of women not to have to work when they have a new baby.
20 July 2007 [full story]
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Perth workers ripped off to the tune of $6,200: unions call for bigger investigation
The Howard Government’s new Workplace Authority is being called on by unions to further investigate the WA Japanese restaurant chain, Shimizu, following a finding that staff have been underpaid thousands of dollars.
19 July 2007 [full story]
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Ansett Employee Update Number 50
The latest Employee Update from the Ansett Administrators (Update 50) is now available on this website. It provides information regarding the payment of the eighth dividend and a general update to creditors on the status of the administration.
19 July 2007 [full story]
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Qantas move to downgrade customer service work - is this the thin edge of the wedge?
Not satisfied with running their airport customer service operations on woefully inadequate staffing numbers, Qantas have now flagged that they are seeking to downgrade the value of customer service work by introducing Level 2 positions at Melbourne Airport.
19 July 2007 [full story]
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National Party seeks support from ASU
John and Janette Howard may have never invited Peter Costello and his wife to dinner but the National Party is inviting the unions to eat with them!
19 July 2007 [full story]
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Building the collective strength at Boystown
Your ASU Delegates and contacts are now working on building a wider and stronger collective to ensure that at all times all Boystown workers have their voices heard.
19 July 2007 [full story]
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Putting people into APEC
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) meeting of the leaders of 21 countries is to be held in Sydney in September 2007, and will be the most significant meeting Australia has ever hosted.
18 July 2007 [full story]
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Local government funding under the microscope
The ASU has provided a submission to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into “Local Government Revenue Raising Capacity”. The ASU submission concentrated on the issue of inadequacy of funding arising from cost shifting and politically inspired rate controls along with the cutting of service levels that result from the lack of and instability of funding.
17 July 2007 [full story]
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New report shows Howard Govt AWAs are used to cut workers’ pay and avoid unions
A new Government report released today shows that typical Australians on AWA individual contracts earn 16% less than their counterparts on collective agreements.
16 July 2007 [full story]
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Time to elect a Federal Govt that will act on maternity leave and better support for parents
The ACTU has welcomed new research by the National Foundation for Australian Women showing 76% of Australians support a national system of paid maternity leave and that 85% agreed that 'More needs to be done in Australia so that mothers can spend more time with their newborn babies'.
15 July 2007 [full story]
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Fuji Xerox in "secret" secret ballot
When Fuji Xerox management conduct meetings across the country about their version of “negotiations”, they are also presenting you with a “ballot paper” to make a choice between their wage offer or negotiating a new agreement.
13 July 2007 [full story]
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New IR laws fairness test is biased against employees: Govt authority now proves it
A statement issued today by the Howard Government's new Workplace Authority that it will only contact bosses and does not intend to contact employees if there is doubt over whether a job contract is fair has confirmed that the new IR laws 'Fairness Test' is biased against workers says the ACTU.
13 July 2007 [full story]
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New union ad highlights concern among older Australians and parents over Fed Govt IR laws
A new national union TV ad campaign launched today highlights the growing concern about the effects of the Howard Government's IR laws among older Australians and working parents.
12 July 2007 [full story]
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No choice for striking warehouse workers, as new poll shows strong public support for collective bargaining
ACTU Secretary Greg Combet today met with warehouse workers from stationary supplier Esselte, who are on strike trying to get a union collective agreement, as new ACTU research shows strong support for laws enshrining the right of workers to collectively bargain.
12 July 2007 [full story]
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Working families need more parental leave rights and more affordable child care
Unions are supporting calls for extra help for working families, including rights to more paid leave for parents and more affordable child care raised in the Work and Family Roundtable 2007 Benchmark report released this week.
11 July 2007 [full story]
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Loss of protection from unfair dismissal is key to abuse of young workers
The loss of protection from being sacked unfairly under the Howard Government's IR laws is a key factor in the rising number of cases where young workers are abused says the ACTU.
11 July 2007 [full story]
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ASU means business for women
ASU officials responsible for women’s business in the ASU met face to face recently to consider the current “Don’t Be Too Polite Girls” campaign for ASU women and to determine how we can best assist ASU women to engage in the federal election campaign.
10 July 2007 [full story]
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Fuji Xerox thinks they can hoodwink you!
Fuji Xerox management are currently conducting meetings across the country to give you their version of the status of the negotiations. Is what they are saying honest?
10 July 2007 [full story]
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