Rights at work

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Turn the nation’s unpaid overtime into jobs for casuals

The 2.14 billion hours of unpaid overtime Australians work each year should be turned into fulltime employment for casual workers, says one of Australia's largest unions the Australian Services Union.

According to a study released today, Australia is no longer a nation of laid-back workers, with employees "donating" more than their annual leave entitlement back to their employers in the form of unpaid overtime.

The Australia Institute survey, Something for Nothing - Unpaid Overtime in Australia (which you can download below), revealed that the typical full-time employee was working 70 minutes of unpaid overtime a day, which equates to 33 eight-hour days per year, or six-and-a-half standard working weeks.

Disturbingly, the report found the 2.14 billion hours of unpaid overtime worked per year was a $72 billion windfall for employers and means that 6% of our economy depends on free labour.

The ASU - whose members make up a significant pool of the nation's local government and white collar private sector industries - is calling for the these unpaid hours to be transformed into work for casuals.

ASU Assistant National Secretary, Linda White, said the overtime was akin to throwing away secure employment for the 25 per cent of the Australian workforce who identifies their main job as casual.

"We have developed into a country with an over reliance on casual workers; Australia has one of the highest levels of casualisation of the workforce in the OECD," said Ms White.

"These casuals are not solely uni students or married women, but reflect a vast pool of unused talent who would, doubtless, like to be in more secure employment but unfortunately the jobs are not there.

"If Australians stopped working such disturbing amounts of unpaid overtime then those hours could be funnelled into jobs for the casual sector, then not only would productivity remain high but more secure jobs would be created.

"Many Australians are no longer taking their annual leave regularly and, as the Australia Institute survey illustrates, we have turned into one of the most over-worked nations in the world. Our casualised workforce presents us with an opportunity to turn this around - 2.14 billion hours is a lot of jobs for casuals."

The proportion of workers engaged in casual jobs in Australia has increased every year since ABS statistics became available and has risen during periods of economic growth and downturn.

It was estimated that around 48.8 per cent of the growth of employment from 1982-2004 was due to the growth in the number of casual workers.

"Casual employees have limited access to the rights enjoyed by full-time workers - basic working rights such as sick leave, paid annual leave and access to training," Ms White said.

"If we gave these unpaid hours to casual employees - because clearly the work is there - then this problem of underemployment in Australia would vastly improve, as would the lives of thousands of casual employees."

To coincide with the release of its report, The Australia Institute has nominated November 25 as national Go Home on Time Day, to encourage workers to take a stance against unpaid overtime. For more information go to http://www.gohomeontimeday.org.au/.

For further information contact ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White on (03) 9342 1400, or ASU Branch Secretary Ingrid Stitt on (03) 9320 6700.
 

ASU Go Home On Time Day events around the country

New South Wales

For Airlines members in Sydney, please watch out for our 'Go Home On Time' campaign at Sydney Domestic Terminal and Alphabet City in Mascot on Tuesday, 24 November!

For our C&A members (clerical & administration) members, please support our campaign at Circular Quay in the morning and Martin Place at lunchtime on Wednesday 25 November!

Queensland

ASU organisers are conducting several awareness activities in selected workplaces. Posters highlighting the day have been circulated in participating worksites, so look out for them, and on the day clock faced cakes will be shared at morning/lunch/afternoon tea to highlight the issue.

Victoria

The ASU National Office will be issuing paper leave passes from its Reception throughout the day of November 25 for those people who cannot access electronic versions. Go to the 1st floor, 116 Queensberry Street, Carlton South.
 

 

Job fears and higher workloads have led to an epidemic of unpaid overtime, say unions

ACTU | Media Release | 18 November 2009

An epidemic of unpaid overtime is costing hundreds of thousands of Australians time with their families and has worsened during the economic downturn, say unions.

Job security fears have put pressure on people to work extra hours for nothing, while others have felt they have no choice because of increased workloads as businesses have tightened belts during the GFC, says the ACTU.

Read the full ACTU release here.
 

New report confirms GFC has worsened job fears; greater rights are needed for casual workers

ACTU | Media Release | 26 November 2009

The Global Financial Crisis has worsened fears about job security and caused a widening chasm between Australians who are underemployed and those who are working excessive hours, say unions.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the Australia at Work report released today confirmed that the GFC had led to accelerated levels of job insecurity and work intensification.

About one in two workers report that more and more is expected of them for the same pay, and 12% of workers are fearful about losing their job. More than a quarter of full-time employees want to reduce their hours of work, while one in five part-time employees want more hours.

Read the full ACTU release here.
 

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