Rights at Work

Unions are concerned that up to 350,000 Australian workers are searching for jobs in the very occupations where employers are continuing to use 457 visa workers. ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver said rates of unemployment and underemployment were rising in industries where bosses argue they can't find local workers. "Nurse graduates,…

In order to stand up for the rights of future workers in the Federal Government's Green Army, the ASU has lodged a submission with the Senate's Inquiry. The Green Army is the Federal Government's work for the dole scheme connected to environmental concerns and issues. As proposed, many of the…

Older workers are bearing the brunt of harsh, unfair and ill thought out policies that will erode the retirement security of low and middle income earners. ACTU Assistant Secretary Tim Lyons said that Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey's policies for superannuation and the age pension will hurt low and middle…

Unions fear the implications of last night's Budget will be felt for years to come with young job seekers among those most significantly impacted. ACTU President Ged Kearney said, "The so-called budget for everyone will hurt some much more than others." "By removing the safety net for young job seekers,…

In last night’s Budget the Federal Government tried to sweeten the state government pot. The formula to top up state assets with resources obtained from the privatisation of Medibank, recently discussed between state governments and the Commonwealth, might sound a good idea, but it will have a negative effect on…

The Abbott Government's first Budget signals the end of the Aussie fair go, unions said tonight. "The Abbott Government's assault on welfare, Medicare, education and the public sector represents the end of the fair go and the biggest attack on the social wage this country has ever seen," ACTU President…

The Abbott Government is considering a plan to cut the minimum wage every year for ten years which would have catastrophic consequences for Australia's lowest paid workers. ACTU President Ged Kearney that striking new analysis by the ACTU showed that the plan to aggressively drive down the minimum wage would…

Australia's minimum wage will be reduced to 44% of average weekly earnings, wiping off $136 per week in today's dollars, if the Commission of Audit recommendations are accepted by the Government. ACTU President Ged Kearney said this radical move represented the biggest attack on Australian wages since the Great depression.…

The Federal Government's Commission of Audit report released today in Canberra recommends a real cut to the minimum wage every year for a decade, and then for it to be scrapped. The ACTU attacked the Commission of Audit report as a blueprint written by the big business lobby for the…

Changes to the Fair Work Act proposed by the Abbott Government will saddle workers with unfair individual contracts, potentially cut take home pay and significantly diminish workplace rights. ACTU President Ged Kearney said "These proposals go much further than those indicated in the Coalition's pre-election policy and amount to yet…