This edition contains a summary of blog items published by Greg McLean in the previous calendar month. Items cover the areas of local government, energy and water, rail and public transport, international news including trade agreements, privatisation and general public sector matters. The articles all relate to the blog of…

It will come as no surprise that the destructive path of the Abbott Government has dominated thinking as union leaders reflect back on 2014. Whether it was job losses, attacks on their rights and conditions, or cuts to public services, workers felt the brunt of the new government's agenda throughout…

In Tony Abbott's recent reshuffle, he has removed the early childhood education & care sector (ie. child care) from the Education portfolio and added it to the Social Services ministry under Scott Morrison. The ASU argues this is an incredibly regressive step that undoes recognition the sector has worked hard…

The Australian Services Union has branded the Social Services Minister Scott Morrison's first act of slashing $240 million from the sector a savage attack on vulnerable families. ASU Assistant National Secretary Linda White said that the irony of Abbott's announcement that the cabinet reshuffle signified the Government was going to…

In the new edition of Care Professional, the publication for social and community services workers, the ASU examines the impact of the Abbott Government's first budget, the ideology underpinning their cuts to social and community services (SACS) and reveal an exciting new venture for SACS members. Welcome to the first…

An attempt by employers to cut penalty rates for millions of Australian workers has kicked off just before Christmas, said the ACTU. ACTU President Ged Kearney said employer groups have outlined the industries they will target under a review of the award system at a hearing in the Fair Work…

An employment opportunity exists in the ASU National Office in Melbourne for an Industrial Officer. Please find a link to the position description below. Applications close Friday 16 January 2015.   http://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/Members/ASU/industrial-officer-national-office

The Abbott Government has shown its true colours – at a time when they hope no one is looking – by announcing a wholesale review of Australia's workplace laws that will see wages, conditions and rights at work slashed. ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver said that going after wages and conditions…

Consumers' protections and privacy are at risk, along with national governments' sovereignty, at the sole benefit of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) corporations. This is what emerges from the latest leaked document relating to the Trade In Service Agreement (TISA) negotiations, that the ASU and our international affiliate Public Services…

Your Jetstar National Negotiating Team (NNT) met with the company again on 10th December 2014 and we had a long in-depth discussion on their current offer to settle the EBA. There are still a lot of issues that are outstanding that need Jetstar to change their position on or clarify.…