Rights at Work

You can be forgiven for missing this fantastic news during #Budget2017 because it was not announced with any fanfare by Treasurer Scott Morrison or the Minister for Social Services Christian Porter. The Federal Government’s long drawn out war to whittle away Australia’s modest paid parental leave scheme is over, for…

New data from the McKell Institute released today shows workers in 45 regional communities will lose $667 million each year from penalty rates cuts, with $289 million of this to leave these electorates altogether to line the pockets of corporations in the cities and overseas. The research shows that more…

New global polling on rising inequality for workers shows Australian workers have the same fears and problems as their international counterparts. The global poll commissioned by the 181 million-member International Trade Union Confederation, shows globalisation is failing people with three in four in fear for their jobs and seeing a…

Tonight the Federal Government handed down a budget that entrenches inequality at the same time as rewarding corporations. The message from Canberra is clear: Don’t be poor. Don’t be unemployed. Don’t be vulnerable. This Budget attacks those in our community who need the most support. The proposed changes to welfare…

Australian Council of Trade Union secretary Sally McManus yesterday announced the union movement’s call for a $45 a week increase to the minimum wage. A real increase to the minimum wage will address rising cost of living, inflation and boost the economy. In her speech to the National Press Club,…

When the ASU shared the video clip of Pauline Hanson's views on penalty rates (ie. get rid of them altogether, not just cut rates for Sundays and public holidays) we knew before any polling verified it that it would be devastating for One Nation, along with the Liberals and Nationals.…

Nurses, teachers, cleaners, community, social, disability and construction workers are all at risk of having their penalty rates cut following the recent Fair Work Commission (FWC) decision. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has received independent legal advice that shows the FWC decision opens the door to penalty rate…

The ASU’s submission to the Senate inquiry into the Liberals’ proposed cuts to paid parental leave was released to the public last week. After the input of members and supporters late last year, our submission argues cuts to the existing paid parental leave scheme are unwarranted, and will mean that…

Workers who are on enterprise agreements are paid 25% more than workers on awards or the minimum wage, according to new biennial Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data. The latest data strongly confirms that unions are vital to ensuring working people get decent pay and conditions. The number of Australian…

On Day Two of ASU National Conference 2016 the plenary and workshops sessions on "Superannuation for Women and Low Income Earners" provided some disturbing details of the plight of many ASU members and other workers across the country. When unions campaigned for and won universal superannuation our intention was that…