News
Life & Family Friendly
They can’t ‘just leave’: escaping family and domestic violence takes time and money
28 November 2017
Malcolm Turnbull and Michaelia Cash are overdue for a reality check: escaping family and domestic violence, safely, so people have a hope of rebuilding their lives in the near term, takes time and it takes money. The Federal Government's tinkering around the edges of policy, while simultaneously trying to cut…
Ged Kearney and delegation of front-line workers call on Turnbull, Cash, Porter to act on Family and Domestic Violence
19 October 2017
ACTU President Ged Kearney will attend a high-visibility action and address the media to call on the Prime Minister and senior Ministers including Michaelia Cash and Christian Porter to meet with the ACTU to discuss Family and Domestic Violence. No member of the Turnbull Government has made the time to…
Wages are going backwards - rules at work are broken
17 August 2017
Australian workers’ wages are not keeping up with the cost of living and over a million working people are underemployed, figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveal. The cost of living is growing 16 per cent faster than wages in the private sector. Workers are doing…
Following two major ASU surveys about retirement security, what we learned demanded further study and the search for solutions. Today we are proud to launch the report: “Not So Super, For Women: Superannuation and Women’s Retirement Outcomes”, in collaboration with progressive think tank Per Capita. The report confirms our findings,…
This month the Senate Committee inquiring into gender segregation in the workplace and its impact on women's economic equality released its report. The ASU lodged a submission to the Inquiry and also appeared at hearings with members providing evidence. We are pleased that a number of the remedies we put…
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…
Turnbull Government policies continue to worsen inequality for women with analysis of this year’s Budget showing younger women are some of the biggest losers. A study of Budget outcomes by the National Foundation for Australian Women reveals many of the measures will ensure women continue to experience less financial security…
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…
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…
ASU tells Senate to oppose Liberal cuts to paid parental leave
25 January 2017
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…
Liberal Govt moves to cut Paid Parental Leave again
20 October 2016
On Thursday 20 October 2016 the Liberal Government again introduced legislation to cut government funded pay parental leave. The Government’s previous attempts to cut the pay of parents after the birth of their child have been rejected by the Senate, however, they are now trying again. How does the current…
We need members’ input to fight the reduction of work-life flexibility in your awards. The ASU is currently involved in the Fair Work Commission (FWC) four yearly review of Modern Awards and as part of our participation we are seeking to replace inferior clauses in three awards covering our members…
People’s Inquiry into Privatisation launches
15 August 2016
The impact on ordinary Australians of privatising essential public assets and services will be examined in a People’s Inquiry launched today by the global union Public Services International (PSI), of which the ASU is an affiliate. The People’s Inquiry into Privatisation will examine in detail community concerns, including those recently…
Turnbull’s secret plan for big business to profit off domestic violence, homelessness services revealed
29 June 2016
The Turnbull Government has asked the Productivity Commission to investigate commercialising vital community services – a move that would divert scarce public funding away from supporting victims of domestic violence and homelessness services to shareholders of opportunistic businesses. In the days before the election was called, Treasurer Scott Morrison quietly…