News
Occupational Health & Safety and Workers' Compensation
Kill a worker, go to jail
27 February 2019
All workers have the right to a safe workplace. Every year more than 200 workers, people like Mark and Janice’s son, don’t make it home at the end of their shift. 4 workers are killed on the job every week. Every one of these deaths is preventable, and employers who…
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…
Workplace discrimination - it's not on
18 May 2017
"Workplace discrimination - it's not on" is our simple message in a new poster for workplace noticeboards and a meme for social sharing. >> Download and print the ASU poster for your workplace (1.18 MB) Sometimes, all that's needed to stop discrimination in its tracks is a public display making…
The long-standing ASU position on marriage rights for LGBTIQ people is that it’s simply a matter of equality, and therefore we support changes to the relevant laws to ensure the LGBTIQ community has access to marriage on an equal basis with non-LGBTIQ Australians. Today we are adding our opposition to…
How to identify workplace bullying
31 August 2016
Since 1 January 2014 the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has been empowered to issue orders to employers to stop bullying that is happening in their workplaces. It may sound like a simple matter, but there are strict criteria that must be met before the FWC can determine bullying is actually…
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and unions are alarmed that the Federal Government intends to stop working people organising in their workplaces and accessing their unions. Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash has confirmed the Coalition will remove unions’ access to lunchrooms and place limits on visits to workplaces.…
Asbestos ban must be enforced to protect all Australians
04 August 2016
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is today releasing a report – five months after he received it – that shows the Federal Government is dangerously negligent when it comes to controlling asbestos importation in Australia. The report from Swedish firm KGH Border Services highlights problems not only with staff resourcing in…
An incoming federal government should commit to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) goals across Australia, said the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and unions. During the period of the Abbott/Turnbull Government, a period of policy stagnation in Occupational Health and Safety and workers’ compensation has been delivered. The ACTU…
Three workers killed every week in 2015, vigilance on workplace safety must be made a priority
13 October 2015
Australian Unions are meeting this week in Canberra for the 2015 ACTU Occupational Health Safety and Workers Compensation Conference to discuss how to tackle significant workplace safety issues and barriers. This comes as Safe Work Australia figures show there have been 126 workplace fatalities in Australia already this year (to…
ASU wins case for accident make-up pay in modern awards
27 August 2015
Last week the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission handed down their decision to include accident make-up pay in modern awards where predecessor awards had contained the provision. This decision means that thousands of workers will continue to have their wages supplemented by their employer for a specified time…