Rights at Work

Despite being the reason for calling a double dissolution election, the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) has been barely mentioned by the Liberal Government during the protracted election campaign, however the Union for local government, energy and water sector workers needs to alert the community that chaos may follow…

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) sees the introduction of an objective test to determine the definition of a casual employee as having a fundamentally positive impact on millions of Australian workers. In its submission to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into workplace relations in 2015, the ACTU specifically asked…

The creation of 10,000 pre-apprenticeship places at TAFE for young people and a pilot program for mature-aged and retrenched workers are a win for Australian job seekers. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten today announced details of 10,000 new Apprentice Ready places that will give young job seekers who have been unemployed…

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…

The ACTU and ASU welcome the Labor Party’s commitment to the proper and timely funding for early childhood education and for early childhood educators in this country. Affordable and accessible early childhood education and care helps ensure that all children get the best start in life. This package recognises the…

The Turnbull Government’s failure to strongly advocate to raise the minimum wage is a glaring and potentially costly omission, as the Fair Work Commission (FWC) today announced a $15.80 weekly increase for Australia’s lowest paid workers. While unions are respectful of the FWC process and welcome any rise in wages,…

At last night’s Leaders’ Debate, Mr Turnbull said the Government must seek “the right outcomes for our children because they are our future.” But which children was he talking about? The ones in our public education system? [Gonski not fully funded beyond 2017, with the Coalition to maintain an inequitable…

Last year the ASU conducted a broad ranging survey on financial insecurity in retirement. We presented a snapshot of some of our findings in our submission to the Senate Inquiry into economic security for women in retirement and appeared at the Senate hearing. We left the politicians in no doubt…

Barely eight days after it was announced, the Turnbull Government’s internship plan is in tatters, with employment law experts questioning the legality of its Youth Jobs PaTH program under the current legislative framework – potentially blowing a $478 million black hole in the budget. According to legal advice received by…

Unions will today continue their fight for a $30 a week increase to the minimum wage at the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review. The Government and industry groups have continued their opposition to the increase. On the ABC’s Q&A panel on Monday night, Australia witnessed how out of touch…