Secure Jobs Better Future

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…

Today’s announcement of an increase of 3.3% to minimum award wages does not meet the principle that a full time worker in Australia should not have to live in poverty. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) recognised its failure to achieve this in its Annual Wage Review Statement but the ASU…

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has confirmed the penalty rate wage cuts for up to 700,000 workers will begin in less than four weeks. The transitional arrangements for the penalty rate cuts will ensure the pain that workers face will be a long, drawn out process, with wage cuts every…

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…