Superannuation funds are increasingly flexing their muscle through considerations of ESG in investment decision making as a result of lobbying from trustees and members themselves (ESG refers to environmental, social and corporate governance issues). Tobacco companies are not the only ones seeing investors depart their firms as a result. Recently,…

Australian unions have negotiated a new service for union members: a budgeting tool brought to you for FREE called 'myprosperity' and it's available online now. You can access the free offer to union members via myprosperity.com.au/unions. The site is in Beta mode as new features will continue to be rolled…

Unions are concerned that ten years after asbestos was banned in Australia importation continues. ACTU Assistant Secretary Michael Borowick said the goal of making Australia asbestos free by 2030 was unlikely at this rate. "December 31 was the tenth anniversary of a ban on asbestos following clear and irrefutable evidence…

Unions welcome new laws that came into effect yesterday on 1 January 2014 that give bullied workers a way to solve stressful, damaging and sometimes deadly workplace bullying issues. ACTU Assistant Secretary Michael Borowick said unions have been fighting for these changes for over a decade. "We put bullying on…

The ACTU is urging the Royal Commission into the Home Insulation Program to focus on what can be done to increase safety for workers. ACTU Assistant Secretary Michael Borowick said the Royal Commission presented an opportunity to toughen workplace safety laws to help reduce the number of unnecessary injuries and…

In a decision which humiliates the O'Farrell Government and vindicates the Labor Opposition, the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) today upheld an application for public sector workers to be paid an increase in wages of 2.5 per cent – without deducting an increase in superannuation. "While this decision is very welcome,…

Virgin Ground Crew and GCC staff have overwhelmingly endorsed the ASU negotiated agreement – with 75% of those voting, voting in favour of the new agreement. This is a fantastic result particularly as over 77% of the staff covered by the agreement cast a vote. A big thank you must…

Yesterday the High Court handed down a significant decision in favour of free speech and the ability of organisations like unions to campaign for workers' rights and against unjust political actions through campaigns like "Your Rights at Work". This was in response to legislation introduced by the NSW Government in…

The Wilderness Society (TWS) staff would be aware that management have met with the ASU and employee bargaining reps to discuss the bargaining process for a Multi-Enterprise Agreement (MEA). As required by the Fair Work Act management have notified staff about bargaining rights. A preliminary logistics meeting between the bargaining…

Workers relying on a robust Australian job's market have been let down following a policy-light and blame-heavy announcement at today's Midyear Economic and Fiscal Outlook announcement by Treasurer Joe Hockey. ACTU President Ged Kearney said, "Mr Hockey chose to focus on blame shifting and cuts to jobs and services without…