News
Join the rally in Sydney next week to protest the threat to people's rights. The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) is a free trade agreement involving Australia, the US, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Japan and Vietnam. Negotiations are secretive, but we know from leaked documents and…
World Women’s Assembly to focus on organising women
21 November 2013
When considering the status of working women, union negotiated collective agreements, policies and services achieve numerous conditions of employment that deliver greater income security and work-life balance to Australian families. Research released by The Grattan Institute in 2012 estimated that a small 6% increase in workforce participation of women should…
Trade unions join walk out of Warsaw climate talks
21 November 2013
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) joins major environmental and development groups in protest action at COP 19 in Warsaw where Governments are not acting responsibly to tackle the threat to lives, jobs and livelihoods that climate change represents. You can read this news item on the ITUC website by…
Today is national Go Home on Time Day!
20 November 2013
Today is the fifth annual Go Home on Time Day, an initiative of The Australia Institute and beyondblue which aims to promote work-life balance and mentally healthy workplaces. Executive Director of The Australia Institute Dr Richard Denniss said it was exciting that more than 350 businesses and organisations have registered…
Unions call for a strong Australian aviation industry
18 November 2013
The ACTU has today been approached by unions that represent Qantas workers who are extremely concerned by news reports regarding the national carrier. "We are concerned about reports of an uncertain future for Qantas as a result of the uneven playing field that has evolved within the local aviation industry,"…
Remember: Go Home On Time Day is this Wednesday 20 November
18 November 2013
Whether it’s a last minute meeting, a task that will just take a moment, a phone call that can’t be ignored or your inbox needs a clean out, many of you don’t manage to make it out the door on time. The ASU is urging our members and supporters to…
Qantas Holidays ASU members give EBA 2 thumbs up
14 November 2013
Qantas Holidays staff have voted unanimously to endorse the ASU EBA 2 deal negotiated and recommended by the ASU's Qantas Holidays National Negotiating Team. The external company conducting the ballot, Elections Australia Pty Ltd has declared that ASU (Qantas Holidays) EBA 2 has been approved by the majority of staff…
The ASU has been liaising with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) about submissions and consultations for the National Review on Pregnancy and Return to Work. We will be making a submission to the Review and we need your help to give them the real picture of what is going…
Australia at risk of being left behind on jobs of the future
13 November 2013
Tony Abbott's decision to repeal the price on carbon is putting at risk Australia's ability to capitalise on the clean tech, low carbon jobs of the future, ACTU president Ged Kearney said, "Failure to invest and support a local clean energy industry through comprehensive climate change policy will cost future…
Qatar: UN Human Rights Rapporteur exposes truth on migrant workers and calls for ILO standards to be met
13 November 2013
International unions are calling on the Qatar authorities to give an immediate response to the request for urgent reforms for migrant workers following a ten-day UN investigation in the country. You can find this article on the ITUC website by clicking here Sharan Burrow, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation,…