Following the 2015 Budget the Federal Government introduced new legislation to enact its “Jobs for Families Package”. Although there’s an injection of much needed funding into child care, it’s based on cuts to other family benefits. The ASU’s position has been that it takes more than one policy to help…

On March 10, 2016 our second EBA meeting with Qantas management kicked off with the presentation of many of our detailed claims for EBA 11. For over 3 hours your National Negotiating team (NNT) went to the nitty gritty of the claims that you want to achieve in any new…

The ACTU Executive yesterday endorsed an agenda of tax reform priorities designed to tackle growing inequality and unfairness in our economic system and help create better, higher-paying jobs. The plan, Tax reform for a fairer society and strong economy, calls for action in five key areas of tax reform: reducing…

To mark International Women's Day 2016 tomorrow, we invite both ASU members and non-members, women and men, to pledge to combat gender inequality at work. A recent report from RMIT University has shone a spotlight on research by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that argues promoting gender equality in society…

A new report released by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) today (7 March 2016) reveals that Australian women are financially disadvantaged at every key stage of their life: in childhood, at the workplace, through pregnancy, motherhood and as a carer, and in retirement. The ACTU’s Gender Pay Gap…

ASU members across Australia have overwhelmingly endorsed the ASU’s EBA 11 claim after attending meetings across Australia to discuss the recommendations from the ASU Qantas National delegates meeting in February 2016. The ASU claim was served formally on Qantas today. What’s our claim? ASU members endorsed a comprehensive claim which…

 Initial Bargaining meeting well attended by ASU and delegates The bargaining committee The Initial Bargaining meeting went ahead in Parliament House last Friday and a committee was formed with Union representatives, Individual Bargaining Representatives, the Minister and Ministerial & Parliamentary Services (M&PS) staff. Joanne Knight, National Industrial Officer and Lori…

The Australian tax system is tangled up in a web of subsidies, exemptions and arrangements that unfairly advantage the top 10 per cent of income earners, do nothing to drive innovation or productivity growth and hold us back from investing in nation-building. Capital gains tax exemptions, superannuation tax breaks, negative…

Bargaining meetings begin Friday and the ASU survey has been extended. The initial bargaining meeting M&PS have confirmed initial bargaining meeting will take place this Friday, 26 February 2016. ASU National Industrial Officer Joanne Knight will attend with both ASU Delegates: Lori Faraone (office of Andrew Giles MP - Scullin,…

Last week the ASU appeared at the public hearings of the Senate inquiry into the economic security for women in retirement. This was a follow up to the submission we lodged last year. At the hearing we tried to draw a picture for the Senators that could capture the overriding…