Australian jobs will be lost as a result of the Korea-Australian Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) that came into effect today, said the ACTU. ACTU President Ged Kearney said the Abbott Government has signed Australia up to a deal that allows Korean companies operating in Australia to ignore Australian workers looking…

Today's 12-year-high unemployment rate of 6.3 per cent has destroyed any economic credibility the Abbott Government claims to have, said the ACTU. "This is the highest unemployment rate in Australia since September 2002, when Tony Abbott was Employment Minister," said ACTU Assistant Secretary Tim Lyons. "The Government needs to stop…

As the UN Climate Change Summit, COP20, in Lima, Peru, draws to an end, Public Services International (PSI) highlights the special role of local and national government structures in developing, implementing and monitoring green policies. The ASU, a PSI affiliate and the key local government union in Australia supports this…

The United Nations declared December 10 a Human Rights Day. The union movement reflects on one of those fundamental human rights. ITUC Statement on Human Rights Day Today, 64 years since the United Nations declared December 10 a Human Rights Day, the world is witnessing an unprecedented attack on one…

This edition contains a summary of blog items published by Greg McLean in the previous calendar month. Items cover the areas of local government, energy and water, rail and public transport, international news including trade agreements, privatisation and general public sector matters. The articles all relate to the blog of…

Unions will take legal action to block any application to the Supreme Court to have asbestos victims paid compensation in instalments. In a unanimous vote, the ACTU Executive committed to the action in response to a shortfall in the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund (AICF) set up to compensate asbestos sufferers.…

The ASU has some concerns about the possible impacts of a review of library qualifications and has met with the relevant industry skills council, Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA), to discuss them. As a result of our concerns, we are running a survey of all employees who work in…

As ASU social and community services workers approach their bi-annual equal pay increase on 1 December, a new study showing Australian women are paid almost 25 per cent less than men who perform the same work highlights the need for comprehensive government action to close the gender pay gap and…

Over the last 15 years, more than 180 cities and communities in 35 countries have taken back control of their water services, a new study reveals. First published 13 November 2014 on the Public Services International (PSI) website A new report called "Here to stay: Water remunicipalisation as a global…

Ever since Qantas announced the creation of a new Qantas international entity when they announced the company results, Qantas unions have been seeking clarification about whether the new company would be an employing entity and whether it would affect the terms and conditions of existing employees' working in the Qantas…