Live News Feed: ACTU
Young Workers' Hotline: 1300 364 022
Young people will be able to discuss workplace problems directly with a senior federal politician during a special phone-in this week.
07 April 2003 [Read More]
Wage Case: Unprecedented Support
The ACTU’s annual Minimum Wages Case starting today will receive unprecedented support from state governments, church and welfare groups.
31 March 2003 [Read More]
Abbott's Watchdog Targets Workers
The recommendations of the Cole Royal Commission released today threatened the basic rights of employees to bargain collectively for decent wages and conditions, the ACTU said.
27 March 2003 [Read More]
Cole report a political tool
Today's release of the Cole Royal Commission report into the building industry will be used as a political tool by the Howard Government, the ACTU has warned.
26 March 2003 [Read More]
ACTU Opposes Howard's Illegal War
The ACTU and its affiliated unions are opposed to John Howard’s commitment of Australia to the looming war with Iraq. ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said that John Howard was acting in breach of Australia’s international obligations.
18 March 2003 [Read More]
IWD 2003 - What Working Women Want
Australian working women want a world free from war, a workplace that accommodates family responsibilities and a decent quality of life.
07 March 2003 [Read More]
ACTU: Halt Corporate Excess
The ACTU will call on the Howard Government to bring company directors' and chief executives' salaries into line with shareholder and community expectations, at a hearing of the Senate Economics Committee Inquiry in Canberra today.
06 March 2003 [Read More]
$8.40 Isn’t Good Enough, Mr Abbott
1.7 million low paid Australians have good cause to feel insulted by the Howard Government’s latest attempt to limit them to a miserable pay rise of just $8.40 a week after tax.
26 February 2003 [Read More]
Iraq Peace Rallies Start Today
Hundreds of thousands of Australians are expected to protest against the looming war in Iraq at peace rallies around the country this weekend.
14 February 2003 [Read More]
Australia Hosts Global Women’s Talks
Five hundred women union representatives from around the world will meet in Melbourne next week for the international union movement’s global women’s conference.
11 February 2003 [Read More]
ACTU Statement On Zimbabwe
The ACTU is strongly opposed to the Australian Cricket Team playing in Zimbabwe and condemns the action of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) in going ahead with the matches.
06 February 2003 [Read More]
Wage Push Targets Exec Salaries
Unions are calling for tax changes to put the brakes on multi-million dollar executive salaries and corporate "golden goodbyes."
05 February 2003 [Read More]
More Family Friendly Laws; Hours Cap
Eighty per cent of Australian employees want more family friendly workplace laws and a cap on long working hours, according to one of Australia’s largest workforce surveys to be released today.
31 January 2003 [Read More]
Parliament Must Debate Iraq War
The ACTU has condemned the Howard Government for sending Australian troops to prepare for war with Iraq today without the support of parliament or the United Nations.
23 January 2003 [Read More]
Unions Press For Minimum Wage Rise
Unions are stepping up their push for an increase in minimum award wages after an explosion in the pay packets of top company CEOs last year.
16 January 2003 [Read More]
Ansett Levy: Howard's Policy Failure
The ACTU renewed its call for national laws guaranteeing 100% of employee entitlements after the Federal Government today signalled the abolition of the Ansett ticket tax.
30 October 2002 [Read More]
ACTU Stands By Anderson’s "Lies"
The ACTU has reaffirmed its public statements about the Ansett ticket levy after Federal Transport Minister John Anderson today labelled them "lies".
29 October 2002 [Read More]
ACTU:Tighten Foreign Ship Regulation
The Federal Government should crack down on flag of convenience ships operating in Australian waters as part of anti-terrorism measures in the wake of the Bali bombings.
29 October 2002 [Read More]
Govt Lets Foreign Labour Ship Sail
The Federal Government has used extraordinary powers to allow a controversial foreign ship to operate off Queensland without permission from the State Government.
24 October 2002 [Read More]
Tax Breaks Won’t Stop Corp. Rip-Offs
Skyrocketing executive pay rises would not be stopped by new proposals for a self-regulated salary pause or possible tax breaks for share option schemes, the ACTU said today.
23 October 2002 [Read More]
ACTU Welcomes NT's 14-Week Benchmark
The ACTU has welcomed the Northern Territory Government’s decision to increase paid maternity leave entitlements to 14 weeks for all women working for the NT public service.
21 October 2002 [Read More]
Union Award Nominations Closing Soon
The night we honour our champions is coming up with the annual union awards and to win a gong unions have to be in to win.
Nominations close 18 October 2002.
All nominations in the different award categories should reflect in part or in whole the criteria set down for each award outlined below. Nominations should be sent to Stephanie Auty at sauty@actu.asn.au or in the post at Level 3, 393 Swanston Street, Melbourne. Inquiries 03 9664 7379.
16 October 2002 [Read More]
ACTU Statement On Iraq
War Is Not The Alternative.
The ACTU strongly opposes any unilateral declaration and Australia involvement in a war on Iraq.
14 October 2002 [Read More]
Libs Punish 250,000 Low-Paid Vics
Around 250,000 disadvantaged Victorian workers could miss out on pay rises and better conditions because of the Liberal Party’s decision to block the Bracks Government’s industrial reforms, the ACTU said today.
09 October 2002 [Read More]
US Docks Lockout Hits Sea Trade
Australian sea trade with the United States is threatened by a massive anti-union lockout by shipping managers, which has closed 29 ports on the US west coast.
02 October 2002 [Read More]
International Embarrassment: Hilton
The plight of 467 workers facing the sack from Sydney’s Hilton Hotel is becoming an international embarrassment, ACTU President Sharan Burrow said today.
24 September 2002 [Read More]
Minchin Ignores Lower Paid Women
Federal Finance Minister Nick Minchin is ignoring the needs of most women on low to middle incomes who will continue to miss out on paid maternity leave unless the Federal Government legislates for a universal scheme, the ACTU said today.
17 September 2002 [Read More]
Workers Bank launches credit card
Members Equity have launched a MasterCard with an interest rate of 9.75%, reinforcing their reputation of providing low fee banking services to union members.
16 September 2002 [Read More]
Unions Urge Attendance: Meeting
One year after the collapse of Ansett airlines, unions are urging former employees to attend the third creditors meeting of the company later this month.
12 September 2002 [Read More]
A Year On: $400 Million Still Unpaid
The Federal Government is blocking the full payment of outstanding entitlements to former Ansett employees who are still owed $400 million one year after the airline’s collapse.
06 September 2002 [Read More]
Test Case To Boost Redundancy Pay
Workers like former One.Tel employees sacked without redundancy entitlements would receive up to 20 weeks severance pay under an ACTU Test Case announced today.
29 August 2002 [Read More]
Prevent Company Failures: ACTU
The ACTU today called on the Federal Government to set up an independent Office of Corporate Audit to prevent company rorts and failures such as HIH, One.Tel and Harris Scarfe.
26 August 2002 [Read More]
ALP Review To Help Working Families
The ACTU welcomed recommendations of the Hawke-Wran Review of the ALP released today that will guarantee union involvement in the development of Labor policies to benefit working families.
09 August 2002 [Read More]
Car Council To Bring Stability: ACTU
The ACTU has proposed a new high-level Consultative Council of senior employer and union representatives to improve stability in the car industry.
08 August 2002 [Read More]
ACTU Call Centre Seeks Organiser
ACTU Member Connect is looking for an Organiser to work in their call centre. If you are looking to work with a union, this could be the ideal opportunity to gain an understanding of organising and the issues facing Australian working people.
04 July 2002 [Read More]
Aid Office Destroyed In West Bank
Australia's Union Aid Abroad organisation (APHEDA) has deplored the recent destruction of the offices of its partner organisation, Ma'an Development Centre in Ramallah on Sunday.
04 April 2002 [Read More]
$11.54/hr Minimum Wage A Must
Australia’s stand-out economic performance justifies boosting the minimum wage to $11.54 per hour, the ACTU will tell the Australian Industrial Relations Commission Living Wage Case hearing starting in Melbourne today.
03 April 2002 [Read More]
ACTU Calls For Sanctions On Zimbabwe
Australia should impose sanctions against the Government of Zimbabwe for its abuse of democratic processes and violations of human rights, the ACTU said today.
18 March 2002 [Read More]
ACTU assists former Ansett staff
The ACTU is coordinating financial advice seminars for former Ansett employees.
15 March 2002 [Read More]
ACTU Pushes Living Standards Agenda
The ACTU has stepped up its push to improve living standards for working families with a renewed focus on improving job security for casual employees, promoting reasonable working hours and lifting real minimum wages for award workers.
05 March 2002 [Read More]
ACTU Slams Govt's $7 pay rise
The ACTU has attacked the Federal Government’s response to its annual Living Wage claim, saying it would amount to an after-tax pay rise of only $7 a week for up to 1.7 million low paid workers.
05 March 2002 [Read More]
Union membership up again
The number of union members in Australia has increased for the second year in a row, according to data released from the Australian Bureau of Statistics today.
28 February 2002 [Read More]
Costello, Abbott Should Move On
ACTU President Sharan Burrow has called on Treasurer Peter Costello to tell Tony Abbott to dump his controversial new bill that will allow small business to sack staff unfairly.
20 February 2002 [Read More]
Scorching Summer for Young Activists
Student activists with an interest in social justice will learn campaigning and networking techniques as part of an ACTU run three-week internship.
14 February 2002 [Read More]
Abbott ignores Government policy
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott’s criticism today of employers for not using the Workplace Relations Act against their employees demonstrates a new level of anti-union bias from the Federal Government, the ACTU said.
04 February 2002 [Read More]
Ansett staff urged to get proxies in
Ansett employees have less than a week to lodge proxy forms to vote at next Tuesday’s crucial Creditors’ meeting on the airline’s future.
23 January 2002 [Read More]
Staff to share in new Ansett profits
More than 4,000 employees of the new Ansett will share in any profits made by the company under a groundbreaking deal between unions and the airline’s new owners.
15 January 2002 [Read More]
ACTU call for support for bank staff
The ACTU has called on bank customers to support bank workers in their campaign against branch closures, falling service levels and staff cuts.
13 December 2001 [Read More]
Call centre standards lift
The ACTU has called on the Victorian and NSW Governments to follow the lead of other states in raising call centre standards.
06 December 2001 [Read More]
12-hr day, $3.60/hr, if you’re lucky
Clothing industry outworkers earn an average of only $3.60 an hour despite working more than 12 hours a day, seven days a week, a new study showed.
22 November 2001 [Read More]
ACTU working hours case begins
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission will today begin hearings on the first case to define general working hours since the Eight Hour Day in 1947.
19 November 2001 [Read More]
More jobs to go
The ACTU warned that thousands more job losses were expected in addition to the 56,800 full time positions lost last month reported in today’s official labour force statistics.
08 November 2001 [Read More]
Howard keeps ticket tax millions
The Howard Government is keeping millions of dollars collected in its $10 air ticket tax from being paid to sacked Ansett employees, despite its own legislation specifying that the tax be used to pay Ansett employee entitlements.
02 November 2001 [Read More]
Job security tops agenda
Thousands of workers will today call on political parties to spell out their commitment to save jobs and guarantee 100% of employee entitlements.
01 November 2001 [Read More]
Howard's tax tricks working families
Many working families eligible for the Coalition’s “baby bonus” plan would get less than the $500 a year promised as a minimum by John Howard, according to an analysis of the proposal by the ACTU.
30 October 2001 [Read More]
Gov't fails to stem workplace deaths
A national workplace survey has highlighted the failure of the Federal Government to act against workplace death and injury.
29 October 2001 [Read More]
GST cuts help working families
The ACTU has welcomed Kim Beazley's GST tax cuts, saying they will significantly benefit working families struggling to keep up with GST-driven price rises.
19 October 2001 [Read More]
Long hours ranks swell by 76%
A 76% increase in the number of Australians working more than 45 hours a week has swelled the ranks of people working long hours to 2.4 million.
19 October 2001 [Read More]
GST kills more jobs - Budget
John Howard was ignoring the need for new policies to prevent thousands more job losses and stop unemployment rising as forecast in today’s Pre-Election Budget statement, the ACTU said.
18 October 2001 [Read More]
ACTU welcomes asbestos ban
The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission yesterday decided to ban the importation and use of chrysotile (white) asbestos from the end of 2003. This date allows for a change-over from asbestos-based products (largely brake pads) to non-asbestos materials.
18 October 2001 [Read More]
Howard’s $ billion budget blow-out
Today’s Mid-Year Economic Outlook has destroyed Prime Minister John Howard’s claim to good economic management and undermined Australians’ sense of job security for the future, the ACTU said.
17 October 2001 [Read More]
Howard’s tax cut for foreign CEOs
Prime Minister John Howard’s promised election policies would deliver tax cuts to millionaire foreign business people while cutting the wages of young workers, the ACTU said today.
17 October 2001 [Read More]
Gov't Ansett entitlement back down
ACTU Secretary Greg Combet has praised the courage and determination of Ansett staff to get their airline flying again following a Federal Government back down that will allow some Ansett staff early access to the Government’s Ansett employee entitlements scheme.
15 October 2001 [Read More]
Unions welcome Ansett $150 million
Ansett’s Administrators cleared another hurdle in rebuilding the airline today when the Federal Court approved a $200 million Air New Zealand compensation package for Ansett.
12 October 2001 [Read More]
Howard plan attacks job security
The Federal Coalition’s industrial relations policy announced today was an attack on the job security and employment rights of working people and failed to protect their accrued entitlements, the ACTU said.
12 October 2001 [Read More]
Jobs data proves Howard wrong
Official employment figures showing more than 48,500 jobs were lost last month confirmed the need for new Federal Government policies to support Australian industries and generate secure jobs, the ACTU said today.
11 October 2001 [Read More]
Howard could sabotage Ansett jobs
Commonwealth Government documents released by the Federal Court last night show that the Howard Government could sabotage the Ansett Administrators’ plans to save thousands of jobs and rebuild a viable business.
10 October 2001 [Read More]
Job security top election agenda
The ACTU has urged Australians to vote for the political party that most clearly demonstrates its long-term commitment to jobs and jobs security.
09 October 2001 [Read More]
Unions welcome Air NZ cash to Ansett
ACTU Secretary Greg Combet has welcomed a $200 million compensation agreement between Ansett’s Administrators and Air New Zealand as good news for Ansett staff.
04 October 2001 [Read More]
Govt grab for Ansett assets
Possible Howard Government plans to push ahead of employees in the Ansett creditors queue could leave taxpayers and Ansett workers millions of dollars out of pocket.
01 October 2001 [Read More]
Abbott bid to nobble AIRC
The Federal Government was trying to undermine the independence of the Industrial Relations Commission by appointing five conservatives to the Commission bench today, the ACTU said.
28 September 2001 [Read More]
Anderson ignored Ansett warnings
An August 14 letter from Air New Zealand Chairman Dr Jim Farmer to John Howard makes a mockery of the Government’s claims it was ignorant of the crisis facing Ansett and raise serious questions about the Howard Government’s commitment to get Ansett flying again, ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said today.
21 September 2001 [Read More]
Howard Gov't culpable for Ansett
Air New Zealand and the Howard Government must accept responsibility for the Ansett debacle and up to $400 million in employee entitlements, the ACTU said today.
13 September 2001 [Read More]
Job security #1 for women
Job security, health and education are the top federal election issues for women voters, according to a national survey of more than 1100 women released by the ACTU today.
10 September 2001 [Read More]
Unions welcome Senate’s stand
Thursday, 30 August 2001
Unions have welcomed the Senate’s blocking early today of legislation to authorise military action against the Tampa and other ships in distress in Australian waters.
31 August 2001 [Read More]
Young casuals not paid overtime
One third of young casual workers are forced to work overtime without pay, according to a national survey of 1400 employees being released today.
22 August 2001 [Read More]
Govt faces women voter backlash
The Federal Government faces a backlash from women voters concerned about job security after a record loss of full-time jobs last month, the ACTU said today.
12 August 2001 [Read More]
Tristar agreement defeat for Abbott
The ACTU welcomed today’s settlement of the Tristar dispute and congratulated the unions involved for achieving a new benchmark providing 100% protection of employee entitlements.
08 August 2001 [Read More]
Building Inquiry Unnecessary
The Royal Commission into the construction industry is unjustified and has been called in an election year to distract attention from the failings of the Howard Government.
26 July 2001 [Read More]
Test case gets go-ahead
The Federal Government and major employer groups have failed in a bid to block the ACTU’s test case on reasonable working hours.
19 July 2001 [Read More]
ACTU Statement on Johnson Tiles
Statement by ACTU Secretary, Greg Combet, concerning Skilled Engineering and Johnson Tiles
In recent days there has been widespread media reporting of allegations concerning the conduct of a group of union representatives during an industrial dispute involving two Melbourne firms, Johnson Tiles and Skilled Engineering. The National Council of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union responded swiftly and appropriately to the allegations.
13 July 2001 [Read More]
Howard sends R&D spending down
New figures revealing a further 3% collapse in business research and development since the Howard Government came to office threatened Australia’s long-term jobs growth, the ACTU said today.
12 July 2001 [Read More]
Howard’s tax avoidance cave-in
The Howard Government has abandoned ordinary working families by breaking its promise to crack down on business tax avoidance by so-called independent contractors, the ACTU said today. Independent contractors will now be allowed to ‘self-assess’ their tax status.
10 July 2001 [Read More]
Living standards election factor
The decline in living standards for many working Australians would be a critical factor in determining the outcome of the federal election, the ACTU said today.
04 July 2001 [Read More]
Questions over AIRC member
The ACTU has questioned the future of Australian Industrial Relations Commission Senior Deputy President Rob Cartwright over his role in a case that has left Telstra facing fines that may total $420 million.
01 July 2001 [Read More]
Unions farewell Reith
The ACTU said today that union members would shed no tears over Peter Reith’s resignation from politics, describing him as one of the most divisive and extremist industrial relations ministers in Australian history.
29 June 2001 [Read More]
50 years on, women short-changed
Australian women earn $166 a week less than men, despite 50 years of action for equal pay, and the situation is getting worse.
29 June 2001 [Read More]
Low-paid workers short-changed
The ACTU has welcomed today’s economic growth data, but said the figures prove that low-paid workers have been short-changed by last month’s Living Wage case.
06 June 2001 [Read More]
Unions target call centres
Unions are stepping up their push for better conditions for call centre workers in the wake of the One.Tel disaster.
06 June 2001 [Read More]
Abbott opposes One.Tel staff payout
The ACTU has condemned Federal Employment Minister Tony Abbott for refusing to support award redundancy payments for 1400 One.Tel staff owed millions of dollars by the embattled company.
04 June 2001 [Read More]
ACTU wins maternity leave Test Case
The ACTU has welcomed today’s decision by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission awarding maternity and parental leave rights for more than two million casual workers.
31 May 2001 [Read More]
Howard abandons working families
An analysis of Tuesday’s Budget tax changes shows a working couple on average weekly earnings will now pay almost $100 more in tax each week than a retired couple on the same income, the ACTU said today.
24 May 2001 [Read More]
Howard abandons working families
An analysis of Tuesday’s Budget tax changes shows a working couple on average weekly earnings will now pay almost $100 more in tax each week than a retired couple on the same income, the ACTU said today.
24 May 2001 [Read More]
Qantas sacks 200 Impulse workers
Qantas Airlines is being urged to secure the future of more than 700 former Impulse workers after 200 of their colleagues were sacked without notice yesterday.
23 May 2001 [Read More]
Budget exposes GST wreckage
22 May 2001
The full impact of the Howard Government's GST has been exposed with the revelation tonight that the four-year $29.5 billion Budget surplus prediction has shrunk to just $9 billion.
23 May 2001 [Read More]
Abbott runs away from OEA failure
Today’s backflip by Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott on his threatened inquiry into the building industry demonstrates the lack of substance in the report of the Office of the Employment Advocate.
18 May 2001 [Read More]
Budget must fund public health
11 May 2001
The Federal Government is being called on to mark International Nurses Day today with a new funding commitment to public health.
11 May 2001 [Read More]
Abbott out of touch with low paid
The response by Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott to yesterday’s Living Wage rise of $13 for low-paid workers shows that the Minister is out of touch with the needs of people who are struggling to survive on the minimum wage.
03 May 2001 [Read More]
$13 wage rise no match for GST
Wednesday, 2 May 2001
The benefits of the ACTU’s $13-a-week Living Wage rise for low-paid workers will be consumed by higher inflation from the GST and rising petrol prices.
02 May 2001 [Read More]
Boycott trade, travel with Burma
The ACTU today called on Australians to boycott travel and ban all trade with Burma as part of an international union protest against human rights abuses in the country.
01 May 2001 [Read More]
ABS: union members earn 17.5% more
30 April 2001
Union members earned an average $109 per week more than their non-union colleagues last year, according to Australian workforce figures released today.
30 April 2001 [Read More]
Failure to ban deadly asbestos
The Howard Government’s failure to ban the production and importation of asbestos products will be the focus of international attention today when Australia hosts the sixth International Day of Mourning in Melbourne.
27 April 2001 [Read More]
Opposition to wage rise detroyed
Tuesday, 24 April 2001
Confirmation today that Australia has suffered the highest annual inflation for more than a decade makes a mockery of the Federal Government’s opposition to a wage rise for the country’s lowest paid workers, the ACTU said.
24 April 2001 [Read More]
BHP unions forge common strategy
Friday, 20 April 2001
BHP union delegates from workplaces across Australia have forged a common strategy to ensure collective bargaining rights are recognised at all the company’s operations.
20 April 2001 [Read More]
Time to act on pay discrimination
All Australian Governments must act to stop pay discrimination against women after tax office data today revealed that men on average earn 46 per cent more than women, the ACTU said.
11 April 2001 [Read More]
Claims of dirty tricks conspiracy
Allegations on yesterday’s Sunday program of the Howard Government’s possible involvement in another dirty-tricks conspiracy to cut people’s wages deserve urgent investigation, the ACTU said.
09 April 2001 [Read More]
Adel-Darwin Rail Work Home
The ACTU today called for a reversal of the decision to have rail wagons for the Adelaide-Darwin rail project manufactured in China.
06 April 2001 [Read More]
AIG oppose maternity leave
The Australian Industry Group’s refusal to support the ACTU’s maternity leave test case was holding up an historic agreement to benefit Australia’s 2 million casual workers, ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said today.
06 April 2001 [Read More]
US-Australia trade deal
Union leaders from Australia and the United States today called for any Free Trade Agreement between the two countries to include guarantees on employment and environment standards.
06 April 2001 [Read More]
Global unions target child labour
Unions around the world have vowed to increase the pressure on governments and employers to do more to stamp out child labour.
30 March 2001 [Read More]
Canberra props up Abbott's AWA claim
ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said that average AWA individual contract pay outcomes released by the ABS yesterday were artificially inflated by the Federal Government's policy of making senior public service executives on big performance bonuses sign AWAs.
30 March 2001 [Read More]
Australasian organising conference
More than 600 unionists from Australia and New Zealand will gather in Sydney this week for the inaugural Australasian Organising Conference.
23 March 2001 [Read More]
ACCI offer lacks credibility
Lacking in compassion and credibility is how the ACTU has described the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (ACCI) response to a union campaign to get Australia's 1.7 million low-paid workers a $28 a week pay rise.
20 March 2001 [Read More]
BHP workers walkout over safety
Around 350 contractors have walked off the job at BHP's troubled Hot Briquetted Iron plant near Port Hedland in Western Australia over concerns that the plant may have been contaminated with a 'possible human carcinogen'.
21 February 2001 [Read More]
Abbott advocates wage cut
Mean spirited and out of touch is how the ACTU has described federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott's response to a union campaign to get Australia's 1.7 million low-paid workers a $28 a week pay rise.
19 February 2001 [Read More]
BHP - out of courts, into workplace
Unions representing workers at BHP Iron Ore in the Pilbara region of Western Australia will take their battle against the company’s attempt to move its workforce onto individual contracts out of the courts and into the workplace.
15 February 2001 [Read More]
Government must take lead on casual
The Federal Government's failure to support an ACTU test case to extend unpaid maternity leave to casual workers is denying Australia's 2 million casuals the security of knowing they can have a family without the fear of losing their job ACTU President Sharan Burrow said today.
15 February 2001 [Read More]
Young Activists Bask in Union Summer
Sydney students who want to help bring fairness into Australian workplaces have spent three weeks of their summer holidays experiencing on-the-ground work with unions.
15 February 2001 [Read More]
Govt warned: help the low paid
The Howard Government was warned today that it would face rising levels of alarm by working Australians unless it moved to help families who could no longer afford to feed their children or heat their homes in winter.
02 February 2001 [Read More]
ACTU Supports Midsumma Carnival
ACTU President Sharan Burrow will attend Midsumma Carnival, Melbourne's Gay and Lesbian Arts and Cultural Festival, this Sunday February 4 at the Alexandra Gardens.
01 February 2001 [Read More]
Abbott employee entitlements report
ACTU Secretary Greg Combet has challenged new Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott to do the right thing by working Australians and introduce a comprehensive employer funded scheme to protect 100% of workers' entitlements.
01 February 2001 [Read More]
Community coalition back ACOSS welfa
The Federal Government is being challenged by a coalition of social security service consumers, providers, unions and community groups to heed an ACOSS 12-point checklist for welfare reform in its response to the McClure report later this week.
13 December 2000 [Read More]
Low-paid left behind - ABS stats
ACTU Secretary Greg Combet has called on the Federal Government to support a significant pay rise for low-paid workers on award wages following the release today of Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing award wage workers are paid an average $200 a week less than other workers.
11 December 2000 [Read More]
ACCI position a 'cruel hoax
The ACTU has called on the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) to clarify its position on the Living Wage claim in the wake of conflicting statements.
11 December 2000 [Read More]
Cliff Dolan: a lifelong commitment
ACTU President Sharan Burrow today paid tribute to Cliff Dolan, who died in Melbourne late last night.
08 December 2000 [Read More]
Whitlam Lecture 2000 - Friday 8/12
On Friday December 8 at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, The Hon Margaret Wilson Attorney General of New Zealand, Minister of Labour and Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, will deliver the annual Whitlam Lecture.
07 December 2000 [Read More]
ACTU $28 Living Wage case begins
The full bench of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission commenced hearing an ACTU claim for a $28 pay rise for low-paid workers in Melbourne today.
07 December 2000 [Read More]
NSW Local Government support Min Std
ACTU President Sharan Burrow has welcomed the Local Government Association of NSW's confirmation of support for decent Minimum Standards in the call centre industry.
07 December 2000 [Read More]
Unions picket Burmese embassy
ACTU President Sharan Burrow addressed unionists rallying outside the Burmese embassy in Canberra today in protest against Burma's widespread and systematic use of forced labour.
07 December 2000 [Read More]
Local Government Association of NSW
ACTU President Sharan Burrow has welcomed the Local Government Association of NSW's confirmation of support for decent Minimum Standards in the call centre industry.
06 December 2000 [Read More]
WCI confirm low-paid are left behind
ACTU Secretary Greg Combet has called on the Federal Government to support the ACTU's $28 pay claim for low-paid workers following the release today of Wage Cost Index data confirming wages growth remains moderate and well below the Reserve Bank's comfort zone.
23 November 2000 [Read More]
Vic Libs should pass Fair Employment
ACTU Secretary Greg Combet has described as dithering and immoral the decision by the Victorian Liberal/National Party Opposition to delay the passage of the Bracks' Government's Fair Employment Bill in the Victorian Upper House.
22 November 2000 [Read More]
Fiji High Court calls for restoratio
ACTU President Sharan Burrow has welcomed today's ruling by the Fijian High Court that the abrogation of the 1997 Fijian Constitution was not legal and that deposed President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and the democratically elected Fijian Parliament should be reinstated immediately.
16 November 2000 [Read More]
Unions& business:call centre stds
Unions and business joined forces today to launch an ACTU campaign aimed at lifting employment and customer service standards in the Australian call centre industry.
13 November 2000 [Read More]
ACTU Call Centre Campaign Launch -
On Monday November 13 in Melbourne, ACTU President Sharan Burrow will launch Call central - a national ACTU campaign aimed at raising employment and customer service standards in the call centre industry.
10 November 2000 [Read More]
ACTU seeks $28 pay rise for low-paid
01 November 2000 [Read More]
Casual workers rights - ACTU Agenda
31 October 2000 [Read More]
Unions lead the way for women
30 October 2000 [Read More]
CPI jump hits low paid hardest
25 October 2000 [Read More]
Employers reject Reith individual co
20 October 2000 [Read More]
Some call centre subsidies not deliv
20 October 2000 [Read More]
Fiji faces union bans
09 October 2000 [Read More]
Court stops Comm Bank contracts
29 September 2000 [Read More]
CBA shareholders urged to reject
29 September 2000 [Read More]
ACTU wage claim to focus on battlers
26 September 2000
ACTU Secretary Greg Combet has accused John Howard of abandoning the battlers, saying that it is workers earning between $20,000 and $30,000 a year who have been hit hardest by the Government's GST tax package.
In a speech to a Perth business forum today, Mr Combet said that the effects of the GST on low paid workers would be a major focus of the ACTU's Living Wage Case, which will be launched later this year.
"Low paid workers have been the big losers under John Howard's GST. The ACTU will be pushing for a pay rise for the low paid to ensure they can make ends meet," said Mr Combet.
Mr Combet described the Governments July 1, 2000 tax cuts as a con job that could not be seen as compensation for the price effects of the GST.
"Even the Treasurer acknowledges that Australian workers deserved these tax cuts, that they should not be seen as 'sugar coating' for the GST," said Mr Combet.
Before July 1 this year Australian workers had not had a tax cut since 1993. A fact that Mr Combet says saw much of the value of wage and salary increases for workers during this period eaten up by tax bracket creep.
"When you discount the July 1 tax cuts against the effects of bracket creep since 1993 and the 5.25% increase in prices that Treasury are predicting in 2000/01, what you find is that low paid workers are worse off under the Government's tax package. This is particularly so for workers earning between $20,000 and $30,000 a year."
"The price Howard and Costello are asking working Australians to pay for a tax cut they deserved is 5.25% inflation and a 10% GST. The ACTU is saying that price is too high and low paid workers deserve a decent pay rise to ensure their standard of living is maintained and improved," said Mr Combet.
Transmission of Business Ministerial Discussion Paper
Mr Combet also criticised the Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith's release today of a Ministerial Discussion Paper on Transmission of Business laws.
"Peter Reith is obsessed with destroying the job security of ordinary Australians. At a time when community concern about job security is at an all time high, Mr Reith should be looking at ways to improve job security, not making it worse by changing the goal posts on transmission of business laws," said Mr Combet.
29 September 2000 [Read More]
Global business needs global rules
08 September 2000 [Read More]
Fiji review condemned
04 September 2000 [Read More]
CBA profit - What about staff?
31 August 2000 [Read More]
Call for action on pay equity ‘myth’
25 August 2000 [Read More]
Pregnancy discrimination victims
21 August 2000 [Read More]
Women and work debated
21 August 2000 [Read More]
Toughen sanctions say Fiji Unions
10 August 2000 [Read More]
Fiji PM needs more Goverment support
07 August 2000 [Read More]
ALP policies welcome relief for work
03 August 2000 [Read More]
Unions support Fiji action day
02 August 2000 [Read More]
Manufacturing, jobs need Government
26 July 2000 [Read More]
Balance needed in trade debate
25 July 2000 [Read More]
Unions call for Downer Fiji talks
18 July 2000 [Read More]
Reith scheme short changes workers
http://www.actu.asn.au/national/media/media00/20000712changes.htm
12 July 2000 [Read More]
Democrats Reject Reith Third Wave
ACTU President Sharan Burrow has welcomed as a victory for fair-minded Australia the decision by the Democrats and the Opposition to block Peter Reith's anti-industry bargaining laws.
06 June 2000 [Read More]
Fairness on election agenda
31 May 2000 [Read More]
Democrats urged to reject Reith laws
26 May 2000 [Read More]
Web war against Reith law
23 May 2000 [Read More]
Fear for Fijian union leaders
21 May 2000 [Read More]
Workers' rally against Reith
19 May 2000 [Read More]
ACTU Executive resolution-GST & Bill
16 May 2000 [Read More]
Govt condemned for pregnant pause
14 May 2000 [Read More]
Budget leaves working people waiting
09 May 2000 [Read More]
Outworkers deserve pay justice
04 May 2000 [Read More]
Living Wage rise welcomed
01 May 2000 [Read More]
Time to act on workplace deaths
28 April 2000 [Read More]
Show us your ethics, Mr Reith
27 April 2000 [Read More]
Costello green light to tax rorters
17 April 2000 [Read More]
Scheme marred by Government greed
14 April 2000 [Read More]
Alarm grows over Medicare
10 April 2000 [Read More]
Court win for BHP workers
10 April 2000 [Read More]
ACTU: Government Lacks Leadership
The Government should hang its head in shame at the hurt it is inflicting on Aboriginal people with its blind insistence that there was 'never a generation of stolen children' and its refusal to act against mandatory sentencing.
05 April 2000 [Read More]
Changes fail to protect workers
05 April 2000 [Read More]
More Shame for Australian Government
The Australian Government is fast becoming a global pariah because of its dogged determination to flout international humanitarian standards, ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said today.
31 March 2000 [Read More]
ACTU new President Sharan Burrow
27 March 2000 [Read More]
300 jam-packed in the Commission
Today, over 300 Melbourne hotel workers gave the ACTU Living Wage Case a human face. I don't think the Full Bench of the Industrial Relations Commission had ever seen anything like it as over 300 chefs and room attendants quietly filed into the court to listen to proceedings.
22 March 2000 [Read More]
Hotel Workers meet Greg Combet
This Wednesday (22 March) hundreds of hotel workers are meeting ACTU Secretary Greg Combet, and are planning to watch the Living Wage Case at the Industrial Relations Commission.
20 March 2000 [Read More]
BHP Agrees to Negotiate with Unions
BHP and the unions under the leadership of the ACTU are negotiating a Collective Agreement for BHP's operations in the Pilabra.
20 March 2000 [Read More]
|
