A selection of red hot worker activism to motivate your organising efforts <3

Early Childhood educators hold Albo to promise

The Albanese Government has introduced legislation guaranteeing a 15% pay increase for early childhood educators United Workers Union educators were at Parliament House celebrating this important step towards giving workers the pay rises they deserve.

All credit to Education Minister Jason Clare and Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly for standing by low-paid educators, helping to set a new standard in early education and making a big step to end the workforce crisis.

Cleanaway workers clean up

Workers at Cleanaway Tullamarine have WON BIG!

TWU Members overwhelmingly endorsed a strong, new EA that secures majors improvements with no loss to current conditions, including:

 6.8% in the first year, meaning pay parity with Metro
 Introduces an RDO
 Maintains the Monday to Friday 8-hour day
 and more!

Congratulations to these workers in union.

Tasmania wins Workplace Manslaughter laws

This week Tasmania has joined the rest of the country in making industrial manslaughter a crime.

These tough new laws are a long overdue win for workers and their families, and they’ll stop a lot of preventable deaths.

Community & Disability workers campaign for equal pay

Community and disability workers are calling for the respect and recognition they deserve. Despite the complexity of their work, their extensive experience and the invaluable support and services they provide to millions of Australians, many dedicated professionals are overworked, undervalued, and underpaid.  Recent research shows that:

• Two-thirds (67%) of community and disability workers are under-classified. 

• Many are required to perform tasks beyond their pay grade and face limited career progression. 

• Financial pressures are severe, with 1 in 3 needing help from family or friends to meet living costs.

This week, frontline community and disability workers are in Canberra to meet with Minister Amanda Rishworth MP and MPs to improve pay and classification for workers in the sector. Sign the petition to support the campaign: bit.ly/RespectOurSkills

Warehouse workers on strike

United Workers Union members, who work at SRG, went on strike yesterday in Victoria. "We are simply asking for a fair pay rise. Not a lump sum. The company asks us to work a reasonable amount of overtime. Well, all we're asking for is a reasonable pay rise."These workers are fighting for a fair deal, which means: - a fair and decent pay rise - greater job security - same pay for those doing the same job Sign the petition in support of the workers

Nurses to vote on proposed EBA

Voting will begin on the proposed EBA from Monday 16th September through to Friday 20th September.  

One of the new conditions in the agreement is a change of ward allowance - a smart inclusion that will both act as a cost deterrent to improper rostering, and provide compensation to nurses who are moved from their home ward. 

Public sector nurses and midwives are encouraged to vote YES for your 28.4% pay rise + 70 new and improved allowances when the ballot opens 9am, Monday 16 September.

Qube action

Wharfies at Qube’s bulk and general ports across Australia will commence industrial action with bans and limitations this week, starting in Melbourne, Port Kembla and Brisbane.

Negotiations have been repeatedly sabotaged by managers at Australia’s largest, vertically integrated stevedoring business, Qube.  The company is guilty of rampant corporate profiteering during and since COVID with a 148% increase in profits during the life of the last four year employment agreement. Over the same period, the real value of wages paid to Qube wharfies has been smashed by the very same inflation that has been caused by the price gouging being led by major Australian corporations like Qube. The purchasing power of a Qube wharfie has been diminished by 14% due to inflation, with the real value of wages falling year on year as company profits soar.“This company’s profits are delivered by wharfies. We make it, they take it. Well, our message to the bosses is that now it’s our turn, and we are going to fight to get our share” said Warren Smith, the MUA’s Deputy National Secretary.

That's injustice in any language

Interpreters have collectively decided that after six years without a pay rise, pay cuts are unacceptable! We will meet in front of the Courts this Wednesday morning to show solidarity and strength in the face of pay cuts!

Court Services Victoria’s previous arrangements meant that language service providers (LSPs) engaged court interpreters on a half-day or full-day basis. They have now sought to move to a 60 or 90-minute engagement, to be extended by 15-minute increments on an as-needed basis.

Police Association of Victoria, VicPol 

TPAV has begun consulting with members again on their concerns with the recently voted-down EBA. Whilst Enterprise Bargaining is still ongoing, Members have begun to take industrial action again. You’ll see slogans on police vehicles and posters up in police stations. The TPAV delegates have voted up a redrafted log of claims that includes a 6% annual wage increase over the next four years, after seeing the nurses EBA.  

Ambulance Victoria 

Members are still bargaining against Ambulance Victoria. The EBA expired nearly 8 months ago, and there have been over 100 bargaining meetings. Sign the petition in support of paramedics!