Speeches and opinion

Ged Kearney: speech to AMWU National Conference 28.07.10 | Speeches & Opinion I don’t think your union gets enough credit from our politicians or the community for the valuable work it does in protecting jobs in Australia and continuing to fight for the survival and evolution of our important industries.

PM Julia Gillard: speech to Sharan Burrow farewell dinner 20.07.10 | Speeches & Opinion Friends, it’s a great honour to join you tonight to pay tribute to a great leader of the Australian labour movement, Sharan Burrow.

Sharan Burrow: Speech to farewell dinner 20.07.10 | Speeches & Opinion I can honestly say that never in my wildest dreams when I first began as a union organiser all those years ago did I ever imagine I would one day be heading the global union movement.

Sharan Burrow: Acceptance speech to ITUC Congress 25.06.10 | Speeches & Opinion | International I am incredibly honoured and extremely privileged to be elected as General Secretary of the ITUC. The ITUC is without question the pre-eminent voice for the rights of working people, for justice, peace and democracy.

Sharan Burrow: Opening speech to ITUC 2nd World Congress 22.06.10 | Speeches & Opinion | International Four years ago we met and took an historic decision to build a new international organisation a new internationalism. Delegates came to Vienna give birth to the ITUC; to strengthened global unionism.

Sharan Burrow: Paid parental leave is an historic achievement and a lasting legacy 21.06.10 | Speeches & Opinion | Paid Parental Leave I’m proud that Australian unions – in partnership with so many other women from our community – have stood together and delivered paid parental leave after 30 years.

Sharan Burrow: Address to ILO Cyclical Review 2010 03.06.10 | Speeches & Opinion | International ACTU and ITUC President Sharan Burrow addressed the International Labour Organisation's Cyclical Review in Geneva on 2 June 2010 on trends and challenges in promoting full, decent and productive employment in the context of shaping a fair...

Sharan Burrow: The Future of Capitalism 30.05.10 | Speeches & Opinion | International ACTU and ITUC President Sharan Burrow spoke at the OECD Ministerial Forum in Paris on 28 May 2010 about the future of capitalism after the Global Financial Crisis.

Sharan Burrow: ACTU Organising Conference speech 27.04.10 | Speeches & Opinion | WorkChoices - Never Again The strength of unions has come from the unity of people working together for a common cause based on shared values. Much of the best of Australia today has been shaped by union members and their families standing up for a better working life.

Jeff Lawrence: ACTU Organising Conference speech 27.04.10 | Speeches & Opinion A lot has changed in 3 short years since our last organising conference. Last time we met we were under the worst attack Australian workers had faced in a generation. This time we have an opportunity.

Ged Kearney: ACTU Organising Conference speech 27.04.10 | Speeches & Opinion I want to see a whole shift in the way unions are recognised for the role we play in Australian society.

Geoff Fary: Safe Work Australia – Workers Compensations Forum 30.03.10 | Speeches & Opinion | Health & Safety Nothing is more important to Australian Trade Unions than Occupational Health and Safety and Workers Compensation. Many of the rights, entitlements and obligations contained within the various jurisdictions throughout the country reflect years of...

Jeff Lawrence: Backing battlers 21.03.10 | Speeches & Opinion As Fair Work Australia considers setting a new minimum wage in July, ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence says Australia's low-paid deserve a decent rise.

Jeff Lawrence speech to National Press Club: Australian Unions – Working for a better life 17.03.10 | Speeches & Opinion | Don't go back to work choices ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence's address to the National Press Club in Canberra on the need for a fair recovery from the economic downturn for all, and future challenges for Australian workers.

Sharan Burrow: Libs still hope the WorkChoices zombie can rise 28.12.09 | Speeches & Opinion | Rights at Work It is ironic that just at the same time as the rights of working Australians are set to again be improved, the Liberal Party is talking about taking us back to those dark days, writes ACTU President Sharan Burrow.