Previous ACTU campaigns have sought to raise the profile of hazards such as stress, bullying and dangerous hours. This campaign is about unions, health and safety representatives and workers using their legal rights to deal with such hazards, and to improve health and safety on the job.
Good health and safety comes from unions campaigning for better standards and laws, and from union and workers action on the job, especially since:
Governments are not doing enough to prevent deaths, injuries and illness, or meeting their legal duty to enforce health and safety laws.
Many employers are failing to provide health and safe work. They are putting profit before health and safety, cutting corners at the cost of workers' health and safety, and are not consulting, listening or acting to fix problems.
Health and safe work is not a 'favour' from employers - they have a legal duty to make sure work is safe and health - it's not an 'optional extra'.
We need to insist on our rights:
- inspect the workplace often
- stop dangerous work
- refuse unhealthy conditions
- use a PIN / written notice
- keep/make employers responsible
- union workplaces are safer places