Unions and Superannuation

Do you know an outstanding Early Childhood professional?

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Every day over 100,000 people in the early childhood sector in Australia work tirelessly with children to ensure the environmental, social and emotional wellbeing of our most important little Australians. HESTA would like to acknowledge the commitment and hard work of those working in the sector by announcing the inaugural HESTA Early Childhood Education & Care Awards.

The awards are a national program that highlights the achievements of people working with children in the early childhood sector. There are two categories; Innovation and Individual Excellence. With over $20,000 in prizes provided by ME Bank, the awards provide a wonderful opportunity to recognise outstanding childhood professionals.

So, if you know an outstanding early childhood professional why not nominate them? Go to www.earlychildhoodawards.com Nominations close 31 July 2010.

Finalists will be announced on 20 September with the winners unveiled on Friday 1 October, at the gala dinner of the Early Childhood Australia National Conference. For more information and to nominate, visit www.earlychildhoodawards.com

ACTU Superannuation enews June 2010

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Where does all the time go? It only seems like we recently returned to work, and now we are half way through the year with the Federal Budget having been delivered and a Federal election 'around the corner'. Much has happened since the March edition of Super e-news, and this edition focuses on some of the important issues including the Henry and Cooper Reviews. We also look at the upcoming 2010 ACTU Superannuation Trustees Forum, and the latest network news. As usual, we consider your input valuable, so be sure to send your thoughts on these issues to super@actu.org.au.
Editor: Gemma Pinnell, General Manager, ACTU Member Connect

KEY TOPICS
A commentary on issues of significance which have attracted attention recently.

Henry Review
The ACTU welcomed the announcement by government that it intends to increase the SG rate from 9 per cent to 12 per cent. This is the first increase in the SG rate for nearly twenty years and will make a significant contribution to helping millions of working Australians secure a more adequate retirement income. For example, it is estimated that when the proposals are enacted the increase will deliver an extra $108,000 in retirement for a 30 year old worker earning average full-time wages. Unions and many in the super industry have been campaigning long and hard for a higher rate. Given that Secretary to the Treasury, Dr Ken Henry, stated last year that he regarded 9 per cent as sufficient, unions should take some pride in having played a key role in convincing the government that an increase was essential. The ACTU and our affiliates will continue to campaign and bargain for higher super contributions.
Read more

Cooper Review
The review of the Australian superannuation system being led by Jeremy Cooper has published two important proposal papers in recent months: one on MySuper and one on Superstream. The ACTU has welcomed MySuper as a commonsense set of proposals that will protect the interests of the majority of fund members who do not actively engage in making decisions about their personal super arrangements. MySuper is in many ways a new name for what most not-for-profit funds already offer to default members. However, any fund which wishes to offer a MySuper product will now be required to meet certain minimum cost, governance and investment criteria. The overall aim is to reduce costs for members and to make sure that those who do not actively choose will always be in a fund that cannot exploit their lack of engagement.
Read more

NETWORK NEWS
A view from one of the entities established by the Industry Super movement in events currently important to it.

2010 ACTU Superannuation Trustees Forum - register now
The 2010 ACTU Superannuation Trustees Forum will discuss key issues for union trustees, focusing particularly on the proposed changes in the Cooper and Henry Review. The day will include a keynote address by Minster for Financial Services Chris Bowen, & a panel examining the critical issue of Environmental, Social and Governance concerns in investment. It will also feature an opportunity to hear from the new CEO's of ME Bank, IFM & IFS, and well as provide an important networking opportunity for union appointed directors on fund boards.

The forum is targeted at union and member appointed trustees from corporate, industry and public sector funds. Industrial officers, organisers and elected officials with an interest in or responsibility for superannuation are also encouraged to attend. This annual event attracts around 100 key union trustee and senior decision makers from our funds.

When: Thursday 29 July, 2010
Where: ANF, 1st Level, 540 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne
Registration: $125

Read forum agenda (subject to change)
Register on-line

COMPLIANCE CORNER
A list of matters which we would expect your fund to have alerted you.

The issues emerging since our last Super e-news that Trustees need to be aware of include:

1. Commencement of Loss Relief for Merging Super Funds -This measure was included in Tax Laws Amendment (2009 Measures No. 6) Bill 2010 which was passed by the Australian Parliament on 11 March 2010 and received Royal Assent on 24 March 2010.

2. Cooper Review reports: 22 March 2010 - Superstream-bringing the back office of Super into the 21st Century, 20 April 2010 My Super paper, 29 April 2010-SMSF’s should focus on the main game: retirement savings paper, Final paper on Governance to be released early in the financial year.

3. 26 April 2010 -Government response to Ripoll Inquiry The start date for most reforms is 1 July 2012-Upfront, trail and volume commissions are banned on all financial products except insurance at this time.

4. 2 May 2010-Government response to Henry Review-

The SG rate is to be gradually increased from 9% to 12%.
The SG age limit is to be increased from 70 to 75.
The Government will make a superannuation contribution of up to $500 annually for low income individuals earning less than $37,000.
Post 2012, persons over 50 with an account balance of less than $500,000 will have a concessional contributions cap of $50,000 a year.

5. ASIC has announced that it is developing a risk-based surveillance program which will mean increased visits to superannuation funds, ASIC will boost its surveillance of the super industry and aims to see all trustees within the next two years.

6. 5 May 2010 -correspondence from APRA to Trustee on Illegal Early release schemes alerting Trustee to a number of cases where fraudulent ATO correspondence is being used as evidentiary documentation to support rollover applications submitted to APRA regulated funds.

7. From July 2011 AUSTRAC will introduce a “user pays” model, charging reporting entities to register and file transaction reports. The funding initiative was part of the recent Federal Budget that will see AUSTRAC levy around $30m annually in fees to cover the cost of its regulatory activities. Under the proposed fee structure AUSTRAC will charge reporting entities a flat fee of $500 for registering with the regulator each year.

8. 12 May 2010-the Medicare Clearing House Legislation (Tax Laws Amendment (2010 Measures No.1) Bill 2010) was passed by both houses of Parliament with no amendments. The Clearing house will accept employer contributions from 1 July 2010.

Super Activist Talk Back
If I were Minister for Superannuation … I would have a lot on my plate right now, thanks to Jeremy Cooper and his Review team! So I would give close consideration to all their recommendations … while never letting attention to detail obscure the big picture. As part of an integrated package of measures to deliver income security in retirement and during working life, I would: Commit to raising the SGC to 15%

Extend the current schedule to phase it in over a period of years
Commit to introduce a “flexicurity” scheme, where a portion of the increased SGC would be paid as a premium for unemployment income insurance
Abolish the $450 per month exemption for contributions
Ensure that the Australian Tax Office enforces payment of SG contributions for all dependent contractors
Establish a forensic review into the (mis)use of superannuation for tax avoidance and estate planning
Have that review establish a more equitable distribution of superannuation tax concessions by income level
Fix it all up

Editors Note: Well – that's Grant's view. Tell us if you agree and if not, why? Send your responses to super@actu.org.au.

Grant Belchamber profiled
Grant Belchamber’s first job when he started work at the ACTU in March 1986 was as part of the research team preparing and presenting submissions to the National Wage Case in the AIRC, for an award superannuation entitlement equal to 3% of wages.

The AIRC decision provided that entitlement - the first for ordinary Australian workers - to be paid into an approved super fund, where agreement was reached between unions and employers. In 1987 the AIRC began arbitrating the 3% entitlement; and over the past 20 years this big thing has grown. Grant is still a member of the research team at ACTU. He was appointed by the ACTU to the Board of Telstra Super in 2005.

Union Member Benefits Update July 2010

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the July edition of Your Member Benefits Update. We have officially reached the half way mark of 2010 and Member Connect marks our winter solstice with a fantastic DVD competition, great linen deal through Union Shopper, a campaign update and tips for finding your lost superannuation. Member Connect, Your Member Benefits Update.

To read the full version, click here.

Union Member Benefits Update June 2010

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Brrrr... is that the Winter winds whipping at the door? Indeed it is! But our June edition will warm the cockles of your heart with its exciting array of news, including the HESTA Nursing Awards, a great DVD giveaway and latest campaign news. Member Connect, Your Member Benefits Update.

To view the full version click here.

Image: HESTA Nursing Awards

ME Bank supports HESTA Nursing Awards

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In May, the annual HESTA Nursing Awards were held at the Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne. The purpose of this annual event is to reward excellence and outstanding contributions within the nursing industry.

For the third year, ME Bank has been the major supporter of the HESTA Nursing Awards providing the $25,000 prize pool of education and travel grants for the three winners.

Jamie McPhee (CEO), Samm Bell and members of the National Business Development team represented ME Bank on the night. Jamie presented the awards to representatives from across the industry, who demonstrate remarkable commitment to their profession.

The 2010 winners are detailed on the Member Connect website.

Graduate Nurse of the Year: James Bonello
James is a Flinders Medical Centre emergency nurse from South Australia. James was awarded for his tireless efforts in helping recognised for his commitment to community, further education and holistic care. His nomination highlighted his work with a cancer patient requiring palliative care, his support for a client trying to quit smoking and his cultural sensitivity.

Innovation in Nursing: Jacinta Vanderpuije

Jacinta is a clinical nurse educator from Sydney’s St Vincent’s Private Hospital. Jacinta and her team won the award for a new diagnostic colour chart that helps prostate surgery patients communicate their symptoms to medical staff.

Nurse of the Year: Charlotte Collins

Charlotte is a mental health nurse from Fremantle Hospital in Perth. Charlotte was awarded for her advanced negotiation skills in crisis situations and advocacy for vulnerable patients.

The HESTA Nursing Awards recognise the skill and dedication of people working within the community and ME Bank looks forward to continuing its support in 2011.

Workchoices – Whatever the Name, Never Again

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

There has been a lot said about Tony Abbott's credibility but it isn’t difficult to see past his tricky words of “flexibility” and workplace “freedom” for their real meaning. He tries to muddy the waters by using technical jargon to hide his true intentions of winding back unfair dismissal laws; reviving AWA-style individual contracts; and removing collective bargaining provisions – just like WorkChoices.

Significant advances have been made on restoring fair and balanced workplaces. Some important changes were made with the introduction of the Fair Work Act which banned any new AWA individual contracts; the return of a strong, independent umpire; a new emphasis on collective bargaining; and unions are again able to speak freely with their members.

After 12 years of the Howard Government, and its assault on workers' rights, conditions and entitlements, there is much more work to be done, despite the efforts to date by the Government. The Your Rights at Work campaign continues working on important issues like equal pay; stronger occupational health and safety laws; paid maternity leave and abolishing the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

Can we really afford to go backwards now?

Since launching the “WorkChoices. Whatever the name, never again!” campaign we've been out there telling as many Australians as possible about Tony Abbott's plans to bring back WorkChoices. In the past week we've launched new radio and newspaper advertisements to tell even more Australians about his plans.

You can help out now by downloading our A5 leaflet and letterboxing your local neighbourhood; spreading the word about our radio and newspaper ads; watching our YouTube videos; and by joining up to the campaign to get regular updates and details of what else you can do.

WorkChoices. Whatever the name, never again!

Superannuation Guarantee Increase

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Superannuation Guarantee increase

The ACTU welcomed the announcement by government that it intends to increase the SG rate from 9 per cent to 12 per cent.

This is the first increase in the SG rate for nearly twenty years and will make a significant contribution to helping millions of working Australians secure a more adequate retirement income. For example, it is estimated that when the proposals are enacted the increase will deliver an extra $108,000 in retirement for a 30 year old worker earning average full-time wages.

Unions and many in the super industry have been campaigning long and hard for a higher rate. Given that Secretary to the Treasury, Dr Ken Henry, stated last year that he regarded 9 per cent as sufficient, unions should take some pride in having played a key role in convincing the government that an increase was essential.

The ACTU and our affiliates will continue to campaign and bargain for higher super contributions

In its response to the Henry Tax Review the government also announced that those workers earning $37,000 or less will automatically receive a new government contribution of up to $500 per year. This will effectively serve to return the tax payable on SG contributions may by low-income earners. While this is a welcome development it remains the case that many on high incomes will continue to receive very generous tax concessions.

The ACTU hopes to see more action to reduce the inequities in tax concessions in the near future.

Financial advice reforms

It is estimated that there are around 4 million Australians currently paying for financial advice they do not receive.

The ACTU therefore welcomed the government’s announcement that it intends to ban commissions, introduce a requirement that financial planners act in the best interests of their clients, and require that consumers must actively ‘opt in’ to financial planning services on an annual basis.

Consumers will be able to have confidence that the advice they receive is from professionals who are focused on serving their particular interests, rather than a sales force acting in the interests of big financial institutions.

The Latest on the Cooper Review

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Cooper review latest

The review of the Australian superannuation system being led by Jeremy Cooper has published two important proposal papers in recent months: one on MySuper and one on Superstream.

The ACTU has welcomed MySuper as a commonsense set of proposals that will protect the interests of the majority of fund members who do not actively engage in making decisions about their personal super arrangements.

MySuper is in many ways a new name for what most not-for-profit funds already offer to default members. However, any fund which wishes to offer a MySuper product will now be required to meet certain minimum cost, governance and investment criteria. The overall aim is to reduce costs for members and to make sure that those who do not actively choose will always be in a fund that cannot exploit their lack of engagement.

The Superstream paper discusses how the administration of funds can be made more efficient. The paper proposes to use Tax File Numbers to identify member accounts and to help in simplifying account combination.

Among the proposals are that employers should face penalties if they do not pay contributions electronically and that trustees be required to accept contributions by electronic means.

The ACTU welcomes many of the Superstream proposals but would also like to see a requirement that electronic systems are used to ensure that payments received by administrators are processed and paid into member accounts within 48 hours.

Furthermore, efficient administration also requires a more effective system of compliance The ATO needs to have the resources and the incentives to focus on ensuring employers comply with their obligations relating to the payment of contributions. There should be a distinct section within the ATO with specific responsibility for super compliance, with its own staff, budget and performance targets.

Why you should be at the ACTU Trustees Forum

It is likely that the final report of the Cooper review panel will be made public shortly before our Trustees Forum on 29 July 2010.

Chris Bowen, the Minister responsible for superannuation, will be speaking and taking questions. The Forum will therefore offer an ideal opportunity to hear what the government thinks about the Cooper report and to ask questions about what will happen next.

Union Member Benefits Update May 2010

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Winter has well and truly landed! But our May Member Benefits Update will warm union members up with great news from ME Bank on their Term Deposit products, fantastic photos of the Women’s Rights At Work team in the 2010 Mothers Day Classic, 3 great competitions, an update on our AFL/NRL Footy Tipping Comps and a brand new YRAW website!

To view the full version click here.

Image: ACTU Organising Conference 2010

Join the Women's Rights At Work team in the 2010 Mothers Day Classic

Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This year for the first time, there will be a Women's Rights At Work team in the Mothers Day Classic!

Unions, Trades and Labour Councils in capital cities have joined together this year and will debut as a brand new team with new colours and a new logo at all capital city events accross Australia. We encourage all union members and their families to get involved in this fantastic event, and support two important causes - women's rights at work, and breast cancer research.

In previous years, we have been known as the Your Rights At Work team and there has been a great turn out at Mothers Day Classic events across the country. This year we hope to see even more union members and their families and friends out enjoying the sunshine and a brisk early morning walk.

The Women's Rights At Work team will participate in the 4km walk in events accross Australia. Women's Rights At Work team members are welcome to participate in runs as well but are encouraged to walk with their team members in the 4km walk as well to ensure we get a good turn out.

How to get involved:

Visit Mothers Day Classic, register your details online and join the existing Womens Rights At Work team in your capital city
Register for the 4km walk

On the day:

Meet your Women's Rights At Work team members at the ME marquee half an hour before the 4km walk (to check 4km walk start times in your capital city event visit Mothers Day Classic)
MELBOURNE WRAW TEAM MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE: There are 3 different start wave times. The team will be meeting at the ME marquee at 8.45am, half an hour before the first 4km walk start wave (9.15am)
Team merchandise including stickers will be available on the day.

For queries, please contact Jill Harahap on 03 9664 7384 or at jharahap@actu.asn.au

ME Bank is the proud major sponsor of the Mothers Day Classic.

ME Bank - On the Move

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In the latest Affiliate Newsletter:

·         ME Bank highlights its commitment to industry fund & union members
·         Announces a new Term Deposit product
·         And launches a brand new TV commercial and renewed campaign
emphasizing the shared links between industry funds and the bank

Download the newsletter

Want to receive regular updates from ME? Contact Megan

Union Member Benefits Update April 2010

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

2010 is on the move, it’s April already, can you believe?! This month brings loads of good news for union members including information on registering for the upcoming ACTU Organising Conference, how to join the Womens Rights at Work teams in this year’s Mothers Day Classic, a new ME Bank TV ad promoting its Industry Super & Union heritage, and how to claim your lost super before the tax man does. Not to mention our monthly DVD competition!

To view the full version click here.

ME Bank reaffirms its Industry Super Fund heritage

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

New CEO Jamie McPhee today launched ME Bank’s new marketing strategy, illustrated by a national television commercial going to air from Sunday, April 4, 2010.

The advertising slogan – if you’re a member of an industry super fund, ME Bank is your bank, highlights the bank’s philosophical heritage in the trade union and industry superannuation movement.

ME Bank’s new CEO Jamie McPhee said the Campaign outlines the additional benefits participating super fund members will receive, such as discounts on home loans and soon to be introduce preferential pricing on other products.

Australian actor John Wood, of Blue Heelers fame, is ME Bank’s spokesperson in the new television commercials. Mr Wood is the voice behind the successful Compare the Pair television commercials for the Industry Super Network. Shannon’s Way, the creator of Compare The Pair, also has created the new ME Bank’s television commercials.

Jamie said ME Bank has not only survived the global financial crisis but it has reinforced all the values that ME Bank has espoused since inception:

Simple, fair and transparent banking products;
Banking products designed to meet the customers needs, not simply those of the Bank’s shareholders; and
Responsible lending - meaning that you don’t just provide the customer with as much debt as possible because it is in the interests of the Bank’s bottom line to do so, but manageable levels of debt for the customer.

“You could call this returning to good old fashion values. However, for ME Bank this is business as usual.”

People are looking for a genuine alternative to the major banks. Not a fifth major, as four are plenty to choose from, but a genuine alternative, a fundamentally different banking proposition: A bank that genuinely acts in the customers’ best interest, he added.

This is exactly what the industry super funds have pioneered – low cost, fairer superannuation that aims to grow the retirement savings for their 6 million members, not the wallets of the retail fund shareholders.

ME Bank intends to ramp up its preferential pricing marketing activity to super fund and union members through its unique distribution system of workplace visits, site visits, direct mail, and fliers, he added.

To view the new ME Bank TV ad please click here

Superannuation Fund Administrators To Simplify Transfers Between Superannuation Funds

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Image: Mr Robert Van Woerkom.

Australia’s largest superannuation administrators, AAS, Pillar Administration and Superpartners have come together to make it quicker, easier and more economical for members to transfer money between Superannuation Funds.

Collectively the three parties, on behalf of 45 funds, administer $173 billion of assets for 12 million member accounts, and collect over $25 billion in superannuation contributions annually. These transactions alone involve the processing and reconciliation of more than 45 million contribution transactions from employers and members. The three administrators also process around 420,000 transfers between each other, representing over $4 billion between Australian superannuation Funds every year.

In a landmark arrangement, the three administrators have agreed on a set of principles and protocols covering data and money flow for rollovers. The move comes in the wake of opportunities raised by the Cooper Review and the Government’s decision to appoint Medicare to operate a Clearing House.

The standards set will be consistent with the direction being taken by Medicare in establishing a contribution clearing facility for small employers. Agreement has also been reached to establish the operating and governance framework in line with the banking system's APCA open model.
Image: Mr Robert Van Woerkom.

Greg Camm, CEO of Superpartners said: “The Cooper Review has laid down some challenges to the industry designed to improve efficiency of the system. We believe this joint initiative rises to those challenges. Members will ultimately benefit through improved retirement savings and lower cost when the service is more effective and efficient.”

Peter Beck, CEO of Pillar Administration said: “The Government decision to appoint Medicare to operate a Clearing House provides a unique opportunity for the Industry and has facilitated an agreement on the protocols for the efficient and secure transfer of data and money.”

John McMurtrie, CEO of AAS said: “This is an important industry initiative and as such there is an open invitation for other administrators and self administered funds to join this arrangement as they choose.”

The three administrators encourage all service providers in the superannuation industry to embrace and participate in this initiative. The ultimate vision of the group is to see an efficient superannuation transfer model servicing all sectors from SMSF, Retail, Industry and Public Sector funds and including both Defined Benefits and Defined Contribution Funds. To achieve this, the success of this initiative will be in all major stakeholders coming together as an industry and participating in a rollover system open to all in the Industry.

The Administrators have commenced a program to cover the transfer of member accounts between funds they administer as members exercise Choice of Fund. The pilot of this rollover service will be launched in the June quarter 2010.

Mr Robert Van Woerkom has been retained by the Group as Project Manager. Robert has more than 40 year’s administration experience in the financial services industry. Robert played a key role in the initial development of administration systems for Industry Funds in the 1980’s and was General Manager of Jacques Martin Industry from 1993-1998. He was later the Chief Executive Officer from 1998-2000 of the Industry Funds joint venture, JMIFA, now known as Superpartners. Robert was also a key player in setting up Industry Fund Services (IFS) and its initial off shoots. Robert has been consulting to the Industry since 2001.

Union Member Benefits Update March 2010

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It’s raining good news at Member Connect this month! The weather may be getting cooler, but things are heating up with the 2010 ACTU Organising Conference fast approaching, the 2010 Annual APHEDA Raffle, a brand new edition of IFFP News and three copies of DVD Chevolution to give away to lucky Member Benefits Update readers!

For the full version, click here.

$50 pay cuts for young workers on the cards

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Australian workers will suffer cuts to their pay and conditions and lose protection from unfair dismissal under Liberal leader Tony Abbott’s plan to bring back WorkChoices, warns a new national union TV ad campaign launched today.

The new ads herald the beginning of a major effort by unions to remind Australians of the damage caused by WorkChoices and the risk of a return to the Liberals in the federal election due this year.

“We want to make sure the public is aware of Tony Abbott’s commitment to hardline industrial relations policies,” said ACTU President Sharan Burrow.

“Tony Abbott was a key Minister in the former Liberal Government that introduced WorkChoices. “Now, he wants to bring it back. He just won’t call it WorkChoices,” said Ms Burrow.

At a recent meeting with business executives, Mr Abbott said he will remove protection from unfair dismissal for workers in small business and bring back individual contracts — two basic features of WorkChoices.

You know, at four elections running, we had a mandate to take the unfair dismissal monkey off the back of small business and we will once more seek that mandate. At four elections running, we had a mandate to introduce statutory non-union contracts and we will seek to renew that mandate. Tony Abbott, 12 Feb 2010

Under the Rudd Labor Government, all workers, including those in small businesses, have protection from unfair dismissal and new AWA individual contracts are banned.

“It is very worrying that Mr Abbott recently promised a new policy that would enable employers to negotiate job contracts with school age young workers and dramatically reduce the minimum number of hours the workers would be paid,” Ms Burrow said.

“Mr Abbott’s new policy means employers would be able to call in young workers and send them home after as little as half an hour. It could reduce young workers’ take home pay by about $50 a week.

“The Liberals have also flagged changes to penalty rates which would put at risk the pay of hundreds of thousands of Australians who work public holidays, late at night and on weekends.”

Under WorkChoices, workers were pushed onto AWA individual contracts with 65% losing penalty rates and 25% no longer having public holidays. “Working Australians and their families cannot afford a return to WorkChoices under Tony Abbott,” said Ms Burrow.

Media contacts:
Anaya Latter ph 0432 121 636; Mark Phillips 0422 009 011, mphillips@actu.org.au

ACTU/ME AFL & NRL Footy Tipping Competitions 2010

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

JOIN IN THE ACTU/ME AFL & NRL FOOTY TIPPING COMPETITIONS IN 2010!

To be part of the either the AFL and/or the NRL footy tipping competition just visit footytips.com.au and either register or reactivate your registration from last year.

How to register

1. Click either AFL Tipping Comp or NRL Tipping Comp to join the competitions
2. Enter the password 'union' then click on Join Now!
3. Existing tipsters can enter their username/password and new tipsters can create a new profile.
4. You will be confirmed as being in the competition!
5. Enter your tips! You'll need to repeat these steps to join both NRL and AFL competitions if you'd like to double your chances of winning

Terms and Conditions:

Please note only financial members of ACTU affiliated unions are eligible to claim prizes. Retirees who were a member of an affiliated union at the time they retired are also eligible.

Discount New Cars - Your Online New Car Showroom

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Discount New Cars is your online new car showroom. Check out a great selection of Exclusive Union Discounts across their new car range! With access to up front drive away pricing, vehicle specifications and features, everything you need to know about your next brand new car is here and available to you now. With great savings to be made across a wide range of vehicles from Discount New Cars' authorised dealer network, it's easy to find out exactly how much you can save as a Union Member today. Remember this is a free service for all Union Members, and enquires are obligation free.

To find out more visit the union specials page discountnewcars.com.au/unions

IFFP News Summer 2010

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

IFS Marketing & Distribution has prepared IFFP News Summer Edition. In the first issue for 2010 we discuss diversifying your investments, identifying some tax effective investment options both inside and outside of super, and credit card debt reduction.

Main topics include:
What should my investment profile look like? - We discuss diversification, building a portfolio including super and how to avoid putting all your ‘eggs in one basket’.

Top Tax Tips For 2010 - A case study of the most tax effective options available for investing and maximising future retirement savings.

The post-Christmas debt hangover – We share some pointers & our top 5 ideas to keep the plastic under control and reduce your card debt..

Download the IFFP News - Summer Edition (PDF, 257kB)

Please visit iffp.com.au for previous issues of IFFP News, other useful articles and information about our services.

Union Member Benefits Update January/February 2010

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the first Union Member Benefits Update for 2010. We’ve got heaps in store for the year ahead including the ACTU Organising Conference in Sydney, the ACTU/Members Equity Bank AFL and NRL Footy Tipping Competitions and the distribution of new Member Connect marketing material and merchandise. We look forward to keeping you informed about all the quality services available for union members through Member Connect in 2010! Member Connect, Your Member Benefits Update.

To read full newsletter online, click here.