International Campaigns & Issues 2021



As the peak union body for Australia, the ACTU participates in a range of international forums on behalf of unions and Australian workers, including the International Labour Organisation and the International Trade Union Confederation.



Australian unions are also active players in the global union movement, joining international campaigns and solidarity actions on a regular basis.



In this section, you will find statements by the ACTU on international issues, details of current international campaigns, and news from around the world.


Recent International Campaigns & Issues

ACTU calls on the Australian Government to support developing countries’ access to vital COVID-19 vaccines

March 10, 2021

ACTU has joined with international aid groups, health organisations and church organisations to call on the Australian Government to support the proposal currently before the World Trade Organisation to allow a temporary waiver of some intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines and related supplies.

Many developing countries will not have widespread access to COVID-19 vaccines until 2023 – a waiver is urgently needed to ramp up vaccine production and enable all countries affordable and timely access to COVID-19 vaccines.

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Woodside suspend Myanmar operations after pressure from Australian unions and civil society

February 27, 2021

Woodside bow to pressure from Australian unions and civil society and suspend Myanmar operations

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ACTU and civil society groups question Woodside over business activities in Myanmar

February 26, 2021

The ACTU and civil society groups have written to the Chair of Woodside’s board regarding their business activities in Myanmar following the military coup.

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Free Dr Sean Turnell

February 15, 2021

The Australian Union movement is extremely concerned about the detention of Dr. Sean Turnell in Myanmar. Dr. Turnell is an active member of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and well-respected academic at Macquarie University.
The ACTU stands with the NTEU and is supporting their efforts to bring Dr. Turnell home to his family.

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ACTU condemns the murder of another trade unionist in the Philippines

February 10, 2021

The ACTU has written to the Philippines Government condemning the murder of another trade unionist – over 50 union members and leaders have been killed by extra-judicial violence under the Duterte regime.

Leonardo Escala was the president of the union for dock workers in Manila. The ACTU calls for a full investigation into his murder to bring the perpetrators to account, and for the Philippines Government to accept the ILO high-level tripartite mission to investigate violence against trade unionists.

The Australian union movement stands in solidarity with unions in the Philippines and will continue to campaign for justice for Filipino unionists.

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ACTU joins call for a referendum on the self-determination for Western Sahara

February 5, 2021

The undersigned demand the:
* immediate release of all Saharawi political prisoners in Moroccan jails and the end the repression of Saharawi population in the occupied areas;
* the withdrawal of the Moroccan occupying troops and the dismantling of the military berm (wall) erected by Morocco;
* end of the illegal plunder of the Saharawi natural resources.

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The Australian Government must take strong action to support democracy in Myanmar

February 5, 2021

ACTU President Michele O’Neil has written to Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne urging Australia to take strong action in response to the military coup in Myanmar

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ACTU joins Australian civil society to denounce military coup in Myanmar

February 3, 2021

The ACTU joins with Australian civil society groups in denouncing the military coup in Myanmar which has suspended civilian government and effectively returned full power to the military.

We stand in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their civil society organisations, trade unions, journalists, and human rights activists in their defence of democracy, human rights and peace.

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ACTU condemns the arrest of Hong Kong union leader

January 8, 2021

The ACTU condemns the arrest of Carol Ng, the Chairperson of the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), along with 52 other prominent pro-democracy activists, on 6 January 2021.

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The ACTU Network

Australian Unions

Whether you want to join a union, take action in campaigns, or make the most of the benefits of being a union member, Australian Unions is the place to go for information and resources.
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Mind Your Head

We’re taking action to protect workplace mental health.
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Worksite

Your rights at work for students and for people entering the workforce for the first time.
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OHS

Information and resources for health and safety representatives and workers about how to speak up at work for health and safety.
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Union Aid Abroad

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is the overseas aid and development agency of the ACTU. Our work aims to build self-reliance through support to educational and training projects for workers and their organisations in the developing world.
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ACTU National Union Directory

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Australian Council of Trade Unions

Representing Australian workers and their families.