Media Releases 2017
Read current and past media statements from the ACTU.
You can also keep track of ACTU media releases by following the official ACTU feed on Twitter at @unionsaustralia.
All ACTU media enquiries should be directed to ACTU Media team:
T: 03 9664 7315 (24 hours)
E: media@actu.org.au
Recent Media Releases
Response to ARA
August 15, 2017
Statement from Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Sally McManus in response to the Australian Retailers Association
Shadow economy delivers wage theft, tax avoidance and exploitation
August 15, 2017
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is calling for an overhaul of Australia’s industrial relations framework, in a submission to the Black Economy Taskforce.
The ACTU has found that the shadow economy, also known as the cash economy, is contributing to gross inequality in Australia and works in favour of employers over the legal rights of workers.
The submission, titled ‘The shadow economy: A story of wage theft, tax avoidance and exploitation,’ outlines the drivers of the shadow economy and what needs to change to swing the power pendulum back towards workers.
Statement from Sally McManus regarding CFMEU’s Setka, Reardon appeal
August 14, 2017
The ACTU is disappointed in the result of today’s Supreme Court of Victoria appeal for the CFMEU’s John Setka and Shaun Reardon and note it will now likely be appealed to the High Court.
The ACTU rejects the criminalisation of industrial disputes and the charging of these two men is out of step with industrial law in democratic countries.
Xenophon and Hanson betray workers by voting for building code
August 10, 2017
Cross bench senators from the Nick Xenophon Team and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation have betrayed workers in the construction industry by supporting the Australian Building and Construction Commission’s (ABCC) building code.
Statement in support of 500 workers on strike at Dorevitch Pathology
August 9, 2017
The ACTU stands with the 500 pathology workers forced to strike after a long and bitter pay dispute with their employer, Dorevitch Pathology.
The workers took legal protected industrial action. Dorevitch responded by locking out 76 workers for daring to ask for a pay rise.
Mining giants want to destroy secure jobs and drive wages down further
August 8, 2017
A rewarmed proposal for industrial relations reforms from a group representing massive multinationals would drive down wages and make it easier for big corporations to casualise the workforce.
The Minerals Council of Australia has dusted off the WorkChoices agenda of individual workplace contracts alongside proposals to drastically reduce working people’s power at work.
Government could not be more out of touch with working people
August 1, 2017
Just 12 per cent of Australians think inequality is improving, the results of a new poll show, despite assurances from the Treasurer Scott Morrison.
The latest Essential Media Polling, released today, shows most Australians think inequality is getting worse (52%), with a quarter of Australians saying it is a severe problem.
Restaurants, Cafes, Hairdressers, all move to slash penalty rates
July 28, 2017
The Restaurant & Catering Industry Association has joined with the hair and beauty industry – represented by the Australian Industry Group – to form the second wave in the ongoing attack on weekend wages. Media reports suggest that the Club Industry employer body, Clubs Australia might also join the attack on weekend pay, but at this stage they have not indicated their position.
Soaring power prices under privatisation heaps more pain on Australia’s growing class of ‘working poor’
July 27, 2017
A new report today from the Australia Institute is the latest to confirm that privatising energy assets significantly drives up power prices.
7-Eleven wage theft scandal continues: $19,000 more stolen from workers
July 25, 2017
In the latest development in the 7-Eleven wage theft scandal, a former franchisee has been found to have underpaid eight workers $19,937, including one worker who was underpaid a staggering $14,000 over two years.
Wage theft has become a business model because even employers who are caught are only required to pay back the stolen wages.
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