Media Releases 2022



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

Emergency meeting of unions to consider action to keep workers safe

January 16, 2022

An emergency meeting of national union leaders today will consider what action will be taken to keep workers safe as the Prime Minister ignores repeated requests for assistance and spurns offers to work together to address the workforce crisis.

Read More

Woolworths continues to turn a blind eye as workers forced to work while infected with Covid

January 15, 2022

Woolworths continues to turn a blind eye as one of its major suppliers, Teys Australia, forces its workforce at its abattoir in South Australia to turn up for work even though they are infected with the Covid virus.

Read More

Unions condemn failure to provide Rapid Antigen Tests and call emergency meeting of all unions

January 13, 2022

The ACTU condemns in the strongest possible terms the Prime Minister’s failure at National Cabinet to ensure Rapid Antigen Tests be made be free and accessible for all to protect worker and community safety and get the economy moving again.

Read More

National Cabinet must make Rapid Antigen Tests free, reject moves to water down workers’ safety

January 13, 2022

Rumours continue to swirl about extreme elements of the employer lobby pushing hard for National Cabinet to water down Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws, in a desperate move to make up for the Morrison Government’s total failure to make Rapid Antigen Tests free and accessible in Australia.

Read More

Supplier of meat products to major supermarket chain Woolworths forces workers to work while infectious with Covid virus

January 12, 2022

Teys Australia is forcing workers to report for duty at one of its South Australian abattoirs even though they have tested positive for Covid and are actively infectious with the virus.

Read More

Unions call for emergency meeting with Prime Minister over Omicron crisis, lay out list of urgent actions needed for workers

January 11, 2022

Australian Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sally McManus wrote to the Prime Minister overnight, calling on him to convene an emergency meeting with union leaders representing essential workers to address the escalating national Omicron crisis.

Read More

Scott Morrison abandons workers, holds secret meeting with Employers to wind back isolation requirements in transport sector

January 9, 2022

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will host talks with industry bosses at a closed-door meeting at 2pm today to develop plans to force supply chain workers back to the front lines despite being possibly infected with the Covid virus.

Read More

Abandoned workers across the country forced to take leave with no pay.

January 9, 2022

Thousands of workers are isolating without pay and are unable to access Paid Pandemic Leave because of the Morrison Government’s narrow definition of a ‘close contact’.

Read More

Morrison refuses to listen to public health experts, doctors, unions and businesses to make RATs free

January 5, 2022

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in his announcement today, has once again rejected the calls of doctors, public health experts, unions, and small businesses to make rapid antigen tests free for all. This is a slap in the face to the Australians who have sacrificed and lost so much to keep each other safe during the pandemic.

Read More

STATEMENT FROM ACTU ACTING SECRETARY LIAM O’BRIEN PRIME MINISTER’S ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY ON RAPID ANTIGEN TESTS

January 5, 2022

Today’s attempt to distract from his ongoing failure to make Rapid Antigen Tests free and accessible for all Australians proves that Prime Minister Scott Morrison still doesn’t get it and again highlights that, when it comes to the pandemic, the Morrison Government’s ‘too little, too late’ approach means Australians will continue to suffer the consequences.

Read More

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.
Visit Australian Unions

Mind Your Head

We’re taking action to protect workplace mental health.
Visit Mind Your Head

Worksite

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

OHS

Information and resources for health and safety representatives and workers about how to speak up at work for health and safety.
Visit OHS

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.
Visit Union Aid Abroad

ACTU National Union Directory

Find who you are looking for from the who’s who of the union movement.
Visit the ACTU National Union Dictionary
Australian Council of Trade Unions

Representing Australian workers and their families.