The monthly e-Mag combining organising stories and ACTU news with member benefits updates. Read on or have it delivered fresh to your In Box every month…
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In This Edition
The Future of Work: new standards must underpin
Australia’s “flexible” workforce
The ACTU’s Future of Work report was recently released in Sydney by
Secretary Greg Combet who warned that one in three workers would be casual by
the end of the decade, with many already missing out on basic entitlements and a
fair share of Australia’s current economic prosperity.
“Employers are reaping the benefits of greater job flexibility, but
this flexibility isn’t being extended to workers who also need to plan and
balance their lives. We need new, fairer standards to underpin casual,
part-time and short term contract work,” he said.
Combet says employment conditions for casuals could be strengthened by
securing a minimum award standard giving casuals the right to permanency after 6
months and through the ACTU’s Work and Family Test Case which seeks to
extend unpaid maternity leave from one to two years and enshrine the right to
negotiate for flexible hours.
The Future of Work research, conducted by ACIRRT, overturns stereotypes about
the working population and reveals startling trends which will leave more
workers exposed to job insecurity and no entitlements such as sick leave, annual
leave and long service.
The Australian newspaper, a co-sponsor of the conference, ran a week-long
series of feature articles (6 -13 June) on the ACTU’s new report.
To read the Future of Work or presentations of speakers at the conference go
to: http://www.actu.asn.au/public/futurework/
ACTU Work and Family Test Case
Many people feel work is taking over their lives. Families are under pressure
and many workers feel they have no control. Working people need more choice and
a better balance between their commitments as parents, family members and
employees.
This week the ACTU will begin a Work and Family Test Case in the IRC.
The case seeks flexible choices for employees at different stages of family
life by establishing new standards in industrial awards to:
part-time work.
leave through averaged salary adjustments (eg for school
holidays).
responsibilities (eg caring for sick or frail aged family
members).
accommodate school and childcare appointments).
from 12 months to 24 months.
Go to the Future of Work webpage for campaign material. http://www.actu.asn.au/public/futurework/familychoices.html
Virtual
Communities: Bridging the Digital Divide
“Having sold over 50,000 computers to union members, Virtual
Communities has a solid reputation in the community. The ACTU’s
endorsement of the Virtual Communities computer and Internet packages reflects
our belief that these represent the easiest, most affordable deals for people to
access information and communication technology.”
ACTU President, Sharan Burrow.
Australians increasingly rely on computers and the internet to work, study, communicate, play and perform their banking. In the week prior to 2001, 44% of Australians had used a computer and 29% had used the internet at home.
Computer technology usage broadens skills development, aids educational
progress and improves access to information and services. An inability to use a
computer puts people, especially children, at a severe disadvantage and is akin
to being illiterate.
Research shows that the people for whom computer technology is most out of
reach include low-income earners. The lower the household income, the least
likely a person is to have used a computer or the internet in their home.
Unions are committed to helping working families gain access to affordable,
quality online information technology. The ACTU, through its association with
Virtual Communities since 1999, is proud to provide IBM and Optima desktop pcs
and laptops, internet and broadband communication to union members.
Virtual Communities Products and Services
Computer hardware and accessories such as scanners, printers and digital
cameras can be purchased outright or financed, with a low fixed interest rate of
only 9.25% through Members Equity. Virtual Communities will also deliver to
members’ homes as well as arrange installation and ISP connection.
Virtual Communities has just released low cost broadband and ISP
services.
Call 1300 131 789
Win 12 Months Pre-Paid Internet Access
To mark Virtual Communities’ provision of internet deals such as
Dial-up internet and Broadband Internet you have the chance to win a 12 month
prepaid internet disc valued at $269.
Simply put in an order for 200 of VC’s new catalogues and email gpreston@actu.asn.au by 17 July 2003 to
win. Second prize is a Village Cinema complimentary pass for two.
Workers
Rights on the Web
The ACTU and the NSW Labor Council, in a joint online initiative, have
launched a Your Rights At Work area on the ACTU and Labornet websites. These
FAQs use the resources of the ACTU’s Call Centre and Wages and Employment
Rights section to build on the Labor Council’s Ask Neale area on Labornet.
The FAQs are presented under the following categories: All About Unions,
Casual, part-time and temporary employment, Apprentices and trainees, Pay,
entitlements and conditions at work, Bullying, harassment and OHS, Redundancy,
termination of employment and unfair dismissal, About awards and agreements,
Rights, obligations and responsibilities, Discrimination and equal
opportunities.
Go to: www.actu.asn.au/public/rights
Campaign Updates and Downloads
The AMWU – Morris McMahon dispute
AMWU members have been on strike at manufacturing company Morris McMahon in
Sydney since 10 March. There has been a 24 hour, 7 day a week picket in place
for 15 weeks.
AMWU National Secretary Doug Cameron, Organiser Vanessa Seagrove and
Morris McMahon delegates are leading negotiations with management to
resolve the dispute.
Morris McMahon has ignored the legitimate requests of employees to bargain
for a registered collective agreement, causing the long and divisive stand-off.
The dispute highlights the failure of the Workplace Relations Act to ensure
parties bargain in good faith.
ACTU Secretary Greg Combet, Opposition leader Simon Crean and Shadow Minister
for Workplace Relations, Robert McClelland have all spent time on the picket
line with the workers. The Shadow Minister will move amendments to the Workplace
Relations Act that would restore the powers of Australia’s independent
industrial umpire – the Australian Industrial Relations Commission –
to ensure parties bargain in good faith in the workplace.
If you would like to make a donation to the families of striking workers, the
bank account details are:
National Bank
BSB # 082 057
Acct # 55 584 7758,
Cheques to AMWU – Morris McMahon Family Support Fund
For more information go to the AMWU (NSW) home page. http://www.amwu.asn.au/default.asp?Action=Category&CatName=New%20South%20Wales
The Media Entertainment
and Arts Alliance: preserving Australia’s identity
Several hundred actors, journalists, musicians and other creative types
flocked to Melbourne’s Federation Square to support the launch of the
MEAA’s Free to be Australian campaign in early June. The campaign
aims to highlight how a free trade agreement with the United States could put
Australia’s media and arts culture at risk.
Open and unregulated trade would allow foreign-produced material to be dumped
on the Australian market, jeopardising the viability of our own artistic output
and the skills of our local writers, journalists, actors and technicians.
The Alliance is campaigning for the government to honour its commitment to
support and protect Australian culture by excluding media, entertainment and the
arts from all free trade agreements.
For email and postcard campaigns, the document library, e-bulletins and
background briefings go to: www.free2baustralian.org
Also at the Alliance –
CONGRATULATIONS!
MEAA Federal President Patricia Amphlett OAM has been honoured in the Queen’s
Birthday Honours List for service to the entertainment industry through the
Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance and Actors’ Equity. Patricia (Little
Pattie) has been an active member of the union and held elected positions for
over 30 years. She has campaigned on issues as diverse as performers’ copyright,
ABC funding, arts funding and cross media ownership.
The LHMU – International Justice for Cleaners
Day
On International Justice for Cleaners Day, June 15, unionised cleaners
in Australia and across the globe demanded a Clearance Sale at Westfield
Malls – saying Everything Unjust Must Go.
The widespread community support for the LHMU’s International Justice
for Cleaners Day campaign has now been translated to Australian politics.
Federal politicians stood up in parliament last week to lambast the global
shopping mall giant Westfield for the appalling conditions that so many cleaners
face working across the globe for the Australian headquartered multinational.
Senators and MPs have backed the global campaign calling for justice for
these low-paid workers and congratulated the LHMU for raising the profile in our
community of the crisis of poverty wages – and demanding fair wages and decent
work for all Australians.
The SEIU in the USA and the LHMU in Australia are closely co-operating this
year in a campaign to urge the 120 Westfield shopping malls around the world to
respect workers rights.
The original Justice for Janitors Day grew out of an incident in Los Angeles in 1990, where police beat immigrant janitors during a peaceful demonstration against a cleaning contractor. Janitors continue to be paid poverty wages and receive few, if any benefits.
For more info, check out the LHMU website. http://www.lhmu.org.au/lhmu/news/1054969910_7988.html
Queensland unions
– Know Your Rights campaign
Workers and their families in Gladstone, Qld, will be getting to know their
rights at work during an intensive, week-long campaign coordinated by the
Queensland Council of Unions.
The “Know Your Rights” campaign, involving organisers from
Queensland’s unions, will start Monday, June 23,
QCU Secretary Grace Grace will address a meeting of Gladstone union
organisers and delegates from 4pm on Tuesday, June 24, at the Sandpiper Room,
Grand Hotel, 79 Goondoon St, Gladstone.
National Focus
Noel Hester reports on a soap star rebellion, Howard’s plans to
re-nuclearise South Australia, more historical atrocities in the north, the
ACTU’s redundancy test case plus more in the monthly national wrap.
http://workers.labor.net.au/features/200306/b_tradeunion_noel.html
Obituary –
Tas Bull
Tas Bull, former general secretary of the Waterside Workers’ Federation, died
at his Sydney home on Thursday, May 29.
A seafarer, waterside worker, socialist and union activist, Tas was elected a
WWF official in 1967, becoming general secretary in 1984, a position he held
until his retirement in December 1992. He was also appointed vice president of
the ACTU in 1987 and senior vice president in 1991 as well as representing the
Asia Pacific region on the executive board of the International Transport
Workers’ Federation for 10 years.
Although retired from the union, Tas Bull did not retire from the struggle,
distinguishing himself as chairperson of the ACTU organising works program, the
ACTU overseas aid agency, Apheda, and as president of Cuban Children’s Fund. He
celebrated his 70th birthday in Havana, Cuba with friends and comrades last
year.
Tas Bull wrote two books – “On the Waterfront” released during the Patrick
dispute, and “Politics in the Union” on the 1950’s Hursey dispute.
Born in Tasmania, Tas went to sea at the age of 14 on British and
Scandinavian ships joining the Seamen’s Union in 1954 after his return to
Australia four years later.
His first industrial battles were fought during the waterfront strikes of
1954 and 1956 when, as a seafarer, he assisted local WWF strike activity in Port
Pirie and Hobart. He then joined the waterfront and the WWF in 1956.
Tas Bull was influential in the decision to amalgamate the WWF and the
Seamen’s Union of Australia into the Maritime Union of Australia.
He is survived by his wife Carmen and his two sons Peder and Anders.
Vale – CPSU National President Matthew Reynolds
Matthew Reynolds was a deeply loved and respected part of the CPSU family. A
fact confirmed by the hundreds of heartfelt tributes received by the union.
He died as a result of a massive and irreparable brain aneurism. He was only
38. He is survived by his wife Jenny and young children Tayla and Joel.
Born and raised in Hobart, Matthew could be a shrewd and tough political
operator when it was needed, but will mostly be remembered as a decent
trustworthy person with a deep core of human kindness.
His association with the union began in 1983 in Hobart where he rose to be
PSU Tasmanian Branch Secretary in 1996. He made the move to Canberra in 1998
after being elected National President of the merged Community and Public Sector
Union.
Over the last two years, he led a successful campaign re-building the CPSU in
the ACT Public Service and delivering long overdue improvements in pay and
conditions.
His big smile and slightly rumpled suits quickly became familiar hallmarks of
his personal style. In Canberra he also threw himself into community life and
was very proud of his role coaching boys and girls in the Belconnen Junior
Australian Rules Football Club’s Auskick program.
What should have been a week of election victory celebrations has turned to
tragedy for a man who made friends easily and influenced many.
More tributes can be found at http://www.cpsu.org/Mathew_messages.html.
The
CPSU has set up a Trust fund to provide for the benefit, advancement and
education of Matthews’s children Tayla and Joel. To get involved, contact the
CPSU on 1300 137 636 or make a donation at any Westpac Branch from midday Monday
26 May 2003.
Winners: Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA 2003
Raffle
The winners of the Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA 2003 raffle drawn last night at
the NSW Labor Council meeting were:
First Prize – (trip around the world for two) was Robert Foster from
Gerrigong, NSW. Robert’s wife, Maureen, is a nurse who takes a book of tickets
every year.
Second Prize – (a computer courtesy of Virtual Communities) was Katrina
Candy from Echuca in Victoria.
The raffle raised just on $65,300
Congratulations to the winners. Many thanks to all who sold books of
tickets, and a special thanks to sponsors, ACTU Member Connect, Members Equity
and Virtual Communities.
Competition Winner – Union Shopper Gift
Voucher
Congratulations to Solette Louw of the CFMEU who had the winning entry this
month. Solette nominated Union Shopper travel services for flights and
accommodation for union members as effective for membership retention because
the prices are at least 10% cheaper.
Union Shopper, a free shopping service provides a wide cross-section of goods
and services to associated unions. For over twenty years Union Shopper has
provided union members with significant savings and good service.
About Member Connect
One of the primary aims of Member Connect is to help unions retain members by
negotiating discounted services that add value to union membership.
Member Connect provides a variety of support services, often cost free to
unions, including:
Our range of services for union members include:
For more information about any of the above, please contact:
Gina Preston, Union Liaison Manager (Vic, Tas, SA, NT & WA) on (03) 9664
7384 or gpreston@actu.asn.au
Suzanne Culph, Union
Liaison Manager (NSW, ACT & Qld) on 0421 802 552 or sculph@ihug.com.au
Useful Info on the ACTU Website
About…Superannuation
Super News
Backcopies of ACTU Super – a
regular newsletter produced by ACTU Senior Industrial Officer Linda Rubinstein,
that gives you information about what’s happening with super.
Speeches
Superannuation,
Unions and Good Labour Relations – 14 March 2002 – speech by ACTU
Secretary Greg Combet
Superannuation,
Banking and Financial Services The Next Leap – 20 May 2003 – speech by
(title please) Gary Weaven
Superannuation –
Still An Industrial Issue – 12 August 1998 – speech by former ACTU
President, Jennie George
Submissions
Options for
Improving the Safety of Superannuation
Superannuation
and Standards of Living in Retirement
Senate Inquiry –
Superannuation Guarantee Charge Amendments
ACTU
Response To Productivity Commission Review Of Super
ACTU Congress Policies
2000 Congress – Wages,
Superannuation, Collective Bargaining
1997 Congress –
Superannuation Resolution
1995 Congress –
Superannuation
1991
Congress – Superannuation Policy
