Read speeches and opinion articles by ACTU officers and staff.
Our collection contains speeches delivered at conferences, forums, summits, rallies and events by Executive and senior ACTU staff. It also contains op eds – previously published in mainstream media – by the ACTU President, ACTU Secretary or ACTU Assistant Secretaries.
Remember this day. Remember this day. Because THIS is the start of something.
For more than 100 years Australia has had an industrial relations system that has given working people a share of the benefits of economic prosperity.
Today, by rallying in such huge numbers, we declare that working people will not be denied a central place in Australia’s future. Working families built this country. They fought and died for it.
On any measure the WorkChoices legislation will be bad law. Not just because it is unjustified by any credible economic argument. Not only because of the social impact, and the damage to our social cohesion and social progress.
I would like to use the opportunity I have to speak to you by going straight to the heart of the Governments industrial relations changes, and why they fundamentally undermine employee rights.
On the 26th of May John Howard announced the Government’s plans to rewrite Australia’s industrial relations laws, arguing that this was “one of the great pieces of unfinished business in the structural transformation of the Australian economy”.
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.
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.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to
land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
