Universal Super a Union Win for all Workers

  • 29 February 2024

The Australian Council of Trade Unions pays tribute to the union pioneers and architects of industry superannuation but especially the tens of thousands of building workers who campaigned for superannuation and in so doing so, created the beachhead that turned super into a universal right for all working Australians. This week marks 40 years since the ACTU’s historic decision to endorse the campaign of the Building Workers’ Industrial Union (BWIU) to establish a national superannuation scheme in the Australian building industry, a campaign that improved the nation forever.

Price gouging and unfair pricing practices

  • 20 February 2024

Former ACCC Chair Professor Allan Fels handed down his wide-ranging report this month into price gouging and unfair pricing practices.  The Report revealed what many had long suspected, that big business, in the form of banks, electricity companies, supermarkets and a host of others have been using their market dominance and a host of dodgy practices to push up prices during a cost-of-living crisis.

The report made 35 key recommendations.

IR Loopholes Closed

  • 12 February 2024

The Closing Loopholes No 2 legislation has passed parliament, after the House accepted amendments made in the Senate.  The original Loopholes Bill went to an inquiry last year that continued beyond the splitting of the Bill and the first tranche's passage through parliament.  The Senate split the Loopholes Bill last year, and passed a significant portion of the measures in the original legislation before Christmas. This left the No 2 Bill to be dealt with this year.

The CL No. 2 Bill's passage through Parliament will:

Closing Loopholes: Important Repairs to IR Laws

  • 5 February 2024

On the final sitting day of Federal Parliament for 2023, the government’s amended Closing Loopholes bill was passed with the support of Greens and key independents.  The amended laws include new rules to outlaw wage theft as a criminal offence, reforms to better protect some workers’ redundancy entitlements and changes to enhance work health and safety.

Labour hire workers can now no longer be paid less than employees doing the same job in their workplaces as a result of the industrial reforms passed.

Making Multinationals Pay their Fair Share

  • 22 January 2024

Tax avoidance by multinational corporations reduces the funding available for the essential public services that we all rely on and much more needs to be done to tackle tax dodging.  Increasingly our members are facing tighter budgets which impact on the ability to meet the community’s needs in many areas.  Australians need stronger laws and more transparency on multinationals tax affairs in order to raise the additional revenue needed for public investments that will create a better society and stronger economic future for all of us.

Prison Officers plea for new laws

  • 6 January 2024

Our NSW Public Service Association is advocating for the implementation of national laws to ensure the protection of officers using lethal weapons following the death of an inmate.  NSW Public Service Association’s general secretary Stewart Little said while the case happened in his state there were implications for prison officers and other law enforcers nationally in use of force.  Moving high-risk convicted criminals through the community for medical, legal or funeral attendance will need new laws to give officers confidence to use lethal force to prevent an escape he said.

Blanket Public Sector Wage Policy Dismantled

  • 19 December 2023

The WA government has abandoned its blanket, public sector-wide wages policy, instead opting to return to individual negotiations with unions.  Premier Roger Cook said the move will allow more flexibility in negotiations and allow for "fair but financially sustainable" increases.  In recent years the government has negotiated conditions and bonuses with individual unions, but locked in a set pay rise for more than 140,000 public sector staff.  Cook said moving away from all public sector workers being offered the same pay rise would deliver greater flexibility in the bargaining process, to

Fight for a better Child Protection system today

  • 18 December 2023

Child Protection workers across the country have been trying to engage with their respective Departments about their workload for years.  Our message has been simple.  The system is stretched, workloads are unsustainable, we cannot provide adequate care to children in need, and we must adopt a national approach to staff shortages instead of stealing qualified practitioners from each other.

The Child Protection workforce is under immense stress and strain, with a severe shortfall in recruitment and an ongoing struggle to retain current practitioners.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

  • 27 November 2023

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence has begun. The Walk Against Family Violence took place last Friday, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and it marks the start of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The staggering list of women killed at the hands of ex/partners and family members is testament to the need for action on family violence. Family violence is a workplace issue.

Batt Joins Service Delivery Advisory Group

  • 23 November 2023

The Federal Government has established a Service Delivery Advisory Group (GSDAG) to provide expert guidance, consultation, and recommendations on matters relating to the design and implementation of Government Services. Minister Bill Shorten has invited CPSU/SPSF Federal Secretary Karen Batt to join the independent body of expert specialists tasked with providing advice to the Minister for Government Services and Services Australia.

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