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Today UnionsACT members door-knocked all ALP , Greens and Independent MP’s and Senators at Parliament House to remind them that a universal paid maternity leave scheme needs to be in the next federal budget. A paid parental leave scheme would provide a much needed stimulus if introduced in the 2009 Budget said Kim Sattler, Secretary of UnionsACT. To enhance the message, UnionsACT released a novelty $20 bill with ‘We Want Paid Maternity Leave in the Next Budget’ marked on the note, which was distributed to Rudd Government members. UnionsACT is urging the Federal Government to keep paid parental leave on the agenda for the 2009 budget and introduce the Productivity Commission’s recommended 12 week scheme. UnionsACT secretary Kim Sattler said there were obvious economic benefits to introducing a paid parental leave scheme, which would complement the government’s economic stimulus package. “A 12 week scheme, although it falls short of our recommended six months, would still increase the wellbeing of mother and child, as well as deliver economic and social benefits at a time when we need them most. “The Australian economy does not benefit from working-age women being unpaid and struggling to re-enter the workforce after the birth of a child. “A paid parental leave policy such as that recommended by the Productivity Commission would increase the productivity of our workforce, and help young families through a difficult economic period,” Ms Sattler rejected the Government’s reasons for delaying the introduction of the scheme and said the perceived competition between paid parental leave and the aged pension increase was a false proposition. “To say we can’t have both is clearly amoral and creates a false argument between the welfare of the elderly and the wellbeing of newborn babies – surely a wealthy nation such as Australia can address both issues without compromise.” UnionsACT said the Productivity Commission’s proposed scheme was not unaffordable and should be introduced in the 2009 budget with the prospect of extending it to a comprehensive six month scheme in five years time. “The net cost of a 12 week scheme is proposed to be $351 million, which is less than 1.25 per cent of the government’s $42 billion stimulus package,” said Ms Sattler. “When you consider how this cost compares to the long-term benefits and economic stimulus paid parental leave would have, how can we afford not to introduce it?” Contact Kim Sattler on 6247 7844 or 0414 918 452 for comment. UnionsACT 189 Flemington Rd,Mitchell ACT 2911 |
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The ACT Young Unionist Group YOUACT is calling on governments and employers to end the discrimination young people face in the workforce. Young workers do exactly the same work as their older counterparts, yet junior wages paid to young people aged 15 to 21 are only a fraction of the minimum hourly rate for workers over the age of 21. On April Fool’s Day 2009 William Mudford the Youth Officer at UnionsACT reminds employers “junior wages are a total joke and have gone well beyond their use-by-date.” “Young people do the same work as their colleagues only a few years older, but sometimes receive only fifty or sixty percent of the wage. It seems like an April Fool’s Day joke, but this is the reality every day of the year for young people on junior wage rates” In addition to junior wage rates, young people also face additional work place challenges, including unpaid trials, cash –in-hand wages, and unsafe work environments. Young people are often vulnerable to exploitation at work because they have little experience in negotiating their first job, relating to their employer, or knowing what conditions they are entitled to. “Employers use the excuse that junior wage rates are what make young people competitive employees in the job market, and that mandatory full wages will force employers to reduce staff numbers. However, employers need to realise that paying junior rates is discrimination based on age, and that a similar excuse was used last century in the debate to stop women receiving equal wages” William Mudford said. To help raise awareness about young people’s rights at work UnionsACT (The ACT Trades and Labour Council) and YOUACT are running a Youth Week Workshop and Forum supported by the National Youth Week Council through the Youth Coalition of the ACT. This event will allow young people to unite and discuss strategies to tackle discrimination they face at work. The event is at 4pm on Wednesday 1pm at the Griffin Centre in Civic and will provide young people with an opportunity to voice their experiences, frustrations and successes at work. William Mudford, the Youth Officer at UnionsACT says “Young People aren’t fooled, it’s time we get a fair days pay for a fair days work!” For further comment contact:William Mudford - Youth Officer at UnionsACTPhone: 0423 445 339 or 02 6247 7844 Email:
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UnionsACT congratulates the Federal Labor Government on yesterday’s announcement of a universal 18 week paid maternity leave scheme for working mothers. “This scheme is long overdue and brings Australia into line with virtually every other Western country. It gives access to paid maternity leave for all women, particularly those who earn less than $40,000 annually and work in the private sector,” said UnionsACT Secretary Kim Sattler. UnionsACT has joined the Australian Council of Trade Unions, other state and regional trade and labour councils and women’s groups in the campaign for paid maternity leave for several decades. “This announcement means all women who wish to participate in the workforce can do so while balancing family commitments. It was fantastic to celebrate Mothers Day knowing that women are valued members of our society and the time they take off to devote to families is valued by our Government,” Ms Sattler said. To celebrate this historic announcement UnionsACT will be gathering in the forecourt of Parliament House at 8:30am on Wednesday 13th May with ACTU President Sharan Burrow, Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Liz Broderick, unions, mothers and their supporters to celebrate a long-fought campaign and congratulate the Federal Government. Contact Kim Sattler on 6247 7844 or 0414 918 452 for comment. UnionsACT 189 Flemington Rd, Mitchell ACT 2911 |
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UnionsACT supports the preservation of the ‘Family and Community Day’ public holiday. Prior to being labeled ‘Family and Community Day’, a public holiday known as ‘Union Picnic Day’ was fought for, and won by ACT Unions. This public holiday was written into several ACT award agreements and annually enjoyed by many ACT workers. More recently since the WorkChoices legislation this holiday was renamed ‘Family and Community Day’ and gazetted for Melbourne Cup day in the Territory. Since the abolition of WorkChoices, and the renewal of the opportunity for Unions to advocate for workers rights in the Industrial Relations sector, UnionsACT recognizes the need to re-examine the timing of the Family and Community Day public holiday. UnionsACT continues to fight for the inclusion of the Picnic Day public holiday in the ACT calendar for ALL workers, not just Union members. UnionsACT believes that public holidays are an important part of preserving family and community interaction. UnionsACT was the first to suggest that the first Monday of the Floriade festival be gazette as a public holiday, beginning in 2010. This would ensure that Canberrans were able to spend more time with their families enjoying our unique Territory festival. UnionsACT welcomes the public consultation set up by the Office of Industrial Relations, and urges Minister Hargreaves, and the wider ACT community to support the continuance of this public holiday. Unions ACT is the peak body for trade unions in Canberra and the region. We represent 24 unions and 30,000 union members. Contact Kim Sattler on 6247 7844 or 0414 918 452 for comment. UnionsACT 189 Flemington Rd,Mitchell ACT 2911 |
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On Wednesday 24th June UnionsNSW will send a delegation to Parliament House to lobby the Federal Government to deliver strong OH&S legislation in the wake of the OH&S harmonisation process. The group will convene a press conference in the Senate garden at 12:15PM. Representatives from the CFMEU, FSU, SDA, and CPSU will be attendance, as well as UnionsNSW and UnionsACT. “The Federal Government’s harmonisation process risks eroding strong OH&S legislation fought for and won by Unions in States such as NSW and the ACT. We need to keep strong laws to protect workers safety, and also make sure these laws continue to be enforceable” said UnionsACT Secretary Kim Sattler. At the last meeting of state and federal workplace relations ministers, draft principles were agreed to that would stop unions taking court action when workplace safety is breached. This is despite compelling evidence that union court action delivers justice for injured workers and has encouraged employers to invest in safer workplaces.Bank tellers, teachers and shop assistants will join union delegates in meeting 16 Federal MPs and Senators and call on them to protect workers safety and maintain strong state standards in when harmonising state and federal legislation. These real workers each have compelling stories about unsafe workplaces, including experiencing armed hold-ups and physical violence in schools. PRESS CONFERENCE AT 12:15PM IN THE SENATE GARDEN Contact Secretary Kim Sattler on 6247 7844 or 0414 918 452 for comment. UnionsACT - 189 Flemington Road, Mitchell ACT 2911 |
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