The secretary of UnionsACT, Alex White, stepped down as leader of the peak union council on Thursday 20 February. Alex White was elected in November 2014, and for five years has led a revitalised UnionsACT that has focused on championing workers’ rights, improving safety and tackling the wage-theft crisis. During the past five years, UnionsACT …
UnionsACT today welcomed the introduction of the ACT labour hire licensing scheme. The scheme would align the ACT with the successful Victorian and Queensland schemes. Under the scheme, labour hire companies would need to demonstrate past and ongoing compliance with workplace laws to become licensed. Some of Australia’s worst labour abuses in recent years have …
UnionsACT supports introduction of labour hire licensing scheme Read More »
Young workers in Canberra, supported by UnionsACT, will take to the streets for a Summer Patrol on Monday 24 February to raise awareness about wage-theft, sexual harassment at work and safety in the hospitality industry. The Summer Patrol is a new program from the Young Workers Centre to tackle the wage-theft crisis impacting young workers …
Young workers to hold Summer Patrol on Wage-theft Read More »
UnionsACT has today released a report into the WHS and workplace rights impacts on workers of the bushfire smoke between 1 December 2019 and 31 January 2020. The report shows that: Lost income for workers due to the smoke exceeds $6 million, with over 18,000 Canberran workers losing at least one days income; More than …
New Report: $6m+ cost to workers due to bushfire smoke Read More »
UnionsACT surveyed over 960 Canberran workers, who were exposed to the bushfire smoke during December 2019 and January 2020. This research demonstrates that a large proportion of working people were exposed to hazardous, toxic levels of smoke, and that many employers failed in their legal obligations to keep workers safe. The results also demonstrate the …
Hard to Breathe: Canberran workers’ rights, WHS and smoke Read More »
UnionsACT has today issued a WHS Alert about the serious risks to workers health of the combination of the heat-wave and smoke. The air quality index in Canberra is over 150 at the Civic and Monash air quality station, and over 100 at the Florey air quality station. Air pollution, especially fine particulates (PM2.5), has …
WHS ALERT: Smoke and Extreme Heat Are Dangerous Combo Read More »
Worksafe must enforce the Work Health and Safety Act by prosecuting employers who forced workers to work in the toxic bush fire smoke over the December-January period. The Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act requires employers to ensure the health and safety of workers as far as reasonably practicable. The bush fire smoke that has …
Worksafe must enforce the law, prosecute bosses who exposed workers to toxic smoke Read More »
UnionsACT today calls on employers to not force workers to work in the hazardous smoke. Over the holiday period, UnionsACT has been contacted by numerous workers expressing concern that they have been forced to work in the smoke without protective equipment such as P2 dust masks. The bushfire smoke that has blanketed Canberra is a …
Employers should not force workers to work in hazardous smoke Read More »
UnionsACT has today issued a WHS Alert as hot weather in excess of 40 degrees is forecast for Canberra this week. Hot weather is a workplace safety issue, and working in high temperatures can have serious health impacts for working people. Symptoms of heat stress and dehydration from working in hot weather can cause serious …
WHS Alert: Extreme hot weather is a health and safety hazard Read More »
UnionsACT acknowledges that it works on the land of the Ngunnawal people, and we pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Authorised A White for UnionsACT, 11 London Circuit, Canberra.