UnionsACT has today added its voice to calls that the Federal Government urgently establish a wages subsidy to protect jobs. Thousands of Canberra workers and hundreds of thousands across Australia are facing mass unemployment due to stand-downs and job cuts. These workers are now facing life below the poverty-line on Newstart, as well as mass […]
UnionsACT calls for Federal wages subsidy to protect jobs Read More »
UnionsACT is aware of employers using the coronavirus crisis to coerce vulnerable workers out of permanent employment and into casual jobs. This activity is illegal, and workers who face this pressure from employers should contact UnionsACT or their union immediately. The vast majority of economic stimulus support from the Federal and ACT Government has gone
Employers who pressure workers to give up permanent jobs are breaking the law Read More »
UnionsACT has welcomed the ACT Government’s first stimulus package, and calls on employers to use the stimulus to protect jobs. The stimulus focuses on practical measures that reduce costs for small and medium businesses, as well as provide some support to concession-card holders and rate payers. The package also provides specific support to the construction
UnionsACT welcomes first stimulus package Read More »
UnionsACT has today called on ACT employers to waive requirements for sick certificates for employees during the coronavirus crisis. Most employers require employees to provide a sick certificate from a doctor or pharmacist if they are sick for even a single day. During this public health emergency, this requirement (which was already unnecessary and wasteful)
Employers must waive sick certificate requirements Read More »
UnionsACT has today called on the ACT Government to ensure any stimulus payments to businesses come with job security guarantees for working Canberrans. Past experience in Australia and overseas during financial shocks shows the central importance of protecting job security in order to reduce the length and severity of economic downturns. Without a requirement to
ACT Govt Stimulus must come with guarantees for workers Read More »
UnionsACT has today called on the ACT Government to implement urgent reforms that would protect Canberrans from rent increases and evictions during the COVID-19 crisis. In the past week, UnionsACT has been contacted by numerous casual workers, and retired workers on fixed incomes from superannuation, concerned about evictions during the crisis. Casual workers who are
UnionsACT calls for protections for renters during coronavirus crisis Read More »
UnionsACT supports calls for casual employees to receive sick-leave entitlements to ensure that working people in Canberra don’t pay the price for doing the right thing and self-isolating due to coronavirus. There are approximately 65,000 workers in the ACT (and 3.3 million across Australia) with no sick leave entitlements (i.e. casual, contract, labour hire/temp). Insecure,
UnionsACT supports calls for sick-leave entitlements for casuals in face of coronavirus Read More »
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
Secretary of UnionsACT Alex White to step-down Read More »
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 »
