ETU National News

ACTU Congress sparks renewed vigour from unions to campaign for the rights at work and a fairer Australia!

Thu, 17 May 2012 06:13:00 GMT

Almost 1000 delegates representing workers from every industry and sector in Australia attended the ACTU Congress at the Sydney Convention Centre, which was held from 15 – 17 May 2012.

Allen Hicks, the National Assistant Secretary, said the ACTU Congress was a great success and delegates left invigorated by a clear, renewed plan to campaign for better rights for workers within a fairer economy and society.

“In particular, our ETU National campaign ‘Stand up for Apprentices’ was circulated amongst the union delegates to raise awareness and support. It is our hope that the ETU’s application to Fair Work Australia will be accepted and the working conditions of apprentices be improved.” You can show your support for the campaign by visiting our website.

The ACTU Congress occurs triennially and President Ged Kearney claimed the Congress reinforced Australian unions’ position as the largest, most democratic and dynamic social movement in the nation, working on behalf of two million members and millions more working Australians.

“We have ended three days of meetings inspired to pursue justice in the workplace and across the economy for the mums, dads, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters who go to work in hundreds of thousands of workplaces across Australia every single day,” Ms Kearney said.

“We went into this Congress with a determined agenda and we have emerged with a distinct roadmap for a better future based on secure jobs for all. The centrepiece of this year’s Congress was our ‘Secure Jobs. Better Future campaign’, with the release of the report of the Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work, Lives on Hold: Unlocking the potential of Australia’s workforce.

“Unions have endorsed the report’s recommendations to campaign for better rights for casual and contract workers, a much larger investment in Australia’s workforce and an overhaul of our welfare system. These will be the building blocks of reforms to undo the damage caused by the spread of insecure work.”

Incoming ACTU Secretary Dave Oliver said he would be taking the helm of a movement with a renewed focus on campaigning for the interests of working Australians and their families.

“The Congress has endorsed a plan to strengthen the ability of unions to speak up for workers and the community for the values of fairness, equity and justice, and – when necessary - against an increasingly hostile business and right wing political agenda.

“We will take the fight up to employers leading the incessant attack on workers’ rights, through a wider campaign to win and preserve better entitlements for all workers, because that is what Australian workers deserve and it is what they expect of the union they choose to belong to.”

For more information on the ACTU Congress 2012 policies, speech and other highlights visit their website at www.actucongress.org.au

Photos of the ETU team celebrating May Day at Moranbah on Monday 7 May!

Mon, 14 May 2012 00:56:00 GMT

Tony Abbott is Abandoning Young Tradies

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:17:00 GMT

Tony Abbott's call for an expansion of 457 visas is a betrayal of the young Australians who should benefit from the resources boom.

Mr Abbott has called for 457 visas to be expanded, describing them as a "mainstay of our immigration program".

ETU National Assistant Secretary, Allen Hicks said instead of expanding 457 visas, Mr Abbott should be focussed on improving the skills and conditions of apprentices, so that young Australians can benefit from the resources boom.

"Australia is on the cusp of a multi-decade resources sector boom. Now more than ever, we need to invest in young Australians and yet all Tony Abbott can offer is an expansion of 457 visas," Allen said.

"Where is Tony Abbott's commitment to expanding our vocational education or improving our apprentice completion rate?

"Mr Abbott spends a lot of time bouncing around workplaces in hard hats and fluoro vests, but when you scratch the surface, he has no commitment to Australian workers, particularly young people in the skilled trades.

"Simply expanding 457 visas is no solution to Australia's workforce development issues. It shows a complete lack of leadership and imagination."

The ETU is currently running a national campaign to boost the wages and completion rate for electrical apprentices.

Independent research by the University of Sydney has shown that without a lift in the apprentice completion rate, Australia will face serious labour shortages in the skilled trades

"We need to improve the attractiveness of the skilled trades, not degrade our workforce by giving up on skill development and training," Allen said.

"Tony Abbott needs to demonstrate his commitment to workforce development."

Fight for Apprentices who Live on the Basic Wage

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:44:00 GMT

Yesterday we stepped up our campaign for a 20 per cent wage rise for its lowest-paid workers. First-year electrician apprentices earn just $7.22 an hour over a 38- to 40-hour week, according to the award, equivalent to 40 per cent of a qualified electrician's wage.

That represents just $31 a week more than the dole.

The assistant secretary Allen Hicks, who with Mr Stuart Butterworth, met with the Skills Minister, Chris Evans, in Parliament House yesterday, said existing conditions for apprentices were an ''absolute disgrace''.

At 41, newlywed Stuart does not look like a typical apprentice but, starting out on a yearly wage of $17,000, he had the typical apprentice experience.

''It's been a struggle, especially with the low income, and I've seen a lot of guys fall by the wayside mainly because they could get paid better, even holding a lollipop, you know, at traffic.''

Stuart moved from Queensland to Canberra in 2009, promptly taking up an apprenticeship with ACT Property Group. But while the final-year sparky loves his job, he wonders whether newcomers to the industry would think it worth the while.

Stuart survived the lean years of his apprenticeship by living in share houses and social housing, counting every dollar and going without luxuries.

Now in his final apprenticeship year and earning $33,000, Stuart and his new wife are living with his in-laws until he gets his licence later this year and they get on their feet.
''I want to have kids one day, and I don't want them in 16 or 17 years trying to live on $250 a week,'' he said.

''It's pretty hard. You don't get to go out, you don't get to have a night on the town as regularly as you would like. It's really hard.''

The ETU wants all first-year apprentices to take home 60 per cent of a qualified electrician wage, which it says would equate to an extra $134 before tax.

The overwhelming majority of apprentices have to have completed year 12, have to have a driver's licence, and have to have completed a pre-apprenticeship course before an employer will even look at them, we saying that's worth at least another 20 per cent.

In addition to lobbying politicians, including cross-bencher Rob Oakeshott and new Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt, the ETU has joined a massive wage claim lodged with Fair Work Australia last month.

The ACTU lodged its claim at the authority, which is expected to be heard in June or July, pushing for wages to be raised to the minimum level in each industry.

Senator Evans gave early hope to the campaign when he told the National Press Club that the existing apprenticeship scheme was ''a mess'' and that lifting the wages of apprenticeships should be a key part of fixing the problem.

Electrical Union push to Increase Apprentice Wage

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 02:03:00 GMT

Today we begin a campaign to gain Gillard government support for a union push to increase wages for apprentice electricians by up to 50 per cent a year.

ETU Assistant National Secretary Allen Hicks will today meet Skills Minister Chris Evans to ask the government to support the push in submissions to Fair Work Australia on the award modernisation process.

The union is seeking the rise to address a drop-off in apprentice retention rates in the past few years. About 40 per cent of apprentices had dropped out and blame was attributed to the fact first-year apprentice wages were as low as $7.22 an hour.

"They just can't afford to make ends meet, people working at McDonald's and collecting shopping carts get more than double first-year apprentices."

With skills shortages being created by the mining boom, there was a need to encourage more people to enter the trade. Without a wage increase, there would not be enough tradesmen to service the electricity sector and meet the demand from resources companies. The choice was either training more apprentices or importing more temporary workers on 457 visas.

We plan to press other Labor MPs and have scheduled meetings with independent MPs Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor.

In the past most apprentices had been 15, at home and unable to drive.

Most apprentices now have completed Year 12, have obtained a driving licence, and some have done a pre-vocational course, making them immediately productive.

Facebook’s message to employers to back off from hijacking workers’ privacy is timely

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:20:00 GMT

Moves by the social networking site Facebook to prevent employers from intruding on workers’ privacy by forcing them to hand over access to their personal information should be commended, say the ACTU.

ACTU President Ged Kearney said employers seeking access to their current or prospective employees’ personal Facebook sites was an excessive breach of individuals’ privacy and their rights.

“Unions have been increasingly concerned about moves by employers to delve into their employees’ personal lives so we are pleased that Facebook has taken affirmative action to send a message that this is not okay,” Ms Kearney said.

“Facebook and other social media sites allow people to keep in touch, express themselves freely and to share information - but they have a right to choose who they share this with.

“Employees are entitled to have a life outside of work and away from their boss and they have a right to control who sees their personal information. There is little difference between forced access to someone else’s Facebook site and intruding on their home.

“If an employee is not performing their duties correctly, or does not seem the right applicant for the job, then employers have existing ways to deal with this and do not need to take excessive and over-the-top measures simply because technology has advanced.”

Ms Kearney said stories of employers seeking access to workers’ Facebook accounts were deeply concerning and they needed to be stopped before it got out of control.

“This amounts to nothing less than employers attempting to further tip the power balance against workers,” she said. “Everyone has a right to privacy, at work and especially away from work.”

Facebook’s chief privacy officer has issued a statement outlining its opposition to employers having access to private accounts, and indicating it will take action against alleged breaches of its policies.

Ms Kearney said workers should nevertheless be careful about what they put on social networking sites, and who they shared information and views with.

She said there had been several cases in Australia where workers had lost their jobs because of views of their employers that had been published on sites like Facebook.

“You do need to be cautious about what you say, but at the same time, demands by employers that they have access to people’s personal sites is beyond the pale,” Ms Kearney said.

She said any workers who had concerns that their privacy had been breached by their employer can contact the Unions Australia helpline on 1300 4 UNION (1300 4 86466) or www.unionsaustralia.com.au

Review of apprentice wages overdue

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:06:00 GMT

Read Peter Tighe's blog here on Apprentice Wages and how they don't suit modern tradies.

ABCC is no More

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 23:44:00 GMT

After seven years of biased, unfair attacks on workers and unions, the Australian Building and Construction Commission is no more.

The Senate passed a law that scraps the ABCC, and replaces it with an investigative arm of Fair Work Australia.

The end of the ABCC and its $135 million war on construction workers and unions was long overdue - scrapping it has been ALP policy at the last two elections.

Everyone who has helped fight the ABCC should be celebrating as we have taken a massive step towards restoring workers' rights in this country.

However the battle is still not over.

While the coercive powers that allowed the ABCC to secretly interrogate workers with no oversight have been modified, Fair Work Australia can still, under some circumstances, interrogate construction workers. This means that construction workers are still subject to special powers that don't apply to other industries, and that's wrong.

Even worse, Tony Abbott has vowed to restore the ABCC at the first opportunity, showing that his claim that WorkChoices is ‘dead, buried and cremated' is just hot air. An Abbott Government would be bad for unions and workers.

The battle against the ABCC has been a long one and many people have worked hard, often at great personal cost to defend workers' rights.

People like Ark Tribe, the ordinary worker who took on the ABCC and won a landmark legal case, that showed the ABCC there were limits to its powers. He is the public face of the 203 people illegally interrogated by the ABCC, who are yet to receive compensation or an apology.

Read more here on the Rights on Sight website about why the ABCC must go.

End of ABCC a Win for Workers

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:08:00 GMT

The Senate has voted to end the Australian Building and Construction Commission which is a win for Australian workers and ends seven years of biased attacks on unions and workers.

ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said the ABCC was the last vestige of WorkChoices, and its abolition was long overdue.

“This is a great step forward for construction workers, and for any Australian who cares about workers’ rights,” Mr Lawrence said.

“Construction workers have been subject to extreme powers – including secret interrogations – which do not apply to workers in any other industry.

“Although the new Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate retains some of these coercive powers there are some safeguards on their use.

“We continue to believe the powers should be removed altogether and construction workers treated like any other employee.”

“The new inspectorate must prove it is a genuinely independent regulator and examine employers and workers equally.”

Mr Lawrence said the ABCC did virtually nothing about safety issues, misconduct by employers or sham contracting arrangements which avoid billions of dollars a year in tax.

Claims about its impact on productivity have been highly exaggerated, he said.

“Despite the colourful claims of corruption and thuggery used to justify the ABCC’s existence, it has failed to find widespread wrongdoing by union officials, despite spending $135 million of taxpayers money."

“Earlier this year the ABCC was forced to launch an internal investigation into the failed prosecution of Victorian CFMEU officials John Setka and Matt Hudson."

“ABCC investigators admitted to having lost or destroyed evidence including audio recordings, and changed their own statements to the court.”

“The existence of the ABCC was a shameful stain on Australia’s proud reputation as a country which respects the rights of unions and workers."

“The building and construction industry employs almost a million hard-working Australian men and women who make a massive contribution to the national economy."

“They have never deserved to be treated this way. The decision to abolish it is a great day for anyone who cares about workers’ rights.”

QEA is Committed to Aviation Maintenance Work in Australia

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 03:00:00 GMT

Allen Hicks and our Melbourne Qantas Delegate Scott Kecorius, addressed media questions this morning in Melbourne regarding the launch of the Qantas Engineers' Alliance

QEA is an alliance of the ETU, AMWU and AWU and is committed to keeping aviation maintenance work in Australia.

Today QEA launched a campaign in Melbourne to save thousands of Qantas Engineering jobs at risk as the airline reviews its maintenance operations in Australia.

ETU Assistant National Secretary Allen Hicks said it would be a "disgrace" if jobs were lost to overseas. "Qantas has that safety record for one clear reason: and that's because of ... the workers who have looked after this industry and this airline for so long."

Qantas plans to consolidate three maintenance bases, two or which are in Victoria, into one or two bases with a descision made by mid April.

Campaign to Increase Superannuation!

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 00:18:00 GMT

The ACTU urgently needs your help in the campaign to increase superannuation.

It is expected the Senate will soon be debating a new law to increase to the Superannuation Guarantee to 12% as part of the mining tax legislation.

This means that we only have another week to gain extra signatures from union members for their online petition. Go to standupforsuper.com.au

If you haven’t already done so, please send an email to your members encouraging them to sign before 5pm Monday 19 March.

Workplace Fatalities Unacceptably High and Costs of Injuries at Work very High

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:20:00 GMT

Yesterday Safe Work Australia released two new reports on work-related fatalities and the economic cost of work related injury and disease.

The two reports show that despite Australia recording its lowest number of work-related deaths since 2003-04 (216 deaths*), the total cost of work-related injury, illness and disease can now be assessed at more than $60 billion.

Some key findings of the reports include:

Truck related incidents account for one in three deaths. In the seven years of reporting, 567 workers have died in truck-related incidents.

310 workers on agriculture properties have died since 2003-04. There were 83 deaths involving a tractor, 39 involving aircraft and 26 involving all-terrain vehicles or quad-bikes.

Nearly a third of the agriculture workers who died were over the age of 65, three times more than older workers killed in other industries.

In addition to the 216 workers who died of work-related injuries in 2008-09, 79 workers died while commuting to or from work, and 42 bystanders died as a result of someone else’s work activity. A total of 356 bystanders have been killed since 2003 - 95 were killed in a vehicle incident involving a truck, and 30 were pedestrians hit by a truck.

In terms of the cost of work-related injuries, the figures are estimates based on the human cost of work-related incidents and include loss of earnings, loss of human capital, medical and social welfare costs, costs of training and staff turnover.

The cost of injuries report shows significant cost to the Australian economy but only represents one aspect of the costs associated with work health and safety. Compliance and prevention activities also have an economic dimension but are factors outside the scope of the study.

Further work health and safety costs not included in the study include workplace incidents where no human costs were incurred including near misses, property damage and loss of goodwill.

The costs associated with work-related injury or illness can be direct, like workers’ compensation premiums and workers’ compensation payments or indirect including lost productivity, loss of current and future income and the cost of providing additional social welfare to injured and incapacitated workers.

The Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Bill Shorten, said the expert research in Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities, Australia 2009-10 showed Australia recording its lowest number of work-related deaths since 2003-04. In the reporting period of 2009-10, a total of 216 workers died tragically from injuries incurred while working.

“The findings show that we are making some progress in reducing the number of Australians killed each year at work. But of course any work-related death is still one too many. What we need is real change in all workplaces so people feel confident to speak up about safety issues and indeed where necessary tell the boss the bad news,” Mr Shorten said.

The Gillard Government is concerned that the transport, construction and agriculture industries remain a particularly high risk for workers and bystanders. These industries are priority areas for action under the new work health and safety strategy for the next decade, due to be released in the second half of 2012.”

“The distressingly high incidence of truck related injuries and fatalities brings further evidence to why it is so important for Parliament to pass the Road Safety Remuneration Bill being debated in the House of representatives this week. Safe rates for truck drivers is all about safe roads.”

The Minister also highlighted the other report The Cost of Work-related Injury and Illness for Australian Employers, Workers and the Community: 2008-09 estimates the total cost of work-related injury, illness and disease for the 2008-09 financial year at $60.6 billion or 4.8 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.

“Work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities have a huge impact on Australian society. They can physically and mentally affect workers, colleagues, employers, families and the community. This latest research is evidence of the significant cost to Australia’s economy. Workplace safety is not just about avoiding human tragedy it is also about reducing economic cost for the nation,” he said.

“Work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities have a huge impact on Australian society. They can physically and mentally affect workers, colleagues, employers, families and the community. Workplace safety is about avoiding human tragedy.

In addition, this latest research is evidence of the significant cost to Australia’s economy – in the order of billions of dollars,” he said.

“These are the reasons why improving work health and safety is a real priority of this Government.

“This year the Government is launching the new national work health and safety strategy that will provide action areas to focus our efforts on and targets to reduce the number of Australians who suffer from work-related injury, illness and disease each year. Together with the new harmonised work health and safety laws, this strategy will form the framework for this key area of reform.”

“It is important to recognise the areas where we need to improve work safety standards and to celebrate those workers and employers who actively contribute to saving lives in the workplace,” Mr Shorten said.

Click here to view the report on Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities 2009-10 and The cost of work-related injury and illness for Australian Employees, Workers and the Community 2008-09

*Note: The 216 workplace deaths figure does not include those categorised as industrial diseases such as asbestos related fatalities.

ACTU seeks pay increases for Australia’s lowest paid workers

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:06:00 GMT

View todays article in the Financial Reivew here on pay increases for Australia’s lowest paid workers, featuring Peter Tighe and Allen Hicks.

National Campaign to Boost Apprentice Wages

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:59:00 GMT

The CEPU will today launch a national campaign aimed at boosting wages for apprentice electricians, as new research shows the low completion rate could have dire consequences for the national economy.

The Union will seek support for the wage push through a series of public meetings around the country, ahead of a final determination on apprentice wages by Fair Work Australia in August.

The campaign launches with new research from the Workplace Research Centre, which shows apprentice wages are below the poverty line and only just above the dole.

“It’s little wonder that four in ten apprentices don’t complete their training - it’s almost impossible for them to survive on the wages they receive,” CEPU National Secretary, Peter Tighe said.

“Australia is headed into a multi-decade resources boom and unless we boost wages and apprentice completion rates, there will be a chronic shortfall of skilled electricians.

“The modern apprentice is a fully fledged adult who has already notched up some educational achievements. They deserve to be paid a liveable wage.”

According to the WRC report, half of all apprentice electricians are over the age of 20, and a quarter are over the age of 25.

Despite that, a first year apprentice is entitled to as little as $225.00 per week.

The WRC report points out that basic life decisions, such owning a car, living independently or enjoying basic things like takeaway food are all difficult on such low wages.

The report also shows that on a national level, 61% of all electrical trades jobs are unfilled.

“There is a concrete link between apprentice wages and the skills shortage and it’s our apprenticeship completion rate,” Mr Tighe said.

“This issue requires urgent attention – otherwise young Australians will miss the opportunities offered by the resources boom.”

ELECTRICAL APPRENTICES – KEY FACTS

Skills shortages:

12.1% of electrical apprentice vacancies were unfilled in 2010 – 2011
Completion rates in electrical trades: 55% (contract basis), 66% (individual basis)

Income levels:

First year 40% = $225.04 per week = $11,700 pa
Second year 52% = $331.55 per week = $17,240 pa
Third year 70% = $446.32 per week = $23,000 pa
Fourth year 82% = $552.83 per week = $28,747 pa

Current average weekly earnings are $1,300 per week or $67,600pa

Living standards:

First year apprentices are below the Henderson poverty line
At best, apprentice wages are about equal to payments and other benefits given to the unemployed
Junior workers in other industries are $40 - $70 a week better off (retail/hospitality)
2nd year apprentices can’t afford cars run by peers and can’t afford to get sick, have bad teeth or have a mishap like robbery or loss of pay

The ageing apprentice:

Two decades ago 75% of commencements were less than 19 years old, today it’s only 50%
Majority in mid 20 still won’t have completed
Required to have more education (eg year 11 +12 maths and science)

Unions want superannuation cap lifted for workers

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:42:00 GMT

The government's superannuation regime has cut the general cap from $50,000 to $25,000, leading to a big increase in tax penalty notices and preventing blue-collar workers from saving more for retirement.

Read more on what Peter Tighe, the National Secretary, has to say on the matter and to hear electrician Phil Harrington’s story.