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Transport Workers Union of Australia News and Updates
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Urgent Action Needed to protect Australian shipping
New figures exposing the impact of the Howard Government's neglect of
the Australian shipping industry highlights the importance of
tightening rules for foreign vessels, the Maritime Union of Australia
said today. (Find out more)
Comcare Decision Wrong for Future Health & Safety of Workers
The Transport Workers Union has today responded to the decision by the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission to grant self-insurance licences under Comcare to transport companies TNT and Transpacific, and defer a decision on Fleetmaster. (Find out more)
Fuel pain not over: Qantas
QANTAS chief executive Geoff Dixon last night threatened to again raise airfares and cut more routes if global oil prices continued to climb, saying the airline would do whatever it took to look after shareholders. (Find out more)
Huge hole in security at airport
A MAN was able to walk past customs and immigration counters to farewell a friend at the departure gate in a major security breach at Sydney International Airport. (Find out more)
QANTAS JOB CUTS THE HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY
Yesterday’s decision by Qantas to slash jobs when the company is earning record profits is the height of hypocrisy.
Only yesterday Qantas was advertising for baggage handlers to work in Sydney airport’s ramp services section. (Find out more)
QANTAS DECISION TO SLASH JOBS
A KICK IN THE TEETH
The decision by Qantas to slash jobs, when the company is earning record profits, is a kick in the teeth for the 38 000 men, women and families who work for the airline. (Find out more)
Tourism Industry Under Threat from
Poor Aviation Security
The Transport Workers Union has used renewed calls for a united approach to bring about real
protections for the safety of airport workers and the traveling public. (Find out more)
The TWU strives to save Transport Workers Lives
The Transport Workers’ Union of Australia has today endorsed a new safety campaign
for Transport Workers. (Find out more)
COST OF COLES PROFITS TOO HIGH
The Transport Workers Union has today urged the trucking industry to think twice
before buying fuel from Coles Express Service Stations. (Find out more)
More training needed for transport industry
The Transport Workers Union has today called for greater investment in the transport
industry. There is a need to provide a national safety and training program in order to
encourage more drivers into the industry. (Find out more)
DO WE REALLY WANT WALMART IN AUSTRALIA?
The Transport Workers Union has today questioned any benefit to Australia of allowing
large overseas retailers such as Walmart easier access to Australian shores. (Find out more)
If you would like to learn more about Walmart visit here
Ansett workers to receive more owed money
Former Ansett employees will receive an average of approximately
$1,600 of outstanding entitlements in the tenth dividend since the
collapse of the company. (Find out more)
TWU Welcomes review of 457 visas
The Transport Workers Union has today welcomed the announcement that industrial relations commissioner Barbara Deegan will head a review of the 457 visa scheme to examine concerns about the exploitation of migrant workers and salary levels. (Find out more)
TWU To Lift The Corporate Veil on Sham Contracting Arrangements
The Transport Workers Union is seeking to set a new benchmark in workers protection in an attempt to lift the corporate veil on those who attempt to dodge their obligations to contract carriers. (Find out more)
Qantas Baggage Handlers Take Action
Qantas International Ramp baggage handlers have this morning held a meeting to discuss the serious and ongoing safety concerns at Sydney Airport. (Find out more)
Qantas Workers Frustrated
Over Serious Safety Concerns
Qantas International baggage handlers have today expressed their frustration and disappointment that Qantas management have failed to address serious and ongoing safety concerns at Sydney Airport. (Find out more)
TWU TRAINING, EDUCATION &
INDUSTRIAL RIGHTS FUND
Corrections to this morning's Sunday Program broadcast into the TWU's Training, Education & Industrial Rights fund. (Find out more)
TWU TO CONTINUE PROSECUTING ROGUE TRANSPORT
OPERATORS
Transport Workers Union of New South Wales State Secretary, Tony Sheldon, has made clear that the TWU will continue to pursue rogue transport operators who put all road users in danger by breaking the law and underpaying their staff. (Find out more)
Unions welcome ban on new AWAs & call on employers to allow workers collective agreements
Unions today welcomed the ban on new Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) which passed through Parliament on March 19th. (Find out more)
Qantas Workers Frustrated
Over Serious Safety Concerns
Qantas International baggage handlers have today expressed their frustration and disappointment that Qantas management have failed to address serious and ongoing safety concerns at Sydney Airport. (Find out more)
Two Footy Codes, Two Footy Comps &
$2000 up for grabs!
ACTU Member Connect and Members Equity Bank are pleased to present union members with footy tipping competitions for both AFL and NRL codes in 2008! (Find out more)
March 2008 Qantas News Alert
Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon has announced plans to slash the running costs of the airline to beat that of Virgin Blue. (Find out more)
Unions vow to take on companies
that continue to exploit workers
More than 200 union leaders that have been meeting in Canberra over the past three days have wound up their conference today vowing to take on big companies that don’t respect the rights of employees and continue to exploit workers. (Find out more)
Ministers move forward on new
national workplace system
NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca, said the first workplace relations meeting with the Rudd Government today had delivered a clear way forward to dismantle the unfair WorkChoices laws. (Find out more)
Unions eye terms of federal contracts
UNION chiefs are demanding the Rudd Government sever ties with companies that use individual contracts for their staff or violate health and safety laws. (Find out more)
QANTAS PUTTING
NATIONAL SECURITY AT RISK
Qantas’ plan to outsource labour in sections of the airport is a dangerous move which is risking the safety of thousands of Australians. Labour hire employee arrangements present a very real threat to national security. (Find out more)
Bernie Banton - A True Hero
We have lost a true Australian hero today with the passing of Bernie Banton. (Find out more)
REFERENDUM ON WORKCHOICES:
AUSTRALIANS SAY ‘BRING BACK FAIRNESS’
The Transport Workers’ Union Congratulates Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd, and the Australian Labor Party, on their win at the polls. (Find out more)
Collective Agreement Protects Members at Linfox
After 6 months of negotiations, the Transport Workers’ Union and Linfox have signed off on a new three year agreement. (Find out more)
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS REMAIN AFTER QANTAS AGM
On Wednesday the 14th of November a group of Qantas employee-shareholders who are also Transport Workers’ Union members attended the Qantas Annual General Meeting. (Find out more)
Rudd can't fathom why Work Choices documents suppressed
Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd says he can't fathom why Prime Minister John Howard has suppressed secret Work Choices documents. (Find out more)
SENIOR COALITION MINISTER ADMITS WORKERS WORSE OFF UNDER WORKCHOICES
Health Minister Tony Abbott has conceded what opponents of WorkChoices have long argued, that workers have lost protections under the coalition's reforms. (Find out more)
Fairness Test failure signals more extreme Work Choices reforms
NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca, said today the failure of John Howard’s so-called ‘Fairness Test’ was further evidence that a re-elected Coalition Government would put in place even more extreme workplace changes. (Find out more)
Executive salaries go up 28% while wages for award workers fall under Work Choices
New figures released today by the Australian Financial Review confirm the gap between high income earners and average workers is getting bigger under the Howard Government’s WorkChoices says the ACTU. (Find out more)
Joe Hockey puts banks before families
Six weeks have passed since the collapse of Trucking Company McArthur Express. It has been a long hard struggle for the employees and Owner-drivers of the failed company. Many employees who put their paperwork in weeks ago have still not received their payment. (Find out more)
Hockey confirms Work Choices will stay but refuses to release research on future plans
At the National Press Club today Mr Hockey again refused to release potentially embarrassing research that was commissioned by the Howard Government earlier this year. (Find out more)
So much for Joe Hockey’s help!
Over 1 month ago Joe Hockey announced that McArthur Express employees would be covered under the Federal Government’s General Employees Entitlements Scheme (GEERS). (Find out more)
TWU FIGHTS FOR TRUCK STOPS
Truck stops provide a crucial resting place for truck drivers to take a break and manage their fatigue. Client pressure to arrive at destinations faster and stay on the road for longer makes the availability of truck stops all the more important. Driver fatigue is the single most significant cause of road crashes involving heavy vehicles. To assist drivers to take regular rest breaks, truck stops and rest areas must be built on major transport routes. (Find out more)
Big business is leaning on Howard Govt for further IR reform
The ACTU has called on the Federal Government to respond to comments by billionaire retailer Gerry Harvey, who said employers should be able to bring in more workers from overseas and pay them only half the wages local workers receive.
(Find out more)
NFF wants Howard Govt to go further on wage cuts for rural & regional workers
Hundreds of thousands of workers in rural and regional areas across Australia face significant cuts to their wages and conditions under a new National Farmers’ Federation plan to get rid of the Howard Government’s ‘fairness test’ if the Liberals are re-elected.
(Find out more)
Rudd Labor’s education tax refund will help working families struggling with rising costs
The ACTU today welcomed Labor’s announcement that if elected to Government it will introduce an education tax refund to assist working families struggling with the rising cost of educating their kids.
(Find out more)
Rubbery figures from Joe Hockey’s Workplace Authority cannot be trusted
A new report issued by the Workplace Authority is another attempt by Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey to hide the truth about WorkChoices.
(Find out more)
Liberal Party advertisement is insulting to working families says ACTU
A new negative Liberal Party political advertisement launched today by leader-in-waiting Peter Costello is insulting to working families says the ACTU.
(Find out more)
Seatbelt retrofit Code for safer buses
11 October 2007: A voluntary guideline will protect bus owners and the public against sub-standard seatbelt retrofit practices.
(Find out more)
McArthur Express Fight for Entitlements
Hundreds of working families were left out in the cold with the sudden collapse of trucking company McArthur Express on 24 September.
(Find out more)
NOT INTERESTED-Joe Hockey refuses to meet with McArthur Express Owner-drivers
Joe Hockey has refused to meet with McArthur Express Owner-drivers to explain why he has not allowed for them to be covered under the General Employees Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS).
(Find out more)
McArthur Express Workforce and TWU stand together
A family BBQ and fun day, provided by TWU Super, Members Equity Bank and the TWU is a show of solidarity between the McArthur Express workforce who are still waiting for Joe Hockey to ensure that both employees and Owner-drivers are covered under the General Employees Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme (GEERS)
(Find out more)
McArthur Express Owner-drivers ask Joe Hockey: What about us?
The families of McArthur Express Owner-drivers have been abandoned by Joe Hockey who has refused to guarantee their entitlements.
(Find out more)
People who sign up to AWAs earn less,
study shows
PEOPLE on Australian Workplace Agreements earn an average of $106 a week less than their counterparts on collective agreements, the biggest study of the new workplace laws has found.
(Find out more)
McArthur Express employees ask:Joe Hockey what are you waiting for?
Following revelations that security holders will be given priority over the 500 McArthur Express families Transport Workers’ Union members and their families are calling on Joe Hockey, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations to step in.
(Find out more)
MCARTHUR EXPRESS EMPLOYEES CALL ON JOE HOCKEY
The Transport Workers Union and employees of Bon McArthur Transport are calling on Joe Hockey, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations to help out the hard working Australian families who have been left without their jobs and without money owed to them by Bon McArthur Transport.
(Find out more)
MCARTHUR EXPRESS EMPLOYEES JUST LOOKING FOR ANSWERS
Hundreds of families have been left looking for answers after the sudden collapse of trucking company McArthur Express.
(Find out more) ALSO DOWNLOAD: letter to employees | letter to creditors 1 | letter to creditos 2
JOE HOCKEY’S SPANISH INQUISITION ON THE EVE OF FEDERAL ELECTION
News this afternoon that Minister for Workplace Relations Joe Hockey has announced no fewer than 8 inquiries into the Transport Workers’ Union is McCarthyism gone mad.
(Find out more)
TWU INDUSTRIAL RIGHTS, EDUCATION AND
TRAINING FUND: THE FACTS
There have been a number of erroneous claims about the Industrial Rights, Education and Training fund made over the past few days, including comments made by Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey this morning on ABC’s AM program.
(Find out more)
Worker threatened with being sacked for complaining about no pay rise for 3 years
A Victorian textiles company is threatening to sack a union delegate for speaking out against the Federal Government’s unfair workplace laws that have allowed the company to avoid giving around 300 workers a pay rise for nearly three years.
(Find out more)
Statement from the Transport Workers’ Union:
22 September 2007
Allegations regarding the TWU’s Training, Education and Industrial Rights
training fund made today on the Sunday program on Channel 9 are now the subject of an independent audit.
(Find out more)
Spotlight decision shows IR laws are bad for workers and bad for business
A decision by major retailer Spotlight to abandon the use of AWA individual contracts confirms the Howard Government’s WorkChoices IR laws are bad for both workers and businesses says the ACTU.
(Find out more)
Alarming growth in risk to workers’ health & safety rights under Howard-Costello Govt
New figures released today show there has been an alarming growth in the number of workers whose health and safety rights are at risk under the Howard Government’s poorly resourced workers’ compensation scheme, ‘Comcare’.
(Find out more)
Unions warn that Costello will go even further on industrial relations
John Howard’s announcement that he will stand down in favour of Peter Costello is a clear signal that the Liberal Party plans to take a hardline approach to industrial relations and will go even further on its unfair WorkChoices IR laws if it wins the next election says the ACTU.
(Find out more)
TWU Federal Assistant Secretary Wade Noonan has been pre selected for Steve Bracks’ former seat of Williamstown
Wade has worked as an official for the TWU since 2002. During Wade’s time at the union he has been instrumental in building membership nationwide and co-coordinating national strategic campaigns which have involved all state branches.
(Find out more)
Despite $37 million IR ad campaign only one in ten AWAs undergo ‘Fairness Test’
A new official report released today shows that despite a $37 million taxpayer funded IR advertising campaign to promote the Howard Government’s new workplace watchdog, it has checked only one in ten AWA individual contracts since the introduction of the so-called ’Fairness Test’.
(Find out more)
Labor policy an important step towards better rights for working families, says ACTU
The ACTU said that the Labor Party's transitional industrial relations arrangements announced today were an important step towards restoring rights for working families in Australia. (Find out more)
QANTAS FAMILIES DESERVE MORE FOR THEIR HARD WORK
Qantas staff and families deserve full credit for the record $1 032 Billion yearly profits announced this morning. (Find out more)
Howard Government workplace watchdog approves $3 an hour wage for young worker: fundamental flaw in IR laws exposed
The Howard Government's workplace watchdog has approved it was legal for a young woman to be paid less than $3 an hour for working eleven hour days for a Cairns-based diving and tour company. (Find out more)
The voiceless victims
John Howard predicted that some workers would be worse off because of Work Choices. Our research indicates that, for women in low-paid employment, he was spot on. Significant negative changes in the workplace have been experienced by such women but the "collateral damage" of Work Choices is being felt far beyond the workplace, reaching into the homes and the communities of these workers. (Find out more)
SAFE SKIES, NOT MORE LIES
“More alarming reports have emerged today that the Office of Transport Security, ASIO and the Australian Crime Commission are still calling on the Government to fix air security dangers. (Find out more)
YOUNG WORKERS RIPPED OFF BY RESTAURANT CHAIN UNDER IR LAWS: MINISTER CONTRADICTED
In a move reminiscent of US-style conditions where café and restaurant employees work only for tips, a media report today reveals how a restaurant chain is using AWA individual contracts to systematically rip off scores of young workers under the Federal Government's IR laws. (Find out more)
IR laws used to deny sacked workers redundancy entitlements
After years of loyal service at Pele Curtains in the suburb of Mitcham, Denise and eight of her workmates were given just 15 minutes notice that they were being sacked. (Find out more)
ONE MILLION LOW PAID WORKERS FACE ANOTHER REAL WAGE CUT UNDER GOVT IR LAWS
More than one million workers reliant on minimum award wages are facing another real wage cut under the Howard Government's new pay setting arrangements according to a media report in today's Financial Review newspaper. (Find out more)
160,000 workers lose overtime pay and Minister Hockey doesn't care
The Minister for Workplace Relations Joe Hockey has sought to deliberately mislead the public over the loss of workers' overtime loadings and penalty rates in the first 13 months of the Government's new IR laws says the ACTU.(Find out more)
Why do we need 600 new WorkChoices
policemen if IR laws are 'fair'
If the Government's industrial relations laws were really 'fair' to working families why does the Howard Government need to employ the 600 new Workchoices policemen it announced in Federal Parliament yesterday.(Find out more)
CALL-TAKERS AT GOVT'S IR HOTLINE TOLD NEVER TO SAY 'I DON'T KNOW' - DESPITE WIDESPREAD CONFUSION
Despite widespread confusion over the Federal Government's latest IR changes that were introduced ten days ago without supporting legislation, call-takers at the official government IR hotline have been issued a directive to never say 'I don't know' when callers are unhappy with the lack of information about the new 'Fairness Test.(Find out more)
QANTAS STILL CALLS AUSTRALIA HOME
The Transport Workers’ Union is proud that a long and hard campaign against the foreign takeover of Qantas has been won by 37,000 Qantas families.(Find out more)
Budget handouts may be too little too late for working families says ACTU
Tax cuts for low and middle income workers expected to be delivered in tonight’s federal Budget might be a case of too little too late for working families the ACTU said today.(Find out more)
TWU BACKS GREG COMBET IN NEW ROLE
National Secretary of the Transport Worker’s Union, Tony Sheldon, is proud to be able to call Greg Combet a mate and wishes him all the best as he starts his career as the Australian Labor candidate for Charlton.(Find out more)
Employers are easily able to evade new
‘Fairness Test’
Friday’s announcement is a confession by the Howard Government that it has gone too far with its extreme and unfair IR laws that have taken away unfair dismissal protections and given employers too much power in the workplace.(Find out more)
Business outcry over Labor plan to scrap AWAs is political rather than factual
The outcry of business groups ACCI and BCA against Labor’s plan to scrap AWA individual contracts shows some business leaders are more interested in playing politics than responding to genuine community concern over the Federal Government’s IR laws. (Find out more)
THE ATA HAS FORGOTTEN ITS ROLE, TWU
Recent changes to the role of the Australian Trucking Association means the ATA is losing its long term focus with some members of the General Council involved in blatant power grabbing. (Find out more)
Road toll expected to increase under new visa
Australia’s roads will become more dangerous, warned National TWU Secretary Tony Sheldon, if the 457 visa is expanded to include truck drivers. (Find out more)
Anzac Day is not protected under IR laws: Govt statements are misleading says ACTU
The Federal Government is misleading the public over the status of Anzac Day and other public holidays which are not protected under the new IR laws says the ACTU. (Find out more)
PM ATTACKS UNIONS AND IGNORES FACTS ABOUT IMPACT OF NEW IR LAWS ON WORKING FAMILIES
Instead of attacking unions the Federal Government should admit that its IR laws are hurting working families the ACTU said today. (Find out more)
Council workers face loss of penalty rates, overtime pay: If you thought you were safe from IR laws - think again says ACTU
Thousands of Council workers are facing the loss of weekend penalty rates, overtime pay and public holidays as their employers launch a concerted bid to bring Council employees under the Howard Government's new IR laws it has been revealed today. (Find out more)
Petrol spike: Even the Easter Bunny would struggle to deliver
The recent disparity between local and international fuel prices has prompted concerns from transport workers that a petrol price spike during Easter could cripple small businesses delivering goods over the long weekend. (Find out more)
Workers' rights to Easter Public Holidays are being slowly but surely eroded under IR laws
No extra pay for working the Easter weekend is becoming the norm for workers in the retail sector as more employers use the Coalition Govt's new IR laws to abolish public holiday penalty rates say unions. (Find out more)
Work Choices: One year on.
Rudd and Gillard meet with TWU members to discuss the new workplace laws (Find out more)
NEW IR LAWS ONE YEAR OLD TODAY - POLL SHOWS
VOTERS REJECT AWAS AND WANT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
With the Federal Government's new IR laws one year old today (Tues. 27 March), the ACTU will this morning release new national polling conducted on the weekend. (Find out more)
ONE YEAR OF WORKCHOICES SHOWS FEDERAL GOVT'S NEW IR LAWS ARE HURTING WORKING FAMILIES
With the Federal Government's new industrial relations laws proving a strong negative for the Liberal Party in the weekend's NSW State election the ACTU has issued a report showing that after a year of WorkChoices the new IR laws are hurting Australian working families. (Find out more)
ACTU calls for $28 a week pay rise for over one million award workers
The ACTU has called for a pay rise of $28 a week for more than a million award workers to reverse the slide in living standards that Australia’s working families are experiencing under the new IR laws. (Find out more)
COMCARE SCHEME WILL UNDERMINE SAFETY
The Federal Secretary of the Transport Workers’ Union Tony Sheldon said today the Federal Government’s new Comcare scheme would undermine important safety initiatives achieved in the cash-in-transit and trucking industries in NSW, SA and WA. (Find out more)
IR laws and temporary migrant worker scheme are holding down wages: ACTU
submission
The ACTU has appeared before a Parliamentary Inquiry into Migration (14 March) and called for an overhaul of the 457 temporary visa program on the basis that it is being used to reduce wages and job opportunities for Australian workers and that migrant workers are being exploited. (Find out more)
Cuts, Cuts, Cuts
The ACTU's new television commercial went to air on March 4 2007 - Working
Families Losing Conditions "Cuts Cuts Cuts" (Find out more)
$34MILL IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
MONEY WASTED
It has been revealed that $34 million in taxpayer funds is being wasted through inappropriate use of funding for training opportunities in the transport industry. (Find out more)
SAVING QANTAS JOBS
The proposed purchase of Qantas by Airline Partners Australia risks jobs, entitlements and conditions of TWU members across Australia. That’s why your TWU is working to protect jobs and conditions of all employees. (Find out more)
QANTAS FAMILIES DESERVE MORE
Airline Partners Australia’s decision today to execute a deed with the Federal Government is a step in the right direction. Now the consortium needs to execute a deed with the 37 000 Qantas employees who have built this airline into the lean and efficient business it is today. (Read the full story)
NEW POLL SHOWS VOTERS WANT FEDERAL GOVT TO STAND UP FOR AUSTRALIAN JOBS AND OPPOSE QANTAS SALE: ACTU CALLS FOR PARLIMENTARY INQUIRY
80% of marginal seat voters say Federal Government isn't doing enough to
stop Australian businesses being sold overseas and jobs lost offshore. (Read the full story)
QANTAS FAMILIES TELL APA:
“PROTECT OUR JOBS
The Transport Workers’ Union has today repeated its’ call for Airline Partners Australia to legally guarantee that no Qantas employee will lose their job or entitlements as a consequence of the proposed takeover. (Read the full story)
TWU TELLS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CLEAN UP ITS ACT ON AIRPORT SECURITY
The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) is today calling on the Federal Government and the Minister for Transport to urgently investigate security at Sydney airport after reports indicate that a man who breached a security screening last night has still not been found. (Read the full story)
TWU Meets with Airline Partners Australia
The Transport Workers’ Union today met with representatives from Airline
Partners Australia – the consortium bidding to take over Qantas.(Read the full story)
TWU BACKS WORKFORCE PLEAS TO STAMP OUT PETROL GOUGING
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has today urged the Federal Government to allow the ACCC to be given more powers to take action over price gouging.(Read the full story)
GOOD NEWS - MANSOUR OSANLOO FREED
Following a very large international campaign that brought together the International Trade Union Confederation, the International Transport Workers Federation, Amnesty International, the European Union, and thousands of individual trade unionists who participated in the online campaign on LabourStart, jailed Iranian trade union leader Mansour Osanloo is now free after a month in jail.(Read the full story)
QANTAS WORKERS TELLS TEXAS PACIFIC: “PROTECT OUR JOBS”
Following from this morning’s Qantas announcement, the Transport Workers’ Union is calling on the Texas Pacific led Qantas takeover consortium to guarantee the jobs, rates of pay, working conditions and entitlements of all existing Qantas workers. (Read the full story)
Pay rate uncertainty hits over one million workers under new IR laws
More than a million workers on award wages cannot be sure of their rate of pay with the Federal Government acknowledging that the pay scales it publishes are not reliable.(Read the full story)
Top Iranian union leader jailed by regime
Last winter the Iranian capital city of Tehran was practically shut down by striking bus drivers. The reaction of the regime was swift and brutal.(Read the full story)
Unions vow to continue campaign against Fed Govt IR laws following successful national protest
Unions have vowed to continue the campaign against the Howard Government's IR laws following successful national protests at more than three hundred venues across Australia and the involvement of an estimated 279,500 people around Australia (this updated total includes Tas and WA).(Read the full story)
DEFENCE CONTRACTS COULD END UP IN FOREIGN HANDS IF QANTAS TAKE-OVER BID GETS APPROVED
The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) has today revealed defence contracts may fall into foreign hands if the Qantas take-over bid succeeds.(Read the full story)
IR Laws Hit Workers' Wages: New Stats Show Pay Drops Below Cost Of Living
New ABS data released this week (16 Nov) shows the IR changes are starting to bite into workers' take home pay with average weekly earnings falling
further behind the cost of living for full time workers.(Read the full story)
Government's Own AIRC Submission Confirms Australian Workers' Job Security
Has Been Shredded
Kevin Andrews has confirmed that the Howard Government's extreme industrial relations laws leave Australian employees without effective protection from
unfair dismissal.(Read the full story)
TWU CONCERNED ABOUT QANTAS
TAKE OVER BID
TWU National Secretary Tony Sheldon today commented on the proposed take-over offer of Qantas by Texas Pacific and Macquarie Bank.(Read the full story)
International Integrators Action Day
On November 9, TWU Members joined UPS, FedEx, TNT and DHL workers across the globe to take part in an international day of action.(Read the full story)
ACTU Vows to Intensify Campaign as Millions Lose Their Workplace Rights
Unions have vowed to intensify their campaign against the Howard Government's industrial relations laws following the decision by the High Court that has accepted the Federal Government's argument that the new IR laws are legal.(Read the full story)
Even More Power To Employers At Expense Of Workers Under IR Changes
The changes announced today (Monday) by the Howard Government will make the IR laws even more unfair and unbalanced says the ACTU.(Read the full story)
"Are your kids at risk?: Kids Under 15 Years Old Are Signing Individual Contracts Under IR Laws"
Children as young as 14 years old are signing AWA individual contracts under the Coalition Government's IR laws.(Read the full story)
New survey finds 'battlers' are turning against Howard Govt on IR
More than 500 delegates representing Australia's two million union members
will gather today and tomorrow to plan the next stage of the union campaign
for workers' rights and to decide on a policy for a fairer industrial
relations system that could replace the Howard Government's IR laws.(Read the full story)
TWU CONDEMNS ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MOVES TO BRING IN FOREIGN TRUCK DRIVERS
The Transport Workers’ Union has today condemned any moves by the Federal Government to negotiate labour agreements that would include the importation of foreign truck drivers and force rates to deadly unsafe levels.(Read the full story)
LOCAL TRUCK DRIVERS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO HALT PLANS TO BRING IN DRIVERS FROM OVERSEAS
Truck drivers from around NSW today hit the phones of Coalition Federal Senators and Coalition State MPs in a bid to halt plans to import cheap foreign labour to do their job.(Read the full story)
Foreign guest workers:
Cutting wages – undermining business
NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca, said the Commonwealth’s foreign guest worker program posed a threat to the jobs and pay rates of Australian workers.(Read the full story)
Commonwealth refuses to act on 457 visas
When presented with evidence of 457 visas being used to lower wages for Australians, the Commonwealth Minister for Workplace Relations today pledged only to ‘monitor’ the issue. (Read the full story)
TONY SHELDON RE-ELECTED
TWU LEADER UNOPPOSED
Transport Worker’s Union Secretary, Tony Sheldon was today re-elected unopposed as National and NSW State Secretary after months of standing up for worker’s rights against the Howard Government’s new WorkChoices legislation. (Read the full story)
CLIENT PRESSURE PUSHING DRUG USE IN THE LONG-HAUL TRANSPORT INDUSTRY
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has today responded to media reports on a university finding that truck drivers are among the biggest users of amphetamines in the workforce, saying that drug use in the long-haul industry is a symptom of client pressure.
(Read the full story)
RANDOM DRUG TESTS MUST TARGET TRANSPORT CLIENTS NOT JUST TRUCK DRIVERS
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has today said any moves that would see NSW police target illegal drug use on our roads must also involve measures that would hold transport clients responsible if long haul-truck drivers test positive.
(Read the full story)
Pay Freeze Enters 16th Month for Low Paid Workers as Prices Continue to Go Up
The ACTU has called on the Federal Government to hurry up and deliver a pay rise for low paid workers struggling to cope with the rising cost of living as a wage freeze caused by the Government's IR laws enters its sixteenth month. (Read the full story)
Federal Government Backdown Over New IR Laws Does Not Go Far Enough: ACTU
A report today that the Federal Govt is changing its IR regulations less than six months after they were introduced show that the new laws are too extreme, already leading to many workers being sacked unfairly and suffering cuts to their job conditions and take home pay says the ACTU. (Read the full story)
We're safe for now! Owner Driver exemptions passed through the House of Representatives
The Independent Contractors Bill passed the House of Reps at 9:56 am Wednesday 13 September. (Read the full story)
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