The ACTU oversees many campaigns, from industrial campaigns based around workplace issues, to broader social campaigns around fairness and justice.
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The campaign summary below will give you a quick impression of the current campaigns as well as mini- status updates as they occur. Some of the links in this section will take you to a different site created specifically for the campaign.
If you are looking for more rich and indepth information - then use the 'current campaigns' tab in the left hand menu to read more our campaigns.
CAMPAIGNS SUMMARY
Collective bargaining
Australian workers have no enforceable right to collective bargaining under the Howard Government’s WorkChoices IR laws, and some of these laws remain intact until new laws are passed. The Rudd Government has pledged to restore collective bargaining in the upcoming new laws. This campaign aims to remind MPs and Senators that collective bargaining must be at the centre of new IR laws, with the inclusion of a strong independent umpire.
Status update: 26.11.08
A new bill introduced into Federal Parliament will give working Australians the fundamental right to collectively bargain for better wages and conditions.
read more about this campaign | remind an MP |
Paid maternity leave
The ACTU and the union movement believe that paid maternity leave is a fundamental human right that benefits mothers, family, the economy and business. The ACTU has called for paid maternity leave to become a new national employment standard with at least for a minimum of 14 weeks leave at full pay.
Status update: 22.11.08
In September, the Productivity Commission released a model for a proposed 18 week scheme. The ACTU and unions want to see some fine-tuning in the next round of consultations with the Productivity Commission. The Productivity Commission will hand down their final report for paid maternity leave on Friday 28 November. Despite the economic uncertainty created by the global financial crisis, the ACTU and unions believe the scheme should be included in the Rudd Government’s 2009 federal budget. Supporters can now send a digital petition.
read more about this campaign | get involved
Equal rights for construction workers
There are 900,000 construction workers in Australia, and they do not have the same rights at most other working Australians because of John Howard’s laws. This campaigns aims to get the same working rights for construction workers - to allow them to speak about their rights at work without being fined or taken to court.
Status update: 26.11.08
Union official Noel Washington was facing jail next week because he refused to tell the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) what happened at a union meeting a few months ago. Mass rallies have been planned for 02.12.08 to show support for Noel and calling for the abolishment of the ABCC. On 26.11.08 - the DPP dropped all charges against Noel. Workers can still email an MP and call for the complete and immediate abolishment of the ABCC. The rallies will continue as planned.
read more about this campaign | sign the petition |
Telstra
Nearly 32,000 Telstra employees have their pay and conditions put at potenital risk after Telstra management attempted to push employees onto individual agreements – well after the Rudd Government abolished WorkChoices. This campaign aims to get a better deal for those employees through collective bargaining, as well as make Telstra a fairer workplace with decent pay and conditions for all employees.
Status update 21.11.08
Union members at Telstra will begin voting on 21 November in a secret ballot to authorise wide-ranging industrial action. The ballot follows repeated attempts to urge Telstra management to return to the bargaining table after it unilaterally broke of negotiations in July. Telstra unions will be out in force at the company’s annual general meeting in Melbourne this Friday 21 November to distribute a new report on the National Broadband Network.
read more about this campaign | get campaign updates
OHS laws
There are nine different OH&S Laws operating in Australia. The ACTU is campaigning for a single national system of laws to optimise safety standards for working Australians.
Status update 23.10.08
Unions are stepping up their campaign for national model OHS laws in the lead up to the release of the draft report on OHS harmonisation. The panel reviewing the OHS nation's laws will produce their draft report at the end of October.
read more about this campaign | sign the petition |