Campaigns - Australian Council of Trade Unions

Highest Standards for Harmonised OHS Laws

At present there are nine different OH&S Laws operating in Australia. The Federal Government and all the States and Territory Governments have agreed to move towards a simpler more streamlined approach to OH & S law in Australia.

In fact, many State governments have already made agreements to deal with cross border issues on OH&S and some aspects of workers compensation law. Employer Associations have been lobbying Federal and State governments for years to adopt a single national OH&S system claiming that confusion and red tape are preventing good OH&S Laws.

Unions have supported harmonisation, not for the same reasons as employers to reduce workers rights to the worst OH&S Law in Australia, but in fact to use the harmonisation agenda to increase the rights of all workers to the best OH&S law operating in Australia as the basis of any national OH&S Model law.

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Workers' Compensation

The Federal Government is encouraging large employers to move to the Commonwealth Occupational Health and Safety Scheme, Comcare. - Many workers will have decreased benefits

- Workers health and safety rights and union rights are being stripped from Comcare
- Safety inspections are limited under Comcare
- Comcare is not designed to cover all workers
- Comcare changes will reduce workers’ access to union support and advice

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Australia’s Workers' Compensation system

The Federal Government is putting Australia’s Workers' Compensation system at risk.

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[Dowload Your health and safety at work factsheet]

Occupational cancer

The ACTU joins the global union campaign to prevent occupational cancer. Occupational cancer is the most common work-related cause of death. The International Labour Organisation estimates the human toll at over 600,000 deaths a year - one death every 52 seconds. At least 1 in every 10 cancers - probably many more
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Work strain causes real pain – No body should put up with it

2004 ACTU OHS Campaign

Work strain injuries have been around for a long time. They happen in all jobs and to all types of workers - from nurses to construction workers, from truck drivers to call centre workers, from teachers to manufacturing workers, and to retail, warehouse and office workers. They can be caused by a single event, such as lifting an object or person or they can build up over time, causing chronic pain and debilitation.

Some people think that work strain is just ‘part of the job’. This is not true. Work strain is preventable and should be stopped. However, job insecurity and fear of reprisals means that many people feel they have no choice but to keep on working, even while injured or in pain.
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Being bossed around is bad for your health

2003 ACTU OHS Campaign

It is estimated that 350,000 people are subjected to long term bullying in Australia, while 2.5 million experience some aspect of bullying over the course of their working lives.

Over half the respondents to union surveys report an unhappy and oppressive workplace, and 54% say that that intimidating behaviour - shouting, ordering and belittling people happens in their workplaces. Almost a third report abusive language.
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Stop Stress at Work

2003 ACTU OHS Campaign

Stress at work is a world-wide problem. Its implications extend beyond health and safety in the workplace, and can seriously disrupt peoples’ lives. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) states that work should leave time for rest and leisure, for service to society, and for self-fulfilment and personal development. It says these goals are unattainable if workers’ lives are dominated by occupational stress.
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ACTU Paid Maternity Leave policy and campaign