United Workers Union | Community organisation

United Workers Union

Phone: +61 2 8204 3001

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25.01.2022 Its Teacher Aide Appreciation week! We celebrate their passion and dedication to a job full of both joys and challenges. We say "Thank You" for all the hard work teacher Aides and Education Assistants do for their schools.

24.01.2022 When managers at a major retail warehouse in Melbourne concealed information on the spread of COVID-19 among the workforce, UWU members united to walk off the job. The result was a powerful victory in the fight against unsafe conditions. Read the full story below.

24.01.2022 There's no hiding from the United Workers Union! Lactalis Dairy workers in Bendigo, Victoria, have been on strike for more than a week now, with executives at Lactalis head office in Brisbane happy to sit in their office and make decisions for regional workers on the other side of the country. Well today, delegates from our food and bev industries marched on their office and (loudly) delivered a letter to the Lactalis Australia CEO Rod Walden.

23.01.2022 RSLs have an Australian legacy of shared struggle and mateship - they are supposed to band together during a crisis. But the way Ballina RSL Club are treating their loyal staff is shameful. Last week management marched workers in to meetings and demanded they accept 80% cuts to take their home pay. They gave some workers barely 24hrs notice to accept these devastating cuts, or face the sack! This Club brings in millions of dollars in pokies revenue, but expects its worke...rs to live on less than $30 per day. Is that fair? Sign to support workers at Ballina RSL Club! www.megaphone.org.au/p/ballina-rsl

23.01.2022 Educators at Hillbank Community Children's Centre are celebrating a milestone: becoming a 100% UNION CENTRE! Workers at Hillbank have shown solidarity and commitment to a better early education sector through the Big Steps Campaign - and now they're celebrating another WIN in their Union journey! Congratulations to all of these wonderful educators and UWU members!

22.01.2022 LIVE NOW! Queenslands Minister for Industrial Relations Grace Grace MP is answering questions about the states soon-to-be passed wage theft laws. Shes joined by some of the workers who have been part of the campaign to make wage theft a crime in Queensland.... Were stronger together - join your union! www.unitedworkers.org.au/join

22.01.2022 #WageTheft - its everywhere. These experiences are exactly why our members across the country have fought hard for wage theft laws to be put in place. In Queensland, members have put wage theft on the agenda in State Parliament and the laws are due to be debated soon.... These laws will amend criminal legislation to target employers who commit serious and deliberate wage theft and make it easier for workers to recover stolen wages.

22.01.2022 On Monday we will be running online member briefings about changes to JobKeeper and JobSeeker, and how they might affect you. The briefings will be held via ZOOM. Please click the following links to attend the session of your choice. 2PM session: uwu.org.au/briefing-2pm... 7PM session: uwu.org.au/briefing-7pm See more

22.01.2022 HUGE NEWS: Queensland bosses can now be jailed for up to 10 years for stealing wages from workers. UWU Hospo Voice member Tara spoke out about her experiences: "I was told starting out I had to work for free, that I was not going to get paid until I proved myself in the industry. This is not right. I worked 12-14 hour days." Shes one of many union members to campaign for tough new laws to stamp out wage theft that passed State Parliament yesterday. Next we will keep fighting to make wage theft a crime across the country!

21.01.2022 Calvary Hospital cleaners aren't backing down. "We're not asking for favours, we are asking for what we deserve, because we're still struggling to pay the bills and feed our families." - Hospital cleaner Cibele Webbie

21.01.2022 Queensland, we are so close to criminalising wage theft! Workers have been sharing their shocking stories, to tell QLD parliament its time to make wage theft a crime. The wage theft committee has just finished their report to Parliament, now we need to make sure these laws pass! Sign the petition to end wage theft: https://megaphone.org.au/p/wagetheftqld

21.01.2022 Dave started working at Ballina RSL Club in August 2005. A jack of all trades, hes done every role from kitchen-hand to back dock and everything in between. He even does maintenance jobs around the club when needed. Dave is a loyal staff member who has given 15 years of his working life to the Ballina RSL Club. But the way he and his colleagues are being treated is shameful, told to take cuts to their hours or risk being sacked.... "Theyve made me feel like a nothing working there. They have made us robots ready to be dismantled when they feel like it. I dont like it one little bit." Today union members are finally sitting down with Ballina RSL Club management to negotiate their conditions. These workers deserve to be treated with respect, and they will not give in until they reach a fair outcome. Show your support for Dave and his colleagues by signing their petition here: www.megaphone.org.au/p/ballina-rsl

20.01.2022 One of our members' great 2020 wins was reported in SA newspaper The Advertiser today. Because West End workers stood strong and stuck together, on December 11, 2020 they won: - A guaranteed 7 additional weeks’ pay on top of their redundancy - A 2.4 per cent pay increase... - A $2,000 sign-on bonus and a further bonus of up to $7,000 upon successful closure of the site. After 17 days on strike, members won a minimum of $22,000 extra. An amazing win by UWU members!

20.01.2022 Officeworks members have been on strike and voted down the company’s unfair offer, but they STILL aren’t listening to their workers and are now proposing a real wage cut for their employees by offering a below inflation wage increase. This is despite Officeworks seeing MEGA profits during the pandemic, with essential workers in their warehouses working hard to supply people working from home. In return, Officeworks is treating workers with total disrespect!

19.01.2022 Today aged care workers have staged a Twitter takeover and told Scott Morrison (ScoMo) and his aged care sidekick Richard Colbeck: #thankyouisnotenough. Aged care workers are wearing red today to mark the end of a week of action in which they have spoken out about the appalling conditions they face in aged care. Aged care has been exposed as a broken system in which aged care workers do not have the time to offer quality care - two thirds say their workload has increased sinc...e the onset of Covid-19. Aged care workers can sign up to the Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/agedcareworkerssafetynetwork to stay in touch with your aged care colleagues.

19.01.2022 At the Spotless Laundry in Melbournes southeast, employers demanded that work continue despite escalating numbers of COVID-19 cases. United Workers Union members refused to allow the companys profit to be placed above their safety and won. Read the full story below.

19.01.2022 Officeworks warehouse workers in three states have taken collective action to demand fair pay and secure jobs. During this pandemic big companies like Officeworks have seen profits skyrocket and yet they refuse to acknowledge the essential workers who put their own safety at risk to get the job done and build those profits. "We are doing this to prove to management that, YES we have rights. A little bit of a struggle goes a long way." - Paul, UWU delegate, Officeworks Email the CEO of Officeworks using this page: https://www.unitedworkers.org.au/officeworks-action

19.01.2022 Bosses who steal wages should go to jail. And it must be quick and easy for workers to win back our stolen wages. We strongly support the Queensland Governments push to criminalise wage theft. And we demand that the State Opposition & minor parties stand with hospo workers too. Click here to tell your local representative that they should support the Queensland Governments push to criminalise wage theft: https://uwu.good.do/wagetheft/wagetheft/

18.01.2022 Be involved in helping to shape our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Members - check your e-mail for details on upcoming zoom sessions. If you didn't receive the RAP e-mail and want to be involved, contact us for more information.

17.01.2022 WIN!! Wage theft is now a crime in Queensland Huge congratulations to all of the union members who fought, spoke out and campaigned to make this happen. THIS is union power ... http://uwu.org.au/join

17.01.2022 Its been an epic week of aged carers standing up and speaking out saying "thank you" is not enough. Along the way they have told Scott Morrison (ScoMo) he needs to fix a broken aged care system. Jude represented aged carers across the country this week when she spoke out on ABCs The Drum about the difficulties facing aged care workers:... "Every year we lose more people that we work with. We have exactly the same amount of work to do - and at this point of time we have more work to do. "But were still underfunded. Thank you is not enough. "We need better funding "We need to have mofre staff on the floor so we can provide quality care to these people. "We need to have better pay to encourage people to stay in the industry. "My super is nothing after 47 years. My wages havent grown the same way a lot of industries have. "Carers care. They really do care. Everybody I have ever worked with have that thing about them where its not just a job; its a passion."

17.01.2022 #FlashbackFriday - in early 2020 farm workers won better hours and pay by standing together and walking off the job.

15.01.2022 Why is the 'BOOT' test so important? It protects workers from being exploited by dodgy agreements. Now ScoMo wants to get rid of this protection. ... Share if you think workers deserve better!

14.01.2022 A few weeks ago United Workers Union hospitality members addressed the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19, to ask them not to scale back the JobKeeper and JobSeeker programs which thousands of workers are relying on. Instead they demanded to extend the payments to those who have been left behind casuals working less than 12 months, temporary visa workers and international students. The crisis is not over. Go to www.jobkeeperforall.com.au to tell Scott Morrison how his governments drastic cuts to JobKeeper & JobSeeker will impact you.

14.01.2022 Life on the COVID-19 front line. United Workers Union members share their experience of dealing with the pandemic alongside other frontline workers in Melbournes lockdown. Sofia has cleaned schools for 10 years and, so far, she still does. There was five of us cleaning, now two. She keeps her distance from the schoolchildren. I feel so lonely, she says.

13.01.2022 "...there is another way to solve the problem that none of the previously mentioned solutions proposes: turn farm work into secure, safe and sustainable employment." Farm workers ensure theres fresh food on our plates - day in, day out, through rain, hail and shine; through bushfire, flood and now, a pandemic. They need and deserve jobs they can count on. #JobsYouCanCountOn #NoWorkerLeftBehind

13.01.2022 BREAKING: Officeworks members overwhelmingly vote NO to unfair deal. Officeworks have made record breaking sales during the pandemic, made possible by the dedicated workers in their warehouses. Warehouse workers at Officeworks have risked their health and safety to keep the company profitable during the pandemic, with 3 workers struck down with the virus in the Victorian warehouse. Officeworks members recently went on strike to show the company they meant business. Despite this, Officeworks tried to ram through their subpar deal. But workers are ready to stand up and fight for what they are worth!

13.01.2022 Pollies Pledge! Twenty-three Queensland Labor MPs recently signed a pledge to keep public services in public hands under the watchful eye of United Workers Union representatives from a range of occupations including teacher aides, school cleaners, ambulance officers and health workers. As Queensland heads into a state election, many of our members remember all too painfully how, on this day 8 years ago, the last LNP State Government passed a budget that saw more than 14,000 p...ublic servants sacked. Pictured here are UWU members Nick (Ambulance Officer) Julie (Teacher Aide) Yolanda (School Cleaner) and Bec (Radiographer) with the MPs who signed the pledge outside Qld Parliament. The pledge read: "I pledge to oppose outsourcing of frontline health, education and ambulance services. I pledge to fight for all frontline ambulance, health and education workers to remain directly employed by the Queensland Government."

13.01.2022 Members stood together, spoke out, and the Queensland Palaszczuk Government listened. This week, laws passed State Parliament making it a crime to steal wages from workers! Earlier this year, the Victorian Government passed similar laws after a strong campaign by union members. Next we will keep fighting to make wage theft a crime across the country!

11.01.2022 "There are no human rights here." After two months of working on a farm, Elin had just $70 to show for her time. Read the full story below. Stories like this one demonstrate the need for one simplified agricultural visa. The Working Holiday Maker program needs more robust oversight and regulation, so it is more aligned with the Seasonal Workers Programme.... Many United Workers Union members working on farms have experienced similar issues of exploitation, harassment, wage theft as well as visa insecurity, and racial discrimination. Farmworkers are organising to shine a light on the horticulture industry.

11.01.2022 For the quality aged care that older Australians deserve, we're demanding better funding, minimum staffing levels, and better quality jobs for aged care workers. Aged care workers across Australia are standing up for change. We're going to fight until we get it. Support aged care workers and their campaign to Change Aged Care: facebook.com/timetochangeagedcare

11.01.2022 Our Victorian Paramedic comrades have a dodgy internal system for investigating bullying, and less than 10% of staff believe it works. They need Ambulance Victoria (AV) to develop an effective external process they can trust. Please help Clean Up AV by signing and sharing the petition ... https://bit.ly/CleanUpAvPetition

09.01.2022 Manufacturing workers at Airstep have taken industrial action today in response to being offered a 0% pay increase, despite not having had a pay increase in 2 years. Airstep has relied on their workers to keep their production lines running overtime during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers have risked their health and safety to turn profits for the company and in return are being treated with disrespect. Enough is enough, workers are prepared to do what it takes to fight for a... fair pay offer. Australian Unions Victorian Trades Hall Council

09.01.2022 Emergency Medical Dispatcher members deserve to be treated with respect whilst doing their job. There is no excuse for abuse. UWU is working with our EMD members to ensure they receive appropriate training and support so they can go to work feeling safe, prepared and empowered in the essential work they do.

08.01.2022 RALLY ONLINE TOMORROW! Cleaners at the University of Tasmania (UTAS) have had their hours cut by 40%. Thats a huge cut to their livelihoods and risks the health and safety of staff and students. ... You can rally with them right here on our Facebook page! RSVP here: https://uwu.org.au/utascleaners

07.01.2022 WORKING IN THE HEAT? This weekend is a scorcher around the country! As the mercury continues to rise around the country, soaring temperatures can create hazardous working conditions. Between 2005 - 2014, 13 workers died in Australia from exposure to ‘environmental heat’.... Heat is a workplace hazard, and your employer has to manage this hazard like any other. All employers in Australia have a duty under the WHS Act to provide a safe place of work. All workers (including contractors) have the right to refuse unsafe work. Need advice or assistance? Speak to your delegate, organiser or contact your union.

07.01.2022 Before COVID hit, grassroots United Voices of the World the union got organised and took action leading to a huge win for cleaners, caterers and porters in hospitals in the UK. Workers from St Marys Hospital in London led the campaign to end outsourcing of not only their jobs, but eventually the jobs of workers across five other hospitals. Watch as workers go on strike, with support from fellow hospital workers and the broader community, to win their rights and make their jobs and their hospitals safer for everyone.

07.01.2022 Yesterday workers from Ballina RSL Club met with their local rep Justine Elliot MP to discuss the way theyre being treated, and ask for her support. These workers have served the Club for decades, but within a week have been told to accept poverty wages or lose their job. Minister Elliot signed the pledge to stand with these workers and demand a fair negotiation of hours. ... Show your support by signing the petition here: www.megaphone.org.au/p/ballina-rsl

06.01.2022 Happy Early Childhood Educators Day! Today we celebrate all of the wonderful early childhood educators in our United Workers Union! My name is Samira. I have worked in early education and care in Australia for five years, as Inclusion Support then as an ECT. I have a Bachelors Degrees in Early Childhood Education from both Australia and Egypt. ... As educators, we work with children in the most important years of their lives. Were essential for families, and for our society to function. Im a member of my Union to fight for respect and recognition for all educators.

06.01.2022 Show solidarity with airport security officers this #FairRedundancyFriday - spread the word far and wide: ISS is disrespecting long-serving airport security officers. ISS Facility Services is cutting 30% of airport security guards, yet is picking at random, opening the door to favouritism. Union members are demanding the company adopt a fairer, more transparent redundancy plan that respects long-serving officers.

06.01.2022 United Workers Union Delegates at Kelloggs take charge and report back to members indicating the disgusting offer put forward by management is disrespectful and disgraceful. Kelloggs are trying to use COVID-19 to gut hard-won conditions and leave casual workers out of the EBA completely, while offering wage increases of as low as 1%. Workers are ready to fight back!

05.01.2022 Can you send UTAS a message? http://uwu.org.au/utas The University of Tasmania has slashed cleaning hours by 40% - this is a huge hit to cleaners wages, and risks health and safety on campus. UTAS is claiming that this will not lead to campuses being cleaned any less frequently, which really doesnt add up. Stand with the cleaners by sending UTAS a message:... http://uwu.org.au/utas See more

04.01.2022 Blue collar production workers at Cargill’s factory in Bursa-Orhangazi, Turkey were dismissed on April 17, 2018 for exercising their right to join a union. All of them are members of IUF affiliate Tekgda-; the right to join a union is a fundamental human right. One thousand days later, 8 of these dismissed workers continue to fight for their union, their jobs and their rights. Turkey’s highest courts have ruled that these workers were unfairly dismissed. Cargill refuses t...o reinstate them, but has hired other permanent workers in the same departments the dismissed workers were employed in. Learn more about these workers here and then help share their story. #CargillYaYaDireni http://bit.ly/3ovmiJM

03.01.2022 Since the announcement of cuts to JobKeeper & JobSeeker, members have been asking us to help them understand the changes and how they will be affected. Yesterday we held two online member briefings to explain the changes, and answer questions from union members across the country. We also heard from workers who have been affected by the COVID pandemic - what these life-saving payments have meant to them and what will happen once theyre cut.... If you are in the same boat, take a moment to visit www.jobkeeperforall.com.au/ to share your story and tell the Federal Government how their drastic cuts will impact you.

03.01.2022 Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese adds his voice to thousands of aged care workers saying "thank you is not enough" today. "We know that you are underpaid and undervalued by this government," he says. "Scott Morrison and his government have failed you, they have failed all those in your care and the families who love them."... Join your fellow aged care workers during this week of action and say #thankyouisnotenough: - Download posters, flyers, pledge cards and Facebook graphics from www.ourturntocare.com.au/tyisnotenough - Keep the conversation going at www.facebook.com/groups/agedcareworkerssafetynetwork

02.01.2022 ONLINE RALLY! Tell UTAS to give cleaners back their hours and jobs: http://uwu.org.au/utas The University of Tasmania has cut cleaning time by 40%, slashing cleaners livelihoods and risking health and safety on campuses. ... You can send UTAS management a message using our online tool: http://uwu.org.au/utas

02.01.2022 Evalyn Clow, one of our hardest working delegates from Victoria in food manufacturing, is running for Frankston council! Evalyn brings with her the experience of a tough union delegate with the passion for standing up for working people. We need more workers like Evalyn in our halls of power and less careerists, lawyers and big business owners. Support Evalyn in any way you can! ... Follow her Facebook page Donate to her campaign: evalyn-clow-for-frankston.raisely.com/ Volunteer to call someone in Frankston: uwu.org.au/ev-volunteer