Get the facts: know your rights so you can protect them

Union members have won so many new rights in the past several years that it can be hard to keep track of them all.

The scale and significance of these wins show what union members can achieve when we campaign and have a Labor government in power, ready and willing to support working people.

We’ve summarised some of the key recent wins and updated our factsheets covering four important areas: workplace discrimination, labour hire, types of employment, and casual workers.

New workplace discrimination protections

In 2023 union members campaigned for and won stronger protections against workplace discrimination – including the addition of the ‘experience of family and domestic violence’ as a protected attribute.

This much-needed addition reinforces another important entitlement union members won in the same year on the back of a decade-long campaign: 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave.

Changes to labour hire: Same Job Same Pay laws

Labour hire workers often face precarious working conditions, regularly receiving less pay and entitlements compared to workers directly employed. 

In some cases that meant earning up to $30,000 less than their workmate on the same worksite for doing the exact same job.

New Same Job Same Pay laws, which union members won as part of the Closing Loopholes Bill, ensure labour hire workers are entitled to the same pay and conditions as directly employed workers performing the same job. 

This guarantees fairness, reduces the exploitation of labour hire workers, and has already been used successfully to win significant pay rises for workers in the mining and energy industry.

Types of Employment

The classification of employment types has been dramatically improved – leading to greater clarity. 

In effect the changes mean more workers will be found to fit the definition of ‘employee’ (rather than being an independent contractor), which means they will be entitled to the pay, rights and protections of being an employee. 

These rights, along with other key rights, came into effect on 26 August 2024. 

It’s a huge win for gig economy and road transport workers in particular because it ‘closes the loophole’ that employers have been exploiting to avoid classifying workers as employees.

For the first time, these vulnerable workers will be entitled to the pay, rights and protections that most workers enjoy.

Casual workers

Australia’s two million casual workers gained new rights that enhance their job security and working conditions. 

Crucially, the new rights create a meaningful pathway for long-term casuals – who’ve worked for their employer for at least 6-12 months, depending on the size of the business – to request to convert to a permanent role.

Not sure what your rights are as a casual? 

How can you make the most of these rights at work?

Already a union member?

Reach out to your union for more specific information about how you and your workmates can use these rights in your workplace. 

Not yet a member of your union?

Joining your union will ensure you’re getting the pay and conditions that you’re entitled to.