The Australian Unions Support Centre provides free and confidential assistance and information for all workplace issues. We’re here to provide support, regardless of your job or industry. All Support Centre enquiries are 100% confidential.
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Today, on International Workers’ Memorial Day, we honour workers who have lost their lives at work, and recommit ourselves to making workplaces safe for all workers.
Safe Work Australia has just released its Psychological health and safety in the workplace report, which identifies a worrying trend – with work-related mental health issues rising by 36.9% since 2018.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2024/03/06/workplace-mental-health-in-the-spotlight/
The 2023 Work Shouldn’t Hurt survey reveals that over half of insecure workers have reported continuing to work while ill or injured specifically, due to the absence of paid leave.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2024/01/30/half-of-workers-are-working-while-sick-or-injured/
Less than 5% of casual workers who want permanent jobs can secure one. The second part of the Closing Loopholes Bill includes much-needed changes that will re-balance the relationship between casual workers and employers.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2024/01/22/casualties-of-a-broken-system/
Safe Work Australia calls unequivocally for the ‘Prohibition on the use of all engineered stone’ in their landmark report, released publicly last Friday.
Today the union movement has voted to take all necessary action to ban engineered stone by the middle of next year. This is something every unionist needs to get behind, because the right to a safe workplace is fundamental, no matter what your job is.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2023/10/24/unions-vote-to-ban-engineered-stone/
New laws, designed to make workplaces fairer and safer for workers, have been introduced by the Albanese Government in Parliament this week.
All working people deserve to work in a safe environment, free from violence and harassment.
Remember the dead, fight like hell for the living.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2023/04/28/the-workers-who-didnt-make-it-home/
You wouldn’t accept being exposed to asbestos, right? Then why should we expect any different for silica?
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2023/04/21/we-put-an-end-to-asbestos-now-its-time-to-ban-silica/
“Engineered stone is killing workers. This is the asbestos of the 2020s.”
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2023/02/23/silica-dust-leads-to-death-sentences-for-workers/
If your employer is refusing to implement any of these measures, it’s time to give your union a call.
The impacts of extreme temperatures are deadly. That is why it’s important to know how to keep yourself safe during a heatwave, your rights at work and what additional support is available.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2023/01/19/how-to-deal-with-heatwaves-at-work/
If you have been impacted by the recent floods in South Australia or Western Australia, or the heavy rain in Queensland, this information will help you plan your next steps.
78 per cent of workers with an HSR at their workplace said their workplace complies with its own Health and Safety policies, compared to just 50 per cent of workers with no HSR present.
If nothing changes, we will continue to see educators leave the sector in droves. Not for lack of love, but because it breaks our hearts to be forced to put profit above children.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2022/11/19/strength-and-safety-for-childcare-workforce/
Movember shines a light on how men’s mental health has been a taboo topic, shrouded by notions of toxic masculinity. In doing so, it also shows us how important it is for us to be able to have a frank approach to mental health in the workplace without fear of stigmatisation.
If your mental health is under strain at work, you’re not alone. 21 per cent of workers surveyed said they experienced mental health issues related to work in the last 12 months.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2022/10/10/how-to-protect-your-mental-health-at-work/
If your employer is relying on days like R U OK to check in on your mental health – or worse, requesting workmates check in on each other one day a year without support from management – then that’s a huge red flag.
Really, we shouldn’t have to think twice about taking a sick day when we want to look after our mental health. But if you have any doubts or simply just want to make the most of your day off, here are four tips that will come in handy.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2022/08/16/four-tips-for-taking-a-mental-health-day/
In alarming news for all workers, Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly warned yesterday that COVID case numbers will soon surpass all previous peaks.
A new study from Curtin University predicts as many as 10,000 Australians will develop lung cancer in their lifetime due to exposure to silica dust.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2022/07/19/the-deadly-dust-behind-your-kitchen-bench/
Good news for workers without paid sick leave: the Albanese Government has restored the $750 Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment.
COVID hospitalisations in Australia have soared to more than 4,000 people. The last time we saw a figure this high was in February this year during the summer Omicron outbreak.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2022/07/14/how-to-prepare-for-the-third-wave-of-covid-19/
Things don’t have to break before they can be fixed The world is waking up to the importance of workers who feel supported, safe and satisfied. Unfortunately, sometimes the business’s profitability drives this change in the workplace. The purely profit-driven approach to mental health goes something like this: Happy workers are hard workers. Hard workers…
Injured Workers Day is about fighting for concrete changes to workplace legislation and make sure every worker can go to work and get home safely.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2022/06/01/what-injured-workers-day-means-for-australians/
“We are here today to remember the dead and fight like hell for the living.”
Showing up at work shouldn’t mean putting your life at risk. But a report from the ACTU shows Morrison’s failings have endangered workers lives.
Australia has come a long way in recognising the importance of addressing workplace mental health, but there’s still a long way to go.
The best way to protect your mental health at work? Joining your union.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2022/03/22/lets-talk-about-mental-health-at-work/
Believe the experiences of women. Believe things can change.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2022/03/03/sexual-harassment-in-the-workplace-must-end-now/
Earlier this month, unions, workers, service providers and people with disability met with MPs in Canberra to call on the Morrison Government to provide the disability sector with much needed support.
It appears the political quip game is strong among frontline workers.
Finally, the news we’ve been waiting for has arrived. The Morrison government has made Rapid Antigen Tests needed for work…. tax deductible.
Ultimately, this decision provides no immediate relief for workers who have been so frantically trying to secure themselves RATs.
Have you got questions about your safety and rights at work during the Omicron variant spread?
The Morrison Government must step up to make Rapid Antigen Tests free and accessible to all. That’s why Australian Unions has launched a new television ad calling on the community to help us convince the Morrison Government to make RATs free and accessible for all. We need your help to get this ad far and…
The rapid spread of the highly infectious Omicron variant of COVID-19 comes at a time when many workplaces are unprepared. Register for this urgent meeting where Sally McManus and work and health and safety experts will provide advice and support on how to make work safe and prevent transmission.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2022/01/21/omicron-and-workplace-safety/
Thanks to the power of workers organising and hundreds of messages sent to Woolworths’ Facebook page over the weekend, every worker who has tested positive for COVID will be able to isolate, rest at home and recover.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2022/01/19/covid-positive-workers-no-longer-forced-back-to-work/
The union movement will do everything we can to keep people safe and act to slow the spread of this latest wave of the Covid pandemic.
Teys Australia will force South Australian abattoir workers who are COVID positive to report for duty at work on Monday.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2022/01/14/covid-positive-abattoir-workers-forced-back-to-work/
But if you’re in a sweat because you’re worried about leaving work due to having Covid-19 symptoms – don’t be. It’s your right.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2022/01/13/symptoms-at-work-you-have-the-right-to-leave/
Work is a significant factor in people’s mental health. We know that meaningful, rewarding, good work can impact positively on our mental health. Equally we know that issues such as high workloads, customer and client aggression and poor workplace relationships can adversely impact on workers’ mental health. Just like physical health and safety hazards, such…
Australia’s asbestos legacy still impacts thousands of people Australia’s asbestos legacy still impacts thousands of people every year.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/11/26/national-asbestos-awareness-week/
We all know it, but now we’ve got the numbers to prove it. Union workplaces are safer than non-union workplaces.
Over recent months, the global supply chain crisis has attracted increasing media attention, writes Lauren Piko
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/11/05/global-supply-chain-crisis/
Have a chat with almost any young worker and you’ll quickly find out that work/life isn’t what it used to be. Now, we have the data to prove it. The ACTU’s Work Shouldn’t Hurt report found that, of the respondents aged under 24: 3 in 10 workers have experienced sexual harassment Over a third (37%)…
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/11/04/insecure-work-young-people/
We know that insecure work can have several poor economic outcomes for workers. However, what is rarely talked about is the how safety issues, like sexual harassment, are often compounded by these exploitative business models. A new survey commissioned by the ACTU found that 26% of retail workers and 22% of health workers reported experiencing…
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/10/21/insecure-work-sexual-harassment/
As vaccination rates creep closer to the National Cabinet thresholds for economic reopening in lockdown states, many workplaces are preparing to expand their operations in a new context, writes Lauren Piko
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/10/15/reassessing-workplace-safety/
We know that insecure work is a disaster for workers, and new research by Australian Unions has revealed just how dangerous it can be. Our recent survey found that more than two thirds of insecure workers didn’t take time off when they were injured or ill. Why? Because they feared it would negatively impact their…
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/10/15/insecure-work-is-putting-people-at-risk-heres-why/
October 10 is World Mental Health Day. It’s got us thinking about the other type of mental health day and just how important it is to take one.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/10/07/take-a-mental-health-day/
A new survey has revealed mental health as the fastest growing challenge to the safety of working people in their workplaces.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/10/06/work-related-mental-health-issues/
Age discrimination in the workplace is more common than you might think. But what is it and what you can do if you experience it?
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/10/01/age-discrimination-in-the-workplace/
Australians are facing an organised campaign by far-right activists to undermine confidence in our life saving public health response, writes Sally McManus
To help protect yourself from bullying in the workplace, we explain what bullying is and isn’t, and what to do if it’s happening to you.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/09/15/are-you-being-bullied-at-work/
Healthcare workers are the irreplaceable heart of our healthcare system. They must be better supported through the surge in COVID cases, writes Lauren Piko.
Australian Unions has launched a national campaign to encourage working people to get vaccinated to support essential workers and those who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/09/08/vaccination-is-an-act-of-solidarity/
The Government must adopt the Respect@Work recommendations so no worker has to choose between their job and their safety, writes Michele O’Neil
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/08/25/a-chance-to-make-workplaces-safer/
An economic and structural reboot of the cultural sector is needed to ensure this vital sector survives the pandemic, writes Lauren Piko
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/07/30/rebooting-the-cultural-sector-is-vital/
What pandmic leave and payments are you entitled to? Check this list prepared by the Australian Council of Trade Unions.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/07/02/covid-19-pandemic-leave-and-payments/
Australian Unions answers key questions you may have about the vaccination program and your workers’ rights
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/07/01/vaccinations-your-questions-answered/
The Morrison Government’s bungled vaccination rollout has put workers and vulnerable people at potentionally deadly risk, writes Chloe Ward.
A new report released by independent think tank Per Capita shows an increase to the minimum wage is critical to Australia’s economic recovery
Workplace mental health issues are costing the economy $200-220 billion per year. Changes to safety laws will be good for workers and the economy.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/05/14/the-cost-of-mental-health/
Working Australians are counting on Minister Cash to better protect them from mental health hazards, writes Chloe Ward
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/05/07/vote-to-protect-workers-mental-health/
For a Prime Minister who’s big on announcements, Scott Morrison has been strangely quiet about the vaccine rollout amongst care workers.
Australian Unions has joined together with a diverse group of organisations representing women’s rights to demand the Morrison Government deliver real safety at work for women.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/04/14/safe-work-4-women/
When former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins shared her account of sexual assault in the workplace, it sent shockwaves through Parliament and the wider community.
But for many women, what emerged from the headlines was a distressingly familiar story of toxic workplace cultures, unacceptable tolerance of sexual harassment, and a complete failure of those in charge to protect victims.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/02/22/what-to-do-if-you-are-sexually-harassed-at-work/
End the uncertainty and anxiety about the future of JobKeeper.
That was the message from ACTU Secretary, Sally McManus, to Scott Morrison on ABC TV’s “Insiders” yesterday.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2021/02/15/end-jobkeeper-uncertainty/
Shadow Minister for Education and Training, the Hon.Tanya Plibersek MP, says investment in cheaper, cleaner renewable energy is a “no brainer” as we begin our COVID-19 recovery.
Buy Australian, from manufacturers who provide safe conditions and pay their workers properly. That’s the message from workers who are making face masks in unprecedented numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Order your Australian Unions face masks here. At the start of the pandemic, global demand for masks for medical and personal use spiked. With international…
When business restrictions were introduced to slow the spread of COVID-19, Amy* found herself amongst the thousands of workers in Australia without work.
“It all changed so quickly. One week I was told to work from home and then the next week, I was stood down,” she said.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2020/08/17/got-questions-about-your-work-rights-during-covid-19/
In what’s been an already devasting year, it’s fair to say Victorians have had an especially rough week.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2020/08/10/paid-pandemic-leave-what-is-it-and-why-do-we-need-it/
Michele O’Neil interviewed young workers and how they were affected by COVID-19.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2020/07/22/in-conversation-young-workers/
After tribunal rejection, ACTU doubles down on paid pandemic leave for all.
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2020/07/09/paid-pandemic-leave-for-all/
Read the full article here
Employers should always make the health and wellbeing of employees a priority for their business. When facing something as unprecedented as COVID-19, this has never been more critical. The following businesses have been nominated by workers across Australia as granting access to special paid sick leave and additional support*, which is fundamental to ensuring the safety…
On April 28th each year across the globe we take a moment to remember those who have died at work and recommit ourselves to making work safe. Over many years unions and their members have struggled to make work safer and we have done a great job but still too many people die at work or…
https://www.australianunions.org.au/2018/04/10/workers-memorial-day/
The gender pay gap now at its lowest point ever at 11.5%. If we continue to progress as we are, the gender pay gap in Australia could close completely within nine years.
In Australia, your rights as a worker can differ when it comes to your type of employment, especially when it comes to your health and safety, job security, wages and entitlements on the job.
