45% of gig workers earn less than minimum wage

45% of gig workers earn less than minimum wage

Almost half Australia’s transport gig economy workers earn less than minimum wage despite working long hours in unsafe conditions. A landmark report released this month by the McKell Institute in conjunction with the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) highlights several...
Harmony Week 2023: Everyone Belongs

Harmony Week 2023: Everyone Belongs

The importance of inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic backgrounds, is the focus of Harmony Week. This year Harmony Week falls between Tuesday, 14 March and Tuesday, 21 March 2023. Tuesday, 21 March is also the...
New RAP aims to Close the Industrial Gap

New RAP aims to Close the Industrial Gap

Our union’s latest Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) has launched following its official endorsement by Reconciliation Australia. IEU Branch Secretary and caretaker of our union’s RAP Terry Burke said the new RAP builds on previous reconciliation work and the latest...
Working to keep employee data safe

Working to keep employee data safe

Our union is working to ensure the protection and security of workers’ data by employers in the wake of increasing data breaches and cyber-attacks in our sector and the Australian community. IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke said data protection was critical to...
New laws create real change for workers

New laws create real change for workers

With the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill now law, IEU members now have greater opportunity to bargain for better wages, have greater equity in the workplace and start to tackle insecure work. IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke said the passing of the Secure Jobs,...
Staff fired and re-hired in penalty rate ploy

Staff fired and re-hired in penalty rate ploy

Around 700 casual workers were fired and promptly re-hired just before Australia Day to avoid penalty rates.  Casual staff of Mantle Group, which runs venues including the Brisbane Pig ‘n’ Whistle chain, Jimmy’s On The Mall and James Squire brewhouse, claim they were...
History made on IR law

History made on IR law

In an historic moment for union members across the country, the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill is now law – allowing millions of working people to bargain for better wages, have greater equity at work, and start to tackle insecure work. The Bill passed last week (2...
New laws to prevent sexual harassment

New laws to prevent sexual harassment

Employers would be required to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment under new legislation. The federal government’s Respect@Work Bill seeks to implement more of the landmark Respect@Work report recommendations. The proposed legislation would place...
New laws to ensure psychological health and safety

Psychological injury cases increasing

Our union has recently supported a number of IEU members with psychological injuries through WorkCover claims, particularly in high-risk educational workplaces. IEU Industrial Officer Melanie Stellmacher said no matter the workplace, employers owe a duty of care to...
Historic day for workers

Historic day for workers

The federal government’s Jobs Summit kicking off in Canberra on 1 September could herald in a new era for workers. With a touted agenda of improving working conditions, boosting wages, addressing skills shortages and closing gender gaps, the summit provides the real...
Redundancies by stealth still rampant

Redundancies by stealth still rampant

Members should be aware of insidious tactics used by some employers who are shamefully giving their staff “redundancies by stealth”. IEU-QNT Industrial Officer Dan Wilson said a recent shameful example was of a member who had worked 24 hours per week for 16 years,...
60 days more work for same pay

60 days more work for same pay

On Monday, the typical Australian woman reached an unhappy milestone – the additional days after the financial year they needed to work to earn the same as a man. This year the gap is 60 days, representative of a national gender pay gap of 14.1%. The average male...
School leaders’ health survey reinforces education sector crisis

Employer threatens staff over refusal to volunteer

University staff at RMIT have been threatened over their refusal to volunteer for unpaid work. Last month RMIT staff were urged by Vice Chancellor Alec Cameron to volunteer their time at upcoming university open days. The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)...
Nuclear bargaining tactic misused by employers

Nuclear bargaining tactic misused by employers

Employers threatening to terminate collective agreements and force workers onto minimum Award conditions has become shamefully commonplace. Svitzer – Australia’s largest tugboat operator – is the latest employer to threaten this nuclear bargaining tactic in a move...
Members’ voices reach Canberra

Members’ voices reach Canberra

IEU members’ voices have been heard loud and clear in Canberra following a delegation of members to Parliament House last week. The two days of action, organised by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), saw a delegation of 90 union members meet with 92 MPs...
Sadly wage theft still on the menu

Sadly wage theft still on the menu

Despite numerous high-profile cases, egregious examples of wage theft continue to be unearthed. A Brisbane sushi restaurant has been ordered to pay $355,000 in penalties after deliberately underpaying 34 employees and falsifying records during a Fair Work Ombudsman...