Award system lets down women and carers

Award system lets down women and carers

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has outlined a suite of changes needed to improve Australia’s employment Awards to better reflect the needs of a contemporary workforce. Awards are the legal documents that outline the minimum pay rates and conditions of...
Reproductive health is a union issue

Reproductive health is a union issue

The Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) is calling for new laws that provide up to 10 days of paid leave for workers to treat and manage conditions related to reproductive health. QCU General Secretary Jacqueline King said the It’s For Every Body campaign wants new...
Labour Day/May Day celebrations 2024

Labour Day/May Day celebrations 2024

In 2024, Labour Day/May Day celebrations will take place across the long weekend of 4-6 May. This annual event is both an important reminder not to forget those who fought hard for decent and fair working conditions in Australia, as well as a celebration of their...
Tesla workers take industrial action in Sweden

Tesla workers take industrial action in Sweden

Elon Musk, CEO of electric car giant Tesla, is in dispute with Swedish workers and their unions after more than two months of strikes. This represents the first cases of industrial action against Tesla anywhere in the world, with ten Swedish unions so far taking...
Increase in parental leave welcomed

Increase in parental leave welcomed

In a significant step towards promoting family well-being and gender equality in the workforce, the Australian government has introduced legislation to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks by 2026. IEU-QNT Assistant Secretary Rebecca Sisson said the landmark move...
Major parts of Closing Loopholes Bill passed by Parliament

Closing Loopholes Bill blocked

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) have called on employer lobby groups, the Federal Opposition and Crossbench Senators to remove the roadblocks they have placed in the way of the Closing Loopholes Bill advancing in Parliament. The Bill was designed to...
Member action secures paid PD time

Member action secures paid PD time

IEU members at a Queensland Catholic school have been allocated paid time to complete compulsory professional development (PD) after previously being expected to complete it in their personal time.    Organiser Mary May said members at the school had, for a number of...
IEU support secures long service leave payment

IEU support secures long service leave payment

Our union’s advocacy has led to a member being paid out their long service leave (LSL) entitlement upon termination, despite the employer trying to withhold it. Industrial Services Officer Mark Moorhead said recent industrial cases where employers were trying to do...
Skyrocketing profits prompt price gouge claims

Skyrocketing profits prompt price gouge claims

Big businesses are enjoying record profits while ordinary Australians struggle to cope with crippling cost-of-living pressures. This month alone has brought announcements of a $1 billion profit for Coles (up 4.8%), a $1 billion profit for Origin Energy (up 83.5%) and...
Chef exposes equal pay shame

Chef exposes equal pay shame

A Melbourne chef proved she was paid $15,000 less than male colleagues, yet her former employer won’t be held to account. Elena Sabbatini told The Age she “gave pretty much everything” for her job at Peter Rowland Group, an upmarket caterer based in Docklands. Ten...
Transitioning to retirement

Transitioning to retirement

Retirement from the workforce marks an exciting and significant milestone in a worker’s lifetime, and our union is here to support members through the process. Before deciding to transition to retirement, members should carefully consider their preferred timeframes,...
What to do with a 4-cent cheque?

What to do with a 4-cent cheque?

Cheque payments of 4 cents for royalty rights abound and coupled with the threat of jobs losses to the use artificial intelligence (AI), members of the Screen Actors Guild have moved to strike action. The phenomenon of actors receiving measly cheques for residual...
Systemic underpayment rife in universities

Systemic underpayment rife in universities

An $8 million underpayment of University of Wollongong (UOW) staff reflects a systemic culture of wage theft in the sector. UOW self-reported to the Fair Work Ombudsman after identifying underpayment of casual staff dating back to 2016. The Vice Chancellor of UOW,...
Corporate profits driving inflation

Corporate profits driving inflation

International research by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has found corporate profits have contributed far more to Australia’s drive in inflation through the past year than wage growth or employee costs. According to the report,...
Crackdown on exploitation of migrant workers

Crackdown on exploitation of migrant workers

New laws announced by the federal government will make it a criminal offence to exploit migrant workers by coercing them to breach visa conditions or accept exploitative practices. Employers will also be banned from hiring any new visa holders for a period of time if...
Death of delivery rider reflective of industry in need of reform

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,...