19,03,24 | Equity, Workers' rights
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...
12,03,24 | Equity, Member action, Workers' rights
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...
07,03,24 | Equity, Union win, Workers' rights
Australian unions have welcomed the federal government’s announcement that superannuation will be paid on top of government paid parental leave from 1 July 2025. Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Assistant Secretary Joseph Mitchell said the paying of...
29,02,24 | Reconciliation, Workers' rights
Our union and the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) have released landmark industrial guidelines to establish just and fair benchmarks for the employment of First Nations education workers. The publication of the guidelines is the latest phase in our union’s campaign...
27,02,24 | Collective bargaining, Member action, Member benefits, Union win, Workers' rights
Australian unions have welcomed news working people’s wages are finally rising after years of going backwards. It comes as the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported last week that wages rose by more than the annual inflation rate for the first time since...
20,02,24 | Workers' rights
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...
15,02,24 | Union win, Workers' rights
Our union has welcomed and commended the ‘right to disconnect’ being enshrined in legislation as part of the Closing Loopholes Bill. The new laws represent a major win for IEU members facing unrelenting workloads in schools. Independent Education Union – Queensland...
09,02,24 | Union win, Workers' rights
The cumulative effect of these legislative reforms represents the biggest changes to workplace laws in the last 25 years and goes a long way to restoring fairness and a level playing field for employees. Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Sally...
06,02,24 | Collective bargaining, Member action, Workers' rights
IEU members working in Toowoomba Catholic primary schools are leading by example to make use of important new provisions to tackle workload. Darling Downs IEU Organiser Matt Kliese said it was impressive local Chapters were proactively preparing to establish the Local...
06,02,24 | Industrial advice, Workers' rights
Toowoomba Catholic Education and Downlands College have sought leave from the High Court of Australia to appeal against last year’s Federal Court decision that two former teachers were entitled to pay increases contained in new collective agreements despite resigning...
06,02,24 | Union win, Workers' rights
An IEU member who had been on a fixed-term contract for three years has secured a continuing (permanent) position thanks to IEU support and changes to legislation. IEU Industrial Services Officer Mark Moorhead said the member was initially placed on another one year...
06,02,24 | Workers' rights
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...
01,02,24 | Workers' rights, Workplace Health and Safety (WHS)
Half of workers in insecure jobs have continued working while sick or injured, according to new research from the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). Fifty-two per cent of respondents to the 2023 ACTU’s Work Shouldn’t Hurt Survey reportedly continued to work...
07,12,23 | Union win, Workers' rights
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Sally McManus said the union movement welcomed the passing of major parts of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023, which comes as an early Christmas present for working people. “The...
14,11,23 | Collective bargaining, Member action, Workers' rights
The passing of new legislation that would get wages moving and help restore the rights of working people is being blocked in Parliament following a shameful campaign by big business. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Sectary Sally McManus said the Closing...
31,10,23 | Equity, Workers' rights
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...
10,10,23 | Industrial advice, Workers' rights
Our union has seen an increase in the frequency of non-compete clauses in employment contracts. In a worrying trend, IEU-QNT Industrial Services Officer Melanie Stellmacher says employers across all sectors were increasingly using restraint-of-trade, otherwise known...
04,10,23 | Workers' rights
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...
29,08,23 | Union win, Workers' rights
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...
29,08,23 | Union win, Workers' rights
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...
28,08,23 | Workers' rights
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...
28,08,23 | Equity, Workers' rights
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...
11,08,23 | Collective bargaining, Hear Our Voice, Workers' rights
In an Australian first, thousands of Queensland Catholic school employees in over 100 schools are set to lose a full day’s pay for taking a five-minute work stoppage and a range of limited work bans on Tuesday, 15 August 2023. IEU-QNT Branch Secretary Terry Burke said...
09,08,23 | Industrial advice, Workers' rights
Our union’s support has helped a member transition to retirement after their employer gave them incorrect advice. The member was interested in a reduction from five to three working days per week as part of a transition to retirement, as they are entitled to under...
07,08,23 | Collective bargaining, Member action, Workers' rights
Nurses employed by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS) in Queensland are fighting for better pay rates, with most currently receiving more than 25% less than colleagues in public and private hospitals. Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union (QNMU)...
07,08,23 | Industrial advice, Workers' rights
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,...
07,06,23 | Industrial advice, Workers' rights
Our union’s advocacy has led to an employer quickly withdrawing their direction for an IEU member to undergo an independent medical examination (IME) as part of their return to work. Industrial Services Officer Melanie Stellmacher said several recent industrial cases...
30,03,23 | Industrial advice, Workers' rights
The responsibility for schools to provide a psychologically safe workplace for employees may expand following the publication of Safe Work Australia’s new model code of practice Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work, as Rachel Drew and Aiyana O’Meara from Holding...
07,12,22 | Industrial advice, Workers' rights
Starting a new job comes with dozens of small admin tasks that can slip through the cracks but could have lasting implications if not rectified, such as forgetting to let your employer know about any prior qualifications or professional experience. Under most...
05,12,22 | Union win, Workers' rights
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...
01,11,22 | Early childhood, Union win, Workers' rights
The support of our union has helped secure significant redundancy payments for two members employed in the early childhood education sector. Earlier this year, an employer advised staff working at the Queensland kindergarten of a major workplace change: that they...
15,06,22 | Member action, Workers' rights
The right to a safe and healthy work environment is now enshrined int the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO’s) framework of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. The right to a healthy and safe workplace was adopted as a new fundamental right at this...
17,05,22 | Member action, Workers' rights, Workplace Health and Safety (WHS)
Recent wet weather and unseasonably high levels of humidity across Queensland has led to an increase in the prevalence of mould being reported at school sites. Members should be aware of the dangers associated with mould in the workplace and ensure their IEU chapter...
17,05,22 | Union win, Workers' rights
In an historic move more than 2.5 million additional workers will receive paid family and domestic violence (FDV) leave. An in-principle decision from industrial umpire, the Fair Work Commission (FWC), will see 10 days’ paid FDV leave included in modern awards. The...
16,03,22 | Beginning Educators (BEnet), Union win, Workers' rights
An employer’s attempt to discriminate on the basis of a medical injury was thwarted after assistance from our union’s experienced Industrial Services Team. The member, a university student in the final stage of their teaching degree, contacted our Industrial Services...
16,03,22 | Union win, Workers' rights
Our union’s assistance and advocacy has led to a pregnant member being reassigned to a safe job where she is performing alternative duties for the duration of her pregnancy. The classroom teacher was advised by her doctor that pregnant women are at increased risk of...
19,11,21 | Equity, Industrial advice, Workers' rights
The new Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Act 2021 (the Act) aims to combat the prevalence of sexual harassment in Australia by clarifying and simplifying sexual harassment laws and encouraging meaningful cultural change in workplaces, as...
04,03,21 | Member action, Teachers, Workers' rights
IEU members have reported employers who are placing inappropriate requirements on teachers who are sick. Organiser Caryl Rosser said unfortunately, some employers were asking staff who were on sick leave to send through a copy of all their planning for the day. “When...
