Federal Election: Your Working Rights at stake
If your working rights and that of your family and friends matter to you, then make sure you are fully informed about what is at stake in the upcoming federal election.
As you would likely know, the IEU(SA) does not belong to, or pay money to, political parties. This is true of all our state and territory branches and our federal office.
This allows us to campaign on any issue and be critical of any political party.
But not operating in the political landscape is a political decision and to not to be involved would be a disservice to you as a member and to the education profession. It is only through member action and political engagement that we get meaningful change.
Many Australians are disillusioned about what political parties offer, and at times, party policies can be indistinguishable.
There is a distinct policy difference for Industrial Relations and Worker Rights
I have written many articles before, discussing the level of engagement and legislative change from the current Labor government that we haven’t previously experienced. There have been significant gains achieved for you.
These reforms include:
- ‘Right to disconnect’ – we are seeing meaningful changes around expectations from schools about how and when you can be contacted and when it is reasonable to reply
- Delegates (Reps) Rights including paid training. Our recent training has been well attended by Reps, where previously there was no leave available
- Multi-employer Bargaining Rights – you now are able to bargain across multiple employers for better pay and conditions
- Pay improvements for Early Childhood Education and Care Educators.
- More rights for casuals and a path to permanent employment
- Wage theft penalised – increases in fines and criminalisation for the worst examples
- Banning pay secrecy clauses – so that people can discuss and compare how much they earn
- Removal of the $450 threshold on superannuation
- Stronger laws to stop sexual harassment and discrimination
- Improved equal pay laws
- Stopped employers cancelling agreements during bargaining
- Limits to fixed term contracts
Peter Dutton and the Coalition consistently voted against these new rights, and your rights are at risk if there is a change in government.
The rights that have been won reversed years of damage
These changes have started to reverse years of damage to worker rights and wage stagnation. Many changes are new, and there hasn’t been the time to use them.
Join the collective action
We invite IEU members to be a part of the Australian Unions/SA Unions campaign.
Anyone wanting to be involved can join with other IEU(SA) members and participate in some fun activities together. Contact timo@ieusa.org.au
You can read more via SA Unions’ campaign information here: https://saunions.org.au/campaignactivities
Authorised by Tim Oosterbaan, IEU(SA) Branch Secretary, 213 Currie St Adelaide SA 5000
