ACTU thinks big with future agenda

Building on the success of the Your Rights at Work campaign, the new platform articulates a range of issues that will attract a campaign focus for affiliated unions.

Targeted issues include:

• increases to superannuation
• enahnced opportunities for training and skills development
• work/family balance initiatives
• regulation of casual employment to enhance job security
• improved consultation rights and
• a focus on climate change solutions

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the strategic plan would focus on delivering for working families while ensuring the union movement played a relevant and positive role in the wider economic policy debate.

“The union movement will be leading the way in campaigning for real wage increases for families under pressure, increases in superannuation to improve retirement incomes and other conditions such as increased skills and training commitments that will be good for workers and good for the Australian economy,” Ms Burrow said.

Meanwhile, the ACTU also released its submission to the senate committee examining the Government's workplace relations transition legislation.

Amongst other topics the submission zeroed in on the negative effects of AWAs on working Australians, especially vulnerable workers in 'at risk' sectors such as hospitality and the service industry.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow called on business around the country to "immediately stop using AWAs and respect the right of their workers to choose a collective agreement that is negotiated by their union"

Citing the current ban on new AWAs now operating in the federal public service, Ms Burrow called the continued use of AWAs by unscrupulous employers as "unethical" in the face of the "imminent" ban on AWAs once the Senate Committee process is competed and likely passage of the Government's legislation.

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