Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)

Unions call on Labor to support ceasefire, send more aid to Gaza

One by one, Australian unions are joining the global call for a ceasefire, placing pressure on Labor to stand on the right side of history. Kerry Smith reports.

ACTU supports CFMEU call to ban engineered stone

The ACTU has decided to support the CFMEU ban and take steps to end the use of engineered stone by mid 2024 if government bans are not already in place. Jim McIlroy reports.

Labor’s casual worker reforms need to go further

The Australian Council of Trade Unions has welcomed Labor’s plan to give casual workers the option of permanent work rights. Others say more needs to be done to resolve the “casual problem”. Jim McIlroy reports.

Unions step up push for ‘same job, same pay’ rule

Unions want Labor to change the law to stop bosses from misusing labour hire clauses to reduce pay rates, and have launched a campaign to get it done. Jim McIlroy reports.

Report: Real minimum wages have fallen to 2017 levels

Blaming wages for inflation is cover for the capitalists’ attempts to make working people shoulder the cost of their system’s chronic periodic economic crises, argues Peter Boyle.

Unions, health organisations call for total ban on silica products

Building industry unions and health groups are calling a total ban on the construction industry using engineered stone bench tops which contain silica. Jim McIlroy reports.

the money for nuclear subs could instead be spent on public health and education

ACTU, NSW Teachers Federation question AUKUS nuclear submarines

The Australian Council of Trade Unions and the NSW Teachers' Federation are concerned about the rise in militarism linked with the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal. Pip Hinman reports.

Labor’s new industrial relations bill attacks the lowest paid

Federal Labor has been spruiking its new industrial relations laws as being the vehicle to miraculously improve wages. Josh Cullinan argues why that is not the case.

Cost of living

Working people have been dudded by Labor’s budget

For those of us forced to live with it, Labor’s first budget since 2013 is both a missed opportunity and a threat of worse things to come, argues Graham Matthews.

Optus data breach exposes surveillance capitalism

The media’s attention is largely focused on personal data and privacy, but we need to examine what data is being collected, how it is being used and better systems to protect personal data, argues Vivien Miley.

Childcare workers strike for pay, conditions in ‘largest shutdown’ ever

Thousands of childcare workers walked out across the country as part of their campaign for better pay and conditions. Jim McIlroy reports.

Where to after the Jobs and Skills Summit?

The union movement faces big challenges in ensuring that any changes to bargaining extends workplace rights and protections. Sarah Hathway reports.