Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)

Fair Work agrees to undermine fast food award

The Fair Work Commission has ruled in favour of McDonald’s bid to waive overtime rates and set shifts for part-timers under the fast food award, reports Jim McIlroy and Pip Hinman.

Unions, community oppose efforts to cut McDonald's workers’ wages

A protest against McDonald's efforts to undermine the award of already underpaid workers was organised in Sydney, reports Jim McIlroy.

Three essential measures to make workplaces COVID-19 safe

The return to work must be accompanied by measures to make workplaces safe and ensure JobKeeper cannot be rorted, writes Fred Fuentes.

Migrant workers protesting

Reject Keneally’s dog whistle politics on migrant workers

Labor’s immigration spokesperson Kristina Keneally wants a post COVID-19 migration policy that privileges skilled workers. Pip Hinman argues that this calculated intervention is both racist and dangerous.

Morrison’s COVID-19 response puts profits ahead of people

While the JobKeeker allowance is significant, the package has a number of major weaknesses, writes Lisbeth Latham.

JobKeeper package leaves a million workers behind

The federal government’s JobKeeper package will be a relief for about 6 million workers, but more than a million workers will be left to fend for themselves, writes Jim McIlroy.

Morrison’s COVID-19 wage subsidy fails workers

After explicitly ruling them out, the federal government has now announced it will legislate for wage subsidy packages. Lisbeth Latham takes a critical look at what's on offer.

Working communities must not be made to pay for COVID-19 crisis

As COVID-19 spreads globally, and the threat of widespread community transmission becomes more real, it has become clear the new coronavirus poses not only a major health risk but a significant threat to the livelihoods of millions of workers, writes Lisbeth Latham.

Rights for workers means no going soft on Hansonism

The Coalition’s union-busting Ensuring Integrity Bill failed to pass after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson changed her position. But Sam Wainwright writes that it reveals a serious strategic and political weakness in the union movement.

ACTU calls on unions to step up support for refugees

Australian Council of Trade Union’s president Michele O’Neil told an October 2 forum that the Coalition government’s attacks on refugees is a distraction from its failure to act on low wages, insecure work and climate change.

Will the huge student-led Climate Strike be a game changer?

While estimates of the size of the Climate Strike in Australia vary, one thing is certain: many generations want real action to deal with climate change — and they want it now.

ACTU announces its support for September 20 climate strike

Ahead of this Friday’s global climate strikes, the Australian Council of Trade Unions has released a statement of support for students striking from school for climate action. The ACTU joins more than 30 Australian unions that have endorsed the School Strike for Climate movement.