UnionsWA has commented on the release today by SafeWork Australia of its ‘Work-Related Traumatic Injury Fatalities Australian 2013’ report which shows that work deaths in WA have risen for the first time since 2006, while nationally there have been falls over the past eleven years.

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The Conservation Council of WA and UnionsWA today commented on the announcement by Rheem that it will cease manufacturing in WA, with a loss of 100 jobs, many for producing solar heating products.

UnionsWA has commented on today’s decision by the WA Industrial Relations Commission in the State Minimum Wage case.  That case affects an estimated 100,000 minimum wage and State Award reliant workers.  UnionsWA also criticised the recent announcement by Premier Barnett that his government proposes to legislate to cut weekend and after-hours pay. 

UnionsWA today welcomed an announcement by the WA Government that it has referred to the Law Reform Commission a review of compensation laws for victims of asbestos but warned that delay and detail will be key to securing justice.

UnionsWA today commented on the latest release by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) of apprentice and trainee numbers in WA that show the fall in numbers to be the worst for five years.  Recent state budget increases to training fees and funding cuts to TAFE are likely to hasten this decline.

UnionsWA today commented on submissions made public in advance of the WA State Minimum Wage case including the call by the Australian Hotels Association (WA) for the minimum wage to be frozen in WA.

How can it be that WA has a first rate economy but second rate government finances?

Many hold as faith that the downgrading of the financial ratings for the WA Government is the result of Canberra ripping off our GST and there being too many over-paid public sector workers.

But are these views based on myth or reality?

Following the May Day march through Fremantle today UnionsWA released new data estimating the impact in WA of proposed cuts to the minimum wage and of relocation of long term unemployed youth.  UnionsWA and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) called on the Abbott Government to immediately reject these proposals from the recent Commission of Audit Report.

Western Australia 9 – 13 June 2014

Many Australian unions are engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members and communities through their representative structures, industrial campaigns and multilateral employment and community agreements.