UnionsWA has commented on the recent release by SafeWork Australia of the latest data on work fatalities in Australia, including WA.  These are the most reliable figures available on work fatalities and provide data on work fatality rates per 100,000 workers over five years to 2015-16. They show the fatality rate in WA worsening from 1.5 in 2011-12 to 1.7 in 2015-16. Over these years, WA is the only state or territory in Australia where the work fatality rate both deteriorated and has been worse than the national average.  

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) (WA Division) is seeking applications for a full-time, on-going Level 6 or 7 Division Industrial Officer position, which is available immediately, and an on-going Level 7 Division Industrial Officer or Level 8 Senior Industrial Officer, to commence in mid-October 2017. 

Together with the National Union of Students, UnionsWA has today, the Labour Day holiday in WA, announced details of a rally in Perth as part of a National Day of Action to fight attacks on worker’s rights, living standards, penalty rates and rising costs for health and education under the Abbott Government.

Save Our Services, a group led by UnionsWA on behalf of public sector unions and community members, has today launched the first phase in a new campaign opposing TAFE fee increases, course reductions and funding cuts.  An online video, advertising and targeting of emails to MPs will feature strongly in the lead-up to the Mid-Year Financial Statement due shortly and rumoured to include further funding cuts and cost increases.

UnionsWA has today presented at hearings for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the Taxation Legislation Amendment Bill 2014, a new Bill that proposes to discriminate against union charities to deny access to payroll tax breaks while giving these to employer charities and others.

Steve McCartney and fellow Australian Manufacturing Worker’s Union member volunteering for Feed the Little Children Inc in the Kimberley. If this Bill passes, those kids get less.

UnionsWA has commented on the delayed introduction into the WA  Parliament today of a Green Bill that will weaken work health and safety and criticised the Barnett Government for stating it will follow the lead of Tony Abbott in a review to further weaken national protections.

UnionsWA has questioned today’s announcement by the Barnett Government that it will sell public land estimated to be worth a quarter of a billion dollars.

UnionsWA today commented on the release by the Australian Bureau of Statistics of new data that shows the difference in pay between women and men in Western Australia is the worst in the country. 

UnionsWA today criticised the Barnett Government for holding yet another consultation process over work health and safety law reform.

UnionsWA today commented on the Perth presentation by Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, on the National Review into Pregnancy and Return to Work.

The report found that one in every two Australian women face pregnancy discrimination at work.  32% of mothers who experienced discrimination due to pregnancy either sought other work or resigned and 18% where dismissed, made redundant or had their jobs restructured during pregnancy.