UnionsWA has welcomed the announcement today by the McGowan Government to increase penalties for those that break WA work health and safety laws, which protect the vast majority of working West Australians.

The Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia and UnionsWA have today unveiled a plaque at the Remembrance Wall in Perth’s Solidarity Park and plans for a permanent memorial at the park to remember the victims, survivors and families that to affected by the asbestos disaster at Wittenoom.

Following the recent close of submissions by the McGowan Government on changes work health and safety laws in WA, UnionsWA has called for a major overhaul of our outdated laws.

UnionsWA, as part of the Australian Council of Trade Union Change The Rules campaign, has today commented on the need for urgent change to address the chronic lack of pay rises for working West Australians. This follows a major door-knocking effort undertaken today by union members and supporters in the key Liberal-held federal electorates of Pearce and Swan in WA. 

UnionsWA has commented on the release today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics of new data that shows the difference in ordinary full time pay for women and men in Western Australia. As evidence mounts on the need for greater pay increases for all working people, this data highlights the urgent need for pay rises across those jobs mostly filled by women.

UnionsWA has commented on the release today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics of its Wage Price Index series and together with data released last week on living costs for employee households. These highlight a trend of wages failing to keep pace with costs, particularly so for working people in WA on low wages and others on fixed incomes.

UnionsWA has today commented on the release by the McGowan Government of major report recommending urgently needed reforms to work health and safety laws in WA.  These laws cover workplaces for the vast majority of working West Australians and are essential for preventing work-related death, injury and illness.

UnionsWA has commented on the release today by the ABS of new Local Government Area data on income which shows that nationally four of the top five areas with the highest median incomes are in WA. However, WA is the only state in Australia where median incomes are falling.

UnionsWA has today commented on the decision by WA Industrial Relations Commission in the State Wage Case, which sets wages for over a hundred thousand working West Australians on the WA Minimum Wage and reliant State awards including many trainees and apprentices.

UnionsWA has today commented on submissions published overnight in the WA State Wage Case and called for a $50 per week or 6.2% pay rise for WA’s lowest paid workers and those on State Awards.