UnionsWA has today commented on the release by the Australian Bureau of Statistics of data showing a huge, 16.6%, increase in individual contractor employment in WA in just one year.  These figures fly in the face of other economic indicators and suggest growing use of sham contractor arrangements that deny working people job security, leave and basic entitlements. 

Find out the bigger story behind the scenes of this week's news. 

The front page of The West Australian on Tuesday was all about the big business paying to poll WA voters so the Liberals could argue over who gets the job of Premier of WA.

"Lib Debacle" The West Australians 23/8/16, pg 1

Two days later there was a much bigger story but you had to turn to page six to find it - the latest ABS stats on jobs and unemployment.  

Here it is if you missed it.  

"Unemployment malaise" The West Australian 25/8/16, pg 6

The count is almost over but the result is in. The Turnbull government has been returned with the slimmest of margins. However, an election is about more than just the people elected to office. It is a contest of values, issues and ideas and how these are fought out and how they come together to shape government and our society. This election was also a turning point for union members and our values.

It's time to take the lessons learned federally and turn our focus to the State Election in 2017.

UnionsWA has today responded to comments on penalty rates by Prime Minister Turnbull made during the Leader’s Debate on Facebook.

UnionsWA has today commented on a proposal by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA calling for legislative changes to remove unfair dismissal protections for those subject to drug-testing. The full statement for media follows and this is Meredith addressing media today:

It’s that time of the year when the WA Industrial Relations Commission sets the Minimum Wage.  Business has recommended that there be no increase, the Barnett Government that it increase by 1.25% and UnionsWA has recommended a 4.4% increase.

Many of the arguments by UnionsWA for an increase in the minimum wage are because the cost of living has gone up so much.  Low-paid people tend to spend much more of their income on essentials such as housing or electricity.  These costs that have been going up more than by inflation. Most of us understand this argument.

Here we want to counter some of the key myths that conservatives use to argue against improving the minimum wage.     

The longest strike in Australian history began on 1 May 1946.  The planning had begun during the war and required sophisticated organisation to coordinate hundreds of workers across vast stretches of WA's Pilbara region. The victories were numerous and far-reaching.  So why is this event almost forgotten and rarely taught or talked about today?

By Dave Oliver, Secretary, ACTU

I try not to waste time on Martin Ferguson these days but the stench of hypocrisy can, at times, overwhelm even those with the strongest stomachs. Mr Ferguson’s new found opposition to Sunday penalty rates, printed in The Australian last week, is one of those times.

UnionsWA , the Save Our Services and Use Your Power groups have, at the one-year mark out from the 11 March 2017 WA state election, announced details of a range of activities in opposition to privatisation of public services and public assets.

UnionsWA has today commented on the release by the Barnett Government of its’ Mid-Year Financial Projections Statement.