UnionsWA has commented on the release today by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) of data on apprentice and trainee numbers in WA. Over the four years from 2011 to 2015 the number of 15 to 19 year old West Australians commencing an apprenticeship or traineeship have declined from 10,500 to 7,400. 

UnionsWA has today released results of a poll, commissioned on behalf of the Save Our Services campaign, of six key marginal electorates in WA which points to a large swing against the government. The poll canvassed key issues of concern to voters, issues that will be key to deciding the election.

September 8 is Equal Pay Day and UnionsWA has highlighted the huge difference in superannuation savings of women and men and has proposed a number of urgent reforms. 

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?