AEU - Offer Falls Short of Fair Deal for Public Schools
The AEU has given consideration to the State Government's revised offer for public education and concluded it falls well short of what is needed, stating the salary offer is inadequate and poorly structured.

The government is asking educators to accept a deal that would potentially compromise the quality of public education in this state.  AEU members have shown no interest in accepting an inferior pay offer or the defunding of schools.  The AEU said if education is really a priority area for government, then the Government need to do better than this for our preschools, schools and TAFE. 

The AEU says that despite the government's claim that schools will receive the 'same or more' funding, its analysis is that the proposal is significantly underfunded and some schools will lose money.

Show your support for the teachers - visit the AEU website >>....

Paid Maternity Leave - Due Date 12 May, 2009
We need a national scheme for paid maternity leave delivered in the next Federal Budget- May 12, 2009.  We have waited far too long for Australia to have what most other countries of the world have. Even the Productivity Commission supports it now! >...read on

Making Poverty History for Cleaners
SA Unions with ACTU President, Sharan Burrow will mark world anti-poverty day with some good news for cleaners.

Cleaners are amongst the lowest paid workers in the nation, and have been running a "clean start" campaign to achieve better wages and conditions.

Janet Giles said "cleaners are usually on minimum wages and work long hours.  Their efforts are crucial for community health and well being and it is important that we properly value them. That's where the 'clean start' campaign comes in".

The campaign will see employers sign up to the 'clean start' principles.  It means workers get fair wages and conditions, quality of work increases and employers see improved productivity.  It is a win for workers, a win for employers and a win for building tenants who have the benefit of cleaner premises.  For more information visit the Clean Start Campaign Website.

Ensuring a Socially Just Mining Boom
SA Unions says the business lobby is out of touch with its outrageous comments suggesting the mining industry has no obligation to contribute to the state's social growth.  Companies like BHP Billiton, which this week posted a 417.6 billion profit - nearly double our state's total annual exports of $10.6 billion - have a huge capacity to contribute and work with South Australia to show the world that a socially just mining boom is achievable.

State Wage Case - Low Paid Workers Awarded Increase
SA Unions has welcomed the South Australian Industrial Relations Commission's decision to award the state's lowest paid workers an extra $24.50 a week, bringing the the minimum wage to $546.65 a week.  This shows the IRC's are more receptive to workers' needs than the Australian Fair Pay Commission.

IRC's around the country have awarded their workers rises above the AFPC level and now SA has too, again demonstrating the inadequacy of the AFPC."

ABBC - How does it affect Construction Workers?
The Australian Building and Construction Commission or ABBC was established by the Howard Govt in 2005 in response to the Cole Royal Commission into corruption in the building industry. Catherine Zengerer from Your Rights at Night Radio Show investigates the history of the ABCC, talks to a union delegate to find out how workers in the construction industry are affected by the laws that apply only to workers in that industry, and to ACTU Secretary, Jeff Lawrence, to find out what the ACTU's response is to the ALP's position that the ABCC will remain in force until at least 2010.

Equal Opportunity Campaign

The Government's Equal Opportunity Bill is currently being considered by the Liberal party room.  It is important that members of the community lobby their local Members of Parliament, and other important Liberal figures, to ensure that this legislation is passed.  Key changes include caring responsibilities; broadening the definition of disability to cover mental illness; strengthening sexual harassment provisions.  Please support the campaign by lobbying Liberals to have your voice heard.  Read on>

Libs Still Clinging to the Carcass of WorkChoices

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council David Ridgway has revealed his support for one of the worst elements of the discredited WorkChoices law, Australian Workplace Agreements.  This shows WorkChoices may be dead, but the Liberals continue to cling to its rotting carcass. Read on>

National Wage Case Decision : $21.66 a week

The national decision to award minimum wage earners a $21.66 a week wage rise has encouraged SA Unions to push ahead for its original $26 a week application.  The recent interest rate rises, the soaring cost of fuel and cost of living needs to be recognised in our application  to grant $26 a week to help struggling South Australians make ends meet. Read on>

WorkCover Campaign

Nobody asks to be injured at work - if you have a serious injury you need all the help you can get to return to work. 

SA Unions will fight for injured workers against the planned cuts to injured workers pay and rights by the Rann government.  Read on>

Paid Maternity Leave Campaign

SA Unions has told a Productivity Commission Inquiry in Adelaide the the state must possibly double its paid maternity leave provisions to be nationally competitive.

Strongly supporting a national PML scheme as essential for ensuring all workplaces understand the advances of PML, and particularly its value in convincing small and medium businesses to adopt uniform Paid Maternity Leave. Read on>

SA Unions Claim for Increase for Lower Paid

SA Unions has lodged a claim for a $26 a week increase for the state's lowest paid workers.  It seeks to have the minimum standard of remuneration rise from $522.15 a week to $548.15 a week.

And increased pay is being sought for apprentices.  Currently an apprentice can receive as little as 37% of the adult trade rate.  A claim has been lodged seeking to make the minimum payable to apprentices no less than 55% of the adult rate. Read on>

Mitsubishi Closure

SA Unions says 1000 Mitsubishi workers have become the victim of disgraceful corporate behaviour, in the wake of the company's decision to close its Tonsley Park operations.  Read on>

Employers on Notice - '08 The Year of Safety

It has been a bad start to 2008 for worker safety, with two workers killed as a result of workplace injuries in the past week.  Worker safety will be a major focus for SA Unions for 2008, and that no worker should sacrifice their life for their job.  SA Unions warns employers are on notice - we want everyone working together to create safe workplaces, and irresponsible employers must be held to account.   Read on>

If you are a Health and Safety Representative make sure you attend OHS&W Training for details go to>

Time Now for Genuine Negotiation

The AMIEU is urging management of an Adelaide Hills abattoir company to enter into genuine negotiations with the union to achieve an equitable workplace agreement for its 300 employees, following the comprehensive rejection of the company's proposed workchoices agreement.
More > [9/10/07]

While Joe Hockey gets egg-on-his face with the embarrassing revelation that the roundly rejected workchoices agreement for the abattoir actually passed the federal government's "fairness" test, despite lowering wages, increasing working hours, reducing job security and stripping back rights.
More > [12/10/07]