Jobs - the key debate at AWU National Conference next week

28 January 2009

Australia's oldest union, and our biggest blue collar union, will hold its National Conference next week in Queensland - at the same time Parliament returns to Canberra.

" Jobs will be front and centre of debate for delegates attending the Australian Workers' Union national conference and for  politicians returning to Federal Parliament ," Paul Howes AWU National Secretary, said today.

Delegates to debate the jobs emergency hurting our cities and regions

" Our union, our nation, has to face up to the jobs emergency we are confronting. 

" The nearly 300 delegates and observers attending our national conference come from across Australia, and know the hurt that our cities and regions are suffering because of the global financial crisis."

Key speakers to address National Conference

Conference delegates will hear from the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson, on Sunday evening ( Feb 1) at 6.30pm.

The AWU national conference, at Jupiters Resort in Queensland, will go through till Thursday February 5.

Possible media highlights of the AWU conference

• Minister Ferguson address on Sunday February 1, 2009 - 6.30 pm

• National Secretary, Paul Howes, address Monday February 2, 2009 - 11 am

• Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, conference address Monday February 2 - 11.30 am

• National Secretary, Paul Howes, appears before Senate Inquiry into Fuel and Energy Monday February 2, 2009 - 1.15 pm

• Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, address Tuesday February 3 - 9.30 am

• Business Council of Australia President, Greg Gailey, address Tuesday February 3, 2009 -1.45 pm

• ACTU Secretary, Jeff Lawrence, address Wednesday February 4, 2009 - 10 am

• His Eminence Cardinal George Pell address Wednesday February 4, 2009 - 11.45 am

Conference Agenda

Any changes to the agenda will be notified on the AWU website  at a special AWU National Conference 2009 webpage.

The AWU hopes to place many of the speeches, videos, media releases and resolutions up onto the special AWU National Conference 2009 webpage as soon as they are available.