December 2003
AWU Delegates to Tackle Drugs & Alcohol in the Workplace
Over 50 AWU members from across Tasmania will meet tomorrow to discuss strategies to tackle the contentious issue of Drugs & Alcohol in the workplace.
ACCC Gives Green Light to Construction Duopoly
The Australian Workers’ Union has today said that higher taxes and increased road tolls will result from the ACCC’s decision to allow the proposed acquisition of Abigroup Limited by Bilfinger Berger AG (owner of Baulderstone Hornibrook).
Seasons Greetings from the AWU
On behalf of the Officials and Staff of The Australian Workers’ Union I would like to take this opportunity to wish all members, delegates and their families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
AWU Campaigns for Gippsland Road Workers Entitlements
Australian Workers’ Union National Secretary Bill Shorten will join with workers from the Gippsland based road contractor Eastern Road Profiling today at the company’s first creditors meeting in Sale to campaign for lost entitlements owed to approximately 50 workers.
Pipeline Workers Stopwork in Desert
Over 150 pipeline workers in a Desert Camp 200 kilometres east of Port Hedland have stopped work after several of their workmates collapsed suffering heat exhaustion on Saturday.
November 2003
Workplace Fatality in North-East Victoria
The Australian Workers’ Union has launched an investigation into the death of one of its members employed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment in Eldon near Alexandria.
AWU Welcomes Pan Pharmaceuticals Sale
The Australian Workers’ Union today welcomed news that Pan Pharmaceuticals will be purchased by the Sydney based pharmaceutical manufacturer Tabco Pty. Ltd.
Update on Ansett Superannuation Settlement
On Friday 21st November 2003, an in-principle agreement had been reached with the Trustees of the Ansett Ground Employees Superannuation Fund and the Ansett Administrators, concerning the 18 months of litigation regarding a shortfall of $175 million.
Farmers seek to divide rural communities
The Australian Workers’ Union has expressed its disappointment at the actions of the National Farmers’ Federation in the wake of a decision from the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) concerning pay increases for drought affected workers.
Concrete Workers Strike for Entitlements Protection
Over fifty workers employed by Rocla Concrete Pipes began a week long strike yesterday in protest over the company’s refusal to allow independent checks of Rocla’s financial health.
AWU to tackle Indigenous living conditions
The Australian Workers Union says it will be working towards achieving better living conditions for Indigenous people in the Kimberley, in north-west Western Australia, to improve Aboriginal employment levels.
October 2003
Bracks, Kelty to Open Office
Premier Steve Bracks and former ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty will open the new National headquarters of the Australian Workers’ Union this afternoon.
Farmers Seek to Worsen Effects of Drought on Rural Workers
The Australian Workers’ Union today announced that it would oppose an application lodged by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) which would restrict national wage increases to shearers and other pastoral workers.
AWU Opposes Federal Government Development at Point Nepean
The Australian Workers’ Union today announced that it would conduct a plebisite of it’s members living in the Mornington Pennisula over whether the AWU should campaign against inapproriate development of the Commonwealth owned land at Point Nepean.
"Strong, United, Effective: the AWU" 2003 NSW Delegates Conference
All AWU Greater NSW Branch Delegates are invited to attend the 4th Annual Delegates Conference and Christmas Dinner which will be opened by former NSW Premier Neville Wran.
Pan workers to be made redundant this week
Following the conclusion of the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s report in the Pan Pharmaceuticals Soft-Gel operations Pan Liquidator Tony McGrath has confirmed with the AWU that redundancies will begin at Pan this week.
September 2003
MEDIA ALERT: AWU mass meeting of roadworkers
Mass MeetingAustralian Workers’ Union road construction and maintenance workers
Abbott Reshuffle Bad for the Sick and Good for the Workers
The Australian Workers’ Union National Secretary Bill Shorten today expressed his sympathy for the sick people of Australia upon the announcement by the Prime Minister that Tony Abbott will be moved to the Health portfolio.
Landmark Injunction won for Outback Miners
The NSW Industrial Relations Commission yesterday issued a landmark injunction stopping mining company Consolidated Broken Hill from recruiting staff under individual Australian Workplace Agreements at its operations in the NSW outback town of Cobar.
Scholarship to be Awarded in Memory of Australian September 11 Victim
A scholarship will be awarded tomorrow to a University of South Australia Industrial Relations student in memory of the former AWU Official Andrew Knox who died during the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre two years ago.
Outback Miners Win Reprive
The Australian Workers’ Union has won a landmark case before the full-bench of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission which has given hope to the NSW outback town of Cobar, which faced a financial crisis due to the sale of the Pasminco owned Elura Lead and Zinc mine to Consolidated Broken Hill (CBH).
Pan Workers Say No To Liqudation
Pan Pharmaceuticals’ remaining 128 employees will join with Australian Workers’ Union National Secretary Bill Shorten & AWU NSW Branch officials tomorrow at the Pan creditors meeting which will decide the fact of the complimentary medicines manufacturer which was the subject of the nation’s largest ever medical product re-call in May.
Pan Workers Continue Campaign for Jobs
Australian Workers’ Union National Secretary Bill Shorten will join with workers from Pan Pharmaceuticals on Monday at a creditors meeting which will decide the fate of the complimentary medicines manufacturer which has been under administration since May.
5th Annual AWU Gala Ball
Members and Delegates are invited to the 5th Annual AWU Gala Ball to be held on Saturday 25 October.
Workers to lower speed limits to 40km in road work zones
About 500 AWU road workers this morning unanimously voted to improve Victorian workplace safety by adopting 40 kilometre speed limits in road work zones where there are no traffic barriers.
August 2003
AWU and unions to meet Esso at ACTU forum
Following a mass meeting at noon today at the Gippsland Esso Heliport, construction contractors will return to work. Esso has also indicated its willingness to be involved in a forum with the AWU and other Esso unions at the ACTU on Thursday.
AWU joint OH&S conference tackles farm deaths
The Australian Workers’ Union has joined forces with the Victorian WorkCover Authority and the Victorian Farmers Federation to host a conference on rural workplace safety.
Fatigue and Chemical Exposure - AWU Conference
MEDIA ALERTThe Australian Workers' Union will host its annual Health and Safety Representatives and Delegates OH&S seminar on Fatigue and Chemical exposure in the workplace on September 16. Book Now. Guest Speaker is Victorian I.R Minister Rob Hulls. Click to see the agenda
AWU Car components workers fight for fair hours
Australian Workers’ Union members at multinational car component company TI Automotive have walked off the job after a mass meeting this morning in a fight for secure work hours and better conditions following the break down of enterprise bargaining talks.
AWU backs plan to resurrect Pan
The Australian Workers’ Union has lent its support to a resurrection bid to revive the complimentary medicines manufacturer Pan Pharmaceuticals. Pan has been in Administration since May following the re-call of 1624 products manufactured by the company.
AWU to target Vic wine industry
Victoria’s niche wine growing areas such as the Mornington Peninsular and Yarra Glen will be among the regions targeted by the Australian Workers’ Union, which has begun a major campaign to level the playing field in labor costs for Victorian wineries and vineyards.
Melbourne AWU Qantas workers vote against random testing
Hundreds of AWU Qantas maintenance workers joined more than 1000 other airline workers today and voted unanimously against the airline’s plans to introduce random drug and alcohol testing in the workplace.Click on the story to see a short video of the meeting
Esso workers stranded off-shore
About 30 Australian Workers’ Union members have been stranded off shore after enterprise bargaining talks broke down between off-shore construction workers and contractors.
AWU to strike $70-a-week rise for Ten Pin workers
More than 2000 ten pin bowling workers across Australia are set to pick up pay rises of up to $70-a-week and win shorter working hours after the Australian Workers’ Union issued a log of claims on 94 bowling companies.
Mass meeting of Car components workers ends 3-day dispute
Australian Workers’ Union members voted unanimously at a mass meeting at 7am Thursday 21 August to end a three day strike action at TI Automotive in Dandenong.
AWU chicken growers score win against ACCC rooster
In a rare alliance, the Australian Workers’ Union and the Victorian Farmers Federation are working together to save Victorian Chicken Meat Farmers from unfair market monopolies.
July 2003
AWU condemns pyschometric testing of smelter workers
The Australian Workers’ Union and Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri are in dispute over company plans to psychometric test its workforce. The AWU will hold a mass meeting tomorrow.
AWU wins unprecedented 36-hour week in Australian steel industry
The Australian Workers’ Union and TAD Industrial, which contracts maintenance workers to Smorgon Steel at Laverton, have reached an unprecedented agreement on improved wages and conditions for maintenance contractors.
Millennium Train workers take industrial action
Eighty EDI Rail factory workers in Bathurst, who manufacture key components of the Millennium Trains, downed tools on Friday after EDI failed to guarantee workers' security of employment and entitlements.
AWU Secures Wages and Rights at Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto workers who have not signed a Federal AWA will receive average pay rises of around $4,000 bringing them into line with their workmates on AWAs without the need to sign one of the individual agreements under an historic award secured yesterday by the Australian Workers’ Union.
AWU backs 56-hour week crackdown in Tas mining industry
In an unprecedented move, Workplace Standards Tasmania has served a notice on Tasmanian mining companies requiring the end of dangerous work patterns, including those that generate dangerous levels of fatigue.
AWU delivers WA workers 32 % wages deal
In a major industrial win, the Australian Workers’ Union has delivered a 32 per cent pay rise to refinery workers at BP Kwinana in Perth, Western Australia.
June 2003
BHP workers vote in favor of State Award
Hundreds of BHP workers at Port Kembla yesterday voted unanimously in favor of shifting their wage and conditions to comply with a state registered award.
Caravan parts workers fight for superannuation choice
About 70 caravan parts manufacturers at the Camec plant at Lyndhurst, Melbourne have downed their tools in a two-day stoppage to protest against lack of superannuation choice and poor redundancy provisions.
Hundreds of BHP workers to vote on adopting State Award
Hundreds of BHP white collar workers at Port Kembla will meet today to vote on shifting their wage and conditions to comply with a state registered award.
Horticulture workers awarded $90-a-week pay rise
The Australian Workers' Union has won a 25% casual loading for thousands of fruit and vegie workers.
AWU presents 10-point plan at Mining Summit
The Australian Workers' Union presented a 10-point plan to fix the crisis in the Tasmania mining industry at a National Summit held in Hobart today.
AWU Mining Summit: A Systemic Crisis
The Australian workers’ Union is hosting an urgent crisis meeting of mining industry stakeholders including employees, community leaders, occupational health and safety experts and mining industry leaders to deal with the disturbing findings of a recent AWU report.
Electrolux workers vote yes to union representation
Electrolux fridge and freezer factory workers at Orange have rejected in a ballot the company’s attempt to introduce a non-union enterprise agreement.
ABARE forcast ignores drought still hurting rural workers
The Australian Workers Union has called on the Federal Government to subsidise farmers to employ rural workers or face a massive social and financial crisis in the bush.
Origin Energy Fails Good Corporate Citizen Stakes
As a major shareholder of a national energy company, Origin Energy, should behave as a good corporate citizen and pay its share of $2 million in workers’ entitlements after the collapse of Australian Gas Technology Services, says the Australian Workers’ Union.
May 2003
Union Solidarity: Historic Union Alliance in Multi-billion Industry
The right-wing Australian Workers’ Union and the left-wing Maritime Union of Australia proudly announce the formation of an historic alliance in the offshore oil and gas industry in Australia.
AWU wins 25% casual loading for Shearers
The AWU has had a landmark pay victory for more than 4000 shearers across Australia.
The Great Debate: Abbott vs Shorten
The Law Institute of Victoria is hosting its inaugural industrial relations debate this Thursday between two key IR opponents, Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott and Australian Workers’ Union National Secretary Bill Shorten.
Tasmanian mining industry in crisis
A comprehensive report by the Australian Workers’ Union Tasmanian branch has found seven Tasmanian miners have been killed in five years – a 350 per cent rise in the death toll – because of the industry’s failure to fix systemic problems despite repeated warnings by the union.
AWU secures Pan casuals redundancy payment
The Australian Workers' Union has succeeded in getting Pan Pharmaceuticals to pay redundancy payments to 130 casuals who lost their jobs after the nations' biggest ever drug re-call.
Bill Shorten defeats Tony Abbott in IR debate, reports media
Media stories have reported AWU National Secretary Bill Shorten the winner of the IR debate against Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott at the Melbourne Town Hall last night.
April 2003
Workers return to work after win at Simsmetal
Australian Workers’ Union members at Simsmetal have ended two weeks of industrial action and returned to work at four sites after the company agreed to improved pay and work conditions.
AWU farewells union great, Terry Muscat
Hundreds of Australian Workers’ Union members and friends and family will pay their last respects to former AWU National Secretary, Terry Muscat, today.
AWU calls On Origin Energy to be a good corporate citizen
The Australian Workers’ Union is calling on Origin Energy as a shareholder of a national gas company to do the right thing and pay its share of workers’ entitlements after the collapse of Australian Gas Technology Services.
Qantas must give workers job certainty
The Australian Workers’ Union is calling on Qantas to give workers certainty by keeping redundancies to a minimum.
AWU wins AWA battle at Sun Metals
Sun Metals Zinc Refinery workers have won pay rises of up to $10,000 after the AWU successfully fought for workers to be part of a collective union agreement over individual contracts.
Media Alert: Testing the Limits
The Australian Workers’ Union is hosting a conference on the controversial topic of drug and alcohol testing in the workplace, Testing The Limits, this Friday.
17-day stoppage ends at Cobar mine
One hundred and twenty miners at Pasminco’s Elura Mine at Cobar have returned to work after 17 days of industrial action.
Two's a Party, Three's a Crowd
The Great Debate:AWU National Secretary Bill Shorten will debate Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott over the future of the industrial relations system. The debated is hosted by the Law Institute of Victoria.
Roster Victory at MIM
The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission has ruled in the Australian Workers' Union's favor with its decision that the union has a decisive role to play in the implementation of new rosters at MIM.
AWU secures workers entitlements at Pan Pharmaceuticals
The Australian Workers Union has secured workers' entitlements at Pan Pharmaceuticals in the wake of job insecurity triggered by a mass product recall.
13 per cent pay rise for Geelong metal workers
The AWU has delivered Geelong metalworkers a 13 per cent pay rise and improved working hours in a new enterprise bargaining agreement.
Pan Workers shouldn't have to swallow bitter pill
The Australian Workers' Union which represents workers at Pan Pharmaceuticals today called on the Howard Government to ensure staff are not the innocent victims of yesterday's product recall.
March 2003
Union deals pay better
The Federal Government quarterly report has revealed what unions have known - union negotiated enterprise bargaining agreements pay better than non-union agreements.
Zoo workers win 'poo allowance'
Sydney Zoo workers have won the right to a pay bonus when their job involves handling animal faeces after a landmark ruling by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.
Ex-Govt Gas and fuel workers to lose $2m in workers’ entitlements
About 30 AWU gas specialists have been made redundant and are to lose workers’ entitlements totaling $2million following the privatisation of the Gas and Fuel Corporation.
AWU construction workers win 5% pay and super rises
Thousands of AWU civil construction workers across Australia have won a 5 per cent increase in casual rates and superannuation rises in a national decision by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
February 2003
AWU votes for 14 weeks paid mat leave
The 200 delegates to the Australian Workers’ Union biennial National Conference voted overwhelming in support of 14 weeks paid maternity leave and two weeks paid paternity leave.
AWU workers win 15 % Esso pay rise
Australian Workers’ Union members have averted industrial action at Esso by voting today to accept an enterprise bargaining agreement that delivers a 15 per cent pay rise over three years.
No Night shift for Sunset Workers
AWU national delegates today voted in support of scaling back night shift and end stressful work patterns for workers expecting to retire within a year.
AWU road workers rally for tougher speed limits for safety
Up to 500 AWU road workers will stop work to rally for tough new traffic control measures to improve workplace safety on road worksites at 10am today outside VicRoads headquarters in Kew.
AWU demands speed cameras for safety
More than 350 AWU road workers today demanded speed cameras and reduced speed limits as low as 25km/hr operate at road sites to improve workplace safety.
AWU votes for company health checks
The 200 delegates to the Australian Workers’ Union biennial National Conference voted today in support of company health checks to protect workers’ entitlements.
AWU condemns DNA testing
Australian Workers’ Union National Conference delegates have passed a vote of condemnation over genetic testing of workers, describing it as “highly discriminatory” and “fundamentally offensive”.
AWU conference starts tomorrow
The AWU national conference, One Day Longer, starts 9am Monday 24 February.
AWU backs Republic
Delegates to the Australian Workers’ Union biennial National Conference on the Gold Coast have voted in support of an Australian Republic with an Australian head of state.
Media Alert - One Day Longer
The Australian Workers’ Union biennial conference, One Day Longer, begins on the Gold Coast next week on Sunday 23 to Thursday 27 February.
January 2003
AWU calls for Asbestos Audit at detention centres
The Australian Workers’ Union calls on the Department of Immigration & Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs to undertake an asbestos and fire audit at Australia’s detention centres.
JOCKEYS’ SAFETY AT WORK MUST COME FIRST
The Australian Workers Union, the racing industry union, has called on Chief Steward, Ray Murrihy, to dismiss any complaints against jockeys Darren Beadman and Rod Quinn after they slowed to see if Corey Brown was injured in a race fall at Randwick on Monday.
National Secretary: Paul Howes