15 August, 2014 | Media Release
The record high 18.2 per cent gender pay gap will widen even further if business groups win their campaign to strip away penalty rates and attack the minimum wage.
“It is incredibly disappointing yet unsurprising to see the gender pay gap has blown out to its widest level in 20 years,” said ACTU President Ged Kearney.
“We know women still face barriers in the workplace that contribute to the pay gap including lack of flexibility to accommodate caring commitments, pregnancy discrimination, higher rates of casualisation and fewer opportunities for training and promotion,” said Ms Kearney.
Yet instead of dealing with these important issues Tony Abbott and business associations want to exacerbate the situation by doing away with penalty rates and lowering the minimum wage.
“If Tony Abbott and employers are serious about addressing the pay gap then they need to start by changing the Fair Work Act to prevent discrimination against women workers,” Ms Kearney said.
“For example, there is currently no obligation for employers to show they have seriously considered a request for flexible work arrangements to assist with caring responsibilities. As a result many women face discrimination when they return to work after having children and are pushed out of quality jobs into less secure, poorer paying work.
“Insecure work pays low wages, forgoes benefits such as paid leave, doesn’t provide for long-term accrual of entitlements, stunts career progression and places employees in vulnerable negotiating positions often subject to discriminatory practices.”
Nearly 60 per cent of the 1.5 million Australian workers on the minimum wage are women and many of them rely on penalty rates to survive, said Ms Kearney.
“With 40% of households now relying on women as the main breadwinners, a widening pay gap can only mean that families and communities suffer as well.
“Not only are business groups trying to lower people’s wages – the Abbott Government is pursuing its cruel and unfair budget measures that will push up the cost of health and child care, hitting women workers in particular even harder.
“It’s time the Abbott Government stops pretending it cares about discrimination against women and actually starts doing something.”
Friday, August 15, 2014
Gumbaynggirr People Celebrate Nambucca Heads Native Title
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| Gumbaynggirr dancers with Justice Jayne Jagot |
More than 100 people stood and cheered after Judge Jayne Jagot handed down her ruling during a special open-air sitting at Nambucca Heads, south of Coffs Harbour.
The claim extends over a six-square-kilometre piece of coastal land within the Gaagal Wanggaan National Park, just south of the town.
The claim was initially lodged in 1996 on behalf the Gumbaynggirr people.
Only one of the original applicants remains alive today.
In delivering the determination, Justice Jagot acknowledged the process has been far too slow.
"The fundamental truth that justice delayed is justice denied should never be overlooked and must guide our future efforts in respect to the resolution of future efforts of the present kind," she said.
Former senator Aden Ridgeway was among the Gumbaynggirr applicants and said the length of time taken to process claims was a matter that needed to be addressed.
"Often with these things some of the legalities, or the bars that are set that need to be met, become problematic, and people get focused on the minutiae rather than the achievement of the bigger outcome," he said.
"I think if an eye is kept on that bigger picture, then we'll certainly get results a lot sooner."
The land will remain part of the Gaagal Wanggaan National Park.
Canberra: Catholic School Teachers Vote to Strike
Teachers at 38 Catholic schools in the Canberra and the Goulburn region have voted to strike later this month after wage negotiations with their employer broke down in July.
Lyn Caton from the Independent Education Union said there was no set date but teachers were aiming to take action within the next two weeks.
"About 5:00pm yesterday we were given the final results... 38 schools have been approved to take the protective action ballot at whatever stage we choose to notify the employer. We have to, under Fair Work, give them three days notice of any intended action," she said.
Teachers and support staff in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn took a vote on whether to take industrial action over an agreement proposed by Church employers, which potentially increases class sizes, increases face-to-face teaching hours and removes some senior teaching positions in primary schools.
Under the current agreement primary school class sizes are limited to 25 children for Kindergarten to Year 2, and 30 children for classes from Years 3 to 6, while high school classes are limited to 25 students. But the new agreement considered in July makes no reference at all to class sizes, according to the union.
The proposed agreement increases face-to-face teaching hours for high school teachers from 20 to 22 hours per week. It would also place restrictions on how primary school teachers are allowed to spend their two hours of relief from face-to-face teaching each week, the union said.
Lyn Caton from the Independent Education Union said there was no set date but teachers were aiming to take action within the next two weeks.
"About 5:00pm yesterday we were given the final results... 38 schools have been approved to take the protective action ballot at whatever stage we choose to notify the employer. We have to, under Fair Work, give them three days notice of any intended action," she said.
Teachers and support staff in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn took a vote on whether to take industrial action over an agreement proposed by Church employers, which potentially increases class sizes, increases face-to-face teaching hours and removes some senior teaching positions in primary schools.
Under the current agreement primary school class sizes are limited to 25 children for Kindergarten to Year 2, and 30 children for classes from Years 3 to 6, while high school classes are limited to 25 students. But the new agreement considered in July makes no reference at all to class sizes, according to the union.
The proposed agreement increases face-to-face teaching hours for high school teachers from 20 to 22 hours per week. It would also place restrictions on how primary school teachers are allowed to spend their two hours of relief from face-to-face teaching each week, the union said.
AMWU: Support Hunter Jobs
Petition calls on NSW Gov to support Hunter jobs
Fri 15 Aug 2014, 7:27am
The AMWU hopes a 12,000 signature petition presented to NSW Parliament will save hundreds of Hunter manufacturing jobs.
A union leader says public anger over a lack of support for the Hunter's manufacturing sector could come back to bite the Coalition at the next NSW election.
The State Opposition has tabled petitions in State Parliament with 12,000 signatures from people concerned about the Government's procurement process for new manufacturing contracts.
The petition calls on the Government to change its procurement policy that would ensure ongoing work for Hunter industries including rail.
Australian Manufacturing Workers union State Secretary Tim Ayres says people are strongly opposed to the loss of Hunter jobs when contracts go overseas.
"12,000 households have signed up to the campaign," he said.
"More than 100,000 people in the region have engaged with our social media campaigns on these issues.
"There is very strong support in the Hunter Valley for blue collar jobs and a decent approach to manufacturing policy, because people in the Hunter know what it means."
Mr Ayres says like the fallout from the ICAC, voters will remember the Government's neglect of the Hunter's manufacturing sector at the next state election.
"This is a very powerful message from the Hunter Valley to Mike Baird," he said.
"In the midst of all this controversy about corruption and scandals, 12,000 households have said they want a Government that stands on our side that's going to stand for jobs and it's going to stand for industry and development in the Hunter."
Fri 15 Aug 2014, 7:27am
The AMWU hopes a 12,000 signature petition presented to NSW Parliament will save hundreds of Hunter manufacturing jobs.
A union leader says public anger over a lack of support for the Hunter's manufacturing sector could come back to bite the Coalition at the next NSW election.
The State Opposition has tabled petitions in State Parliament with 12,000 signatures from people concerned about the Government's procurement process for new manufacturing contracts.
The petition calls on the Government to change its procurement policy that would ensure ongoing work for Hunter industries including rail.
Australian Manufacturing Workers union State Secretary Tim Ayres says people are strongly opposed to the loss of Hunter jobs when contracts go overseas.
"12,000 households have signed up to the campaign," he said.
"More than 100,000 people in the region have engaged with our social media campaigns on these issues.
"There is very strong support in the Hunter Valley for blue collar jobs and a decent approach to manufacturing policy, because people in the Hunter know what it means."
Mr Ayres says like the fallout from the ICAC, voters will remember the Government's neglect of the Hunter's manufacturing sector at the next state election.
"This is a very powerful message from the Hunter Valley to Mike Baird," he said.
"In the midst of all this controversy about corruption and scandals, 12,000 households have said they want a Government that stands on our side that's going to stand for jobs and it's going to stand for industry and development in the Hunter."
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