CPSU Federal Office

Unfortunately we have seen a series of serious workplace injuries and fatalities which have received significant public attention in the last several years.

On September 20, unionists and students, young people and adults, all over the world, are striking for action on climate change and for climate justice. Everyone is invited, everyone is needed. 

Millions of us will walk out of our workplaces and homes to join young climate strikers on the streets and demand an end to the age of fossil fuels.

Our house is on fire — let’s act like it.

The Federal Government has re-introduced legislation that provides a public interest test for union mergers and makes it easier to de-register unions and disqualify union officials.  The Federal Government has amended both previously rejected bills; the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity) Bill 2019, and the Fair Work Laws Amendment (Proper Use of Worker Benefits) Bill 2019, to make them harsher.  These laws would give the Federal Government, big business and their lobbyists, power to interfere with how unions are run, to disqualify union officers, to shut dow

A proposed new Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal will expand the power of global corporations and locks in a race to the bottom on wages and conditions for working people, Australia's peak union body has warned.  The RCEP has been negotiated in secret between the Australian government and 15 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including China and India.

Bob Hawke's memorial service reminded all of us what is achievable with vision, determination and cooperation.  Bob was this person who raised the aspirations of our nation, got us to set bigger objectives and bigger tasks but provided us with the inspiration to achieve them.  Education, the Environment, Social Welfare, Medicare, a new National Anthem, Nelson Mandela, Tiananmen Square, a Treaty with the first Australians, and of course Hawke's famous "any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum" comment following Australia II winning the America's Cup will stay with us all. 

How much more can the South Australian government cut back and sell off?  Last week, news came through that Steven Marshall and Rob Lucas have our trains and trams in their sights.  With the cost of a single trip train ticket at $5.50 for a short journey into the city, you have to wonder how much more it will cost if the state government sells our public rail transport system to a for-profit multinational.

Budget-cutting political leaders regularly target the jobs and incomes of public sector workers as the first and most politically convenient target of their austerity measures.

About 1500 jobs will be slashed from the public service to pay for $450 million in savings announced in the State Budget.  "Any jobs that could have been cut have already been cut," CPSU Secretary Tom Lynch said.  "I've no idea how Treasurer Peter Gutwein thinks that agencies that already are under stress are going to run with 1500 fewer people.  "It makes less sense than any budget I've ever seen. "Public servants were worried that if they asked for more than two per cent in bargaining there would be job cuts."  "Well now they're getting job cuts and a pay cut too."

The ACTU has launched a multi-platform advertising campaign that urges voters to vote the Coalition out to Change the Rules to ditch their "unAustralian" IR system.