CPSU Federal Office

Union members via their union can now make a Request for Financial Hardship Assistance through the ACTU's Bushfire Fund which has been established to provide short-term financial assistance to union members affected by 2019–20 bushfires. To qualify for assistance, a member needs to show that they have lost income as a result of the fires and have been unable to receive adequate compensation from other sources or have otherwise experienced severe financial hardship as a result of the fires.

Fires are burning out of control across five states as temperature records are being smashed and lives and properties being lost.  Kangaroo Island, in remote South Australia became the latest to suffer two more bushfire deaths bringing to 23 the number of people killed in fires across Australia this fire season. Six people are still missing in fire-affected regions across NSW and Victoria, who have had their east coasts devastated by out-of-control fires in rugged terrain that have destroyed more than 1,500 homes. There are also current fire warnings in Tasmania and Western Australia.

A large part of the work of the Federal Office has been assisting Branches with compliance obligations, case work, and advice ranging from liaising with the Fair Work Commission on Right of Entry permits.  Development continued for three branches on the new upgraded membership data base that went live in late November 2017.

Public Sector Union Leaders have pledged to end violence against women and through our global partner, PSI, we're saying that violence is not part of the job.  Through collective bargaining, negotiations, campaigns, and advocacy, unions have a positive impact on efforts to eliminate violence and harassment at work and good industrial relations practises are critical.  Our aim is to build momentum each year, and encourage everyone to stand up and sp

A brilliant presentation on Youth Justice at Federal Council from our teams in each State recognizing the challenges each jurisdiction faces are the same, and as such we need a national response on health safety and wellbeing for YJ staff in order to hold agencies accountable.

The current prosecution in Victoria and the plea on penalty attempt by the responsible agency as reported by the channel 9 journalist sums up the attitude to OHS by the agencies.

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.