Workers Issues in Australia & the Pacific
Australian pay tribunal awards token rise to low-paid workers
By Terry Cook, June 21, 2011
On the back of the paltry increase, the trade unions will continue to work hand in glove with the Gillard government to endeavour to suppress wage demands and deliver the dictates of business.
Australia: Thousands rally against attack on NSW public sector workers
By James Cogan, June 16, 2011
Workers demonstrated outside the New South Wales parliament yesterday against new laws that will allow the state government to dictate wage outcomes for some 400,000 state sector employees.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
June 11, 2011
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
Australian union chief pledges to help drive up mining profits
By Terry Cook, June 10, 2011
Addressing top mining executives, ACTU secretary Jeff Lawrence called for “tripartite planning body” where “industry, business and unions can and should work together with government.”
Australian community sector workers demand pay increases
By Will Morrow, June 9, 2011
Frustrated social and community services workers demonstrated in major Australian cities yesterday to demand higher wages.
Australian unions hail “equal pay” ruling for community workers
By Will Morrow, June 2, 2011
The Gillard government has declared that any wage rise for female workers would be at the expense of other government-funded services.
Union betrays nine-week Australian PPG paint workers’ strike
By Margaret Rees, June 1, 2011
The union delivered all the central demands of the US-based company, including the introduction of a two-tier wage system.
Australian waterfront union capitulates, calling off industrial action
By Patrick O’Connor, May 28, 2011
The MUA’s capitulation underscores its determination to entrench itself as the enforcer of restructuring measures and productivity speed-ups on the docks.
Qantas prepares offensive on Australian workforce
By Terry Cook and James Cogan, May 27, 2011
Thousands of Qantas workers—from pilots to baggage handlers—sense that an offensive is looming that will see wholesale job losses.
Australian waterfront company steps up provocations against dock workers
By Patrick O’Connor, May 26, 2011
The dispute is regarded as a critical test case for the Labor government and its draconian industrial relations regime, Fair Work Australia.
Australia: Union enforces job cuts at Fairfax Media
By Terry Cook, May 24, 2011
Thanks to the collaboration of the union, Fairfax Media will now proceed with impunity to outsource sub-editing at its mast-head publications, the Age and Sydney Morning Herald.
Australia: Union prepares sell-out of PPG paint workers
By Margaret Rees and Patrick O’Connor, May 18, 2011
The company and the union have agreed to a new two-tier wage regime under which new hires will be paid 43 percent less than the existing workforce.
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