Unions

By plipplop

  • Compensation law

    The first workers’ compensation law was established in Western Australia.

  • Pastoral Workers Award

    The Pastoral Workers Award, established by the Australian Workers Union, was the first award
    in Australia. Since then, awards have been the cornerstone of setting out terms of working conditions
    for millions of employed workers.

  • Paid Sick Leave

    Paid sick leave was introduced. Prior to this, workers went to work sick or stayed home
    without pay.

  • Paid Annual Leave

    A campaign by the printing workers led to the beginning of paid annual leave.

  • Penalty Rates

    Penalty rates (extra money for working outside of normal hours) were established after unions
    raised the issue with the Arbitration Commission.

  • Long Service Leave

    New South Wales became the first state to introduce Long Service Leave.

  • Equal Pay

    The principle of equal pay for women was adopted by the Australian Conciliation of
    Arbitration Commission. (Attempts to achieve this principle can be traced back to the end of the 1940s.)

  • Unfair Dismissal

    The Australian Workers Union fought for protection against unfair dismissal.

  • First Annual Paid Leave

    The first annual paid leave with a 17.5 per cent leave loading was achieved by the Metal
    industry.

  • Proper Meal and Rest Breaks

    Industrial action was taken to fight for the demand of proper meal and rest breaks. Prior to this,
    workers had to go a whole day without a break.

  • Banning of Asbestos

    Trade unions were successful in banning the use of asbestos as part of their fight for safe
    working environments.

  • Superannuation Guarantee

    The trade unions’ ‘Stand Up For Super’ campaign led to an increase to the compulsory
    Superannuation Guarantee, at the time set to increase to 12 per cent by 2019. (Prior to 1986, only a
    select group of employees were entitled to superannuation. Trade Unions battled for this to become an
    entitlement for all.)

  • 18 Weeks Pay

    After a long campaign, the Paid Parental Scheme was introduced, entitling parents of children
    born or adopted after 1 January 2011 to 18 weeks’ pay on the National Minimum Wage.