What an incredible year it’s been for ASU members. Together, we’ve turned 2023 into a landmark year for progress and solidarity.
Before we sign off for Christmas, we wanted to celebrate some of the wins ASU members have achieved this year.
10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave: Our relentless advocacy paid off. All workers, including casuals, now have access to life-saving leave. This is another step towards ending violence against women in Australia.
First 4-day week negotiated in an EBA: In April, ASU members at Oxfam achieved a groundbreaking Enterprise Agreement for a 4-day work week with full pay. We're leading the charge in redefining work-life balance.
The establishment of the National Net Zero Authority: A win for workers and the planet.Unions are ensuring that no worker is left behind during the transition to net zero.
Improving work-life balance: ASU members won stronger rights for flexible work arrangements, as well as launching our 'Clock Off, Switch Off' campaign to ensure workers have the right to disconnect from work. We’re at the forefront of reshaping work-life balance for everyone.
Increasing the national minimum wage and modern award rates: Your campaigning efforts resulted in a substantial 5.75% increase to Award Rates and an 8.6% rise in the national minimum wage. This has gone some way to helping workers and their families in the current cost-of-living crisis but there’s still more needed to bridge the gap.
New rights for labour hire workers and stronger laws to criminalise wage theft – with part of the Closing the Loopholes bill passing. We will be pushing for the remaining protections for casual workers and the Right to Disconnect next year.
There's more to do. But in 2024, we'll be ready to keep up the fight for fair workplaces, secure jobs and good pay.
Stay safe and we look forward to another year of working together.
