Category: australian unions

Unions Robbing Productive Taxpayers

Commentary It’s payback time. The Community Public Sector Union (CPSU), having helped bankroll Labor’s victory by donating its members’ funds to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars, appears to be now expecting a quid pro quo from Labor for its members by the use of taxpayer funds. This is evident from the public…


Australia’s Contentious Industrial Relations Bill Passes, Industries Concerned While Unions Celebrate

The Australian government has passed its industrial relations bill, which is intended to help workers receive better wages and work conditions. “The Albanese Labor Government has delivered on the next step of its plan to lift wages, improve job security, and start closing the gender pay gap,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. “By modernising the…


Skills Shortage, Not Unions’ Demands, Should Be ‘Priority’ of Job Summit: NSW Premier

The high level of union representation at the Labor’s job summit risks making the event “out of touch,” New South Wales Premier warned, as he criticised unions for adding to the economic challenges of Australian families.  While only 14 percent of Australian workers are trade union members, Labor’s Job and Skill Summit saw unions making…


Australian State Rewards Health Workers With $3,000 Appreciation Bonus

The New South Wales (NSW) government has announced a one-off $3,000 (US$2,200) payment to health employees in recognition of their frontline work during COVID-19. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the payment in addition to the new policy that will apply to industrial agreements struck from July 1, 2022. Public sector employees, including nurses, teachers, and…


Labour Day Should Be Removed in Australia

Commentary Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States, once said that “A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” I was reminded of these prophetic words when considering the relevance (or lack of it) of Labour Day, which is celebrated on different dates in the Australian states and…


New South Wales Health Workers to Strike on Thursday Over Wages

Thousands of Australian workers across the health sector will walk off the job on Thursday in a state-wide strike across New South Wales (NSW), demanding a higher pay rise. Health Services Union (HSU) said that with the latest inflation figures at 3.5 percent and expected to rise, health and hospital workers needed a pay rise…


More Strikes May Come Until Wage Demands Met: Australia Union Boss

Following months of industrial action by unions across industries, including health, education, and transport, the secretary of the peak union body in the Australia state of New South Wales (NSW) said more action was to follow until their wage demands were met. Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey said rising inflation and cost of living, along…


Entire Sydney Train Network Shuts Down Without Notice in Fight Between Union and Government

The complete shutdown of Sydney’s train network from Monday morning, without prior notice, has been labelled by the New South Wales (NSW) transport minister as the “most unAustralian act I’ve ever heard of.” David Elliot said the transport union failed to show up to a conciliation meeting at 8 p.m. on Sunday, giving the government…


Australian Paramedics To Follow Nurses With Industrial Action

Paramedics in New South Wales (NSW) have followed the state’s public nurses and midwives and are striking for 24 hours on Thursday. The members of the Australian Paramedic Association (APA) voted in favour of state-wide industrial action, demanding 1,500 more paramedics and increased investment in specialist paramedic programs. The union is also seeking a real…


5,000 NSW Nurses March to Parliament Despite Orders Against Strike

Around 5,000 nurses in the state of New South Wales (NSW) rallied at the state parliament despite last minute orders from the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) to immediately cease industrial action. About 150 public hospitals are affected after the nurses’ union assured members they would not be met with fines for disregarding IRC orders. Skeleton…