Australia’s workplace laws are broken. Big businesses continue to make record profits yet many workers are stuck in insecure work and feeling the effects of stagnant wage growth.
That’s why the SDA is proudly supporting the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) in their campaign to “Change the Rules” for working Australians and improve their rights at work.
Some of the key issues we’re campaigning on include:
Job security:
Over 4 million Australians are stuck in insecure work such as casual employment, short term contracts or labour hire. That’s 4 million Australians who are unable to plan for tomorrow and save for the future.
The SDA and the ACTU are calling for the following changes to ensure job security for all Australians:
- The right for casual workers to convert to permanent work after 6 months of regularly working
- Casual employment to be properly defined in order to prevent employees from remaining in casual work for many years
- Labour hire workers to receive the same pay and conditions as directly employed workers
Fair wages:
Inequality is skyrocketing in Australia. Businesses are making record profits but aren’t passing this wealth onto employees and they aren’t required to by law.
On top of this, the cost of living is rising but workers’ penalty rates are being unfairly slashed – making it increasingly difficult for workers to make ends meets. In order to fix this, we’re calling for:
- the Modern Awards to be improved over time in order to meet people’s needs and protect their living standards – not send them backwards
- Penalty rates for retail, fast food, pharmacy and hospitality workers to be restored to pre-July 2017 levels
Paid family and domestic violence:
Every week in Australia, one woman dies because of domestic violence. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed in both the community and in workplaces.
We’re calling for the National Employment Standards to include 10 days of paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave for all workers.
Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave provides financial and employment security which allows time off, including for attending court hearings or looking for a safe home to relocate children.
To find out more, visit changetherules.org.au
Want to get involved? Attend one of the upcoming Change the Rules Rallies in Adelaide, Darwin or Alice Springs