As we approach the Christmas holiday period, many workplaces will be shutting down between the Christmas and the New Years Day holidays. Depending on your workplace, you may need to take personal leave during this time. Please check with your manager or supervisor to understand how your workplace is operating during this period. If you're having difficulty understanding what is expected of you during the holiday period, please contact your union office. The Together Brisbane office will be closed from 5:00pm Tuesday 24 December and reopen 9am Thursday 2 January. During this time there will be an emergency on-call for urgent issues only. Such issues are imminent Workplace Health and Safety issue, Summary Dismissal or a request to attend an Investigation Interview. If you require immediate assistance please call 1800 177 244. Otherwise, we encourage you to seek general advice from our online Member Portal.
Union members campaigning to build better workplaces can take many forms. Right now, your union is participating in a Fair Work Commission review that could cement stronger working from home policies for admin workers with a view to expanding these policies to other industries. The Fair Work Commission is currently undergoing numerous reviews of modern awards as part of the Federal Government request to update awards. One part of those reviews is looking into how a Working from Home term can be included in modern awards. The FWC is looking at the Clerks award (which covers many private sector admin workers) to determine whether a Working from Home term can be included in other modern awards. Working from home, where one can, has become an important part of modern working life for so many of us. It means the work/life balance of caring for your loved ones and being able to do your job has become a little easier for those who can access working from home arrangements. It is good news for workers that the FWC is considering expanding the term to other awards to make access to this right easier for workers across industries. A working from home test case will run within the Clerks award which many ASU/Together members are covered by. Questions the FWC are seeking to answer would include how would working from home be defined, what would be reasonable acceptance and refusals of working from home request look like, should this right be expanded to some or all workers on the award/s, and many more. Your union has been and will continue to be closely involved in the test case to ensure workers are strongly represented while the FWC considers the case. Union members getting involved in these reviews means the voices of workers are represented at the FWC when these decisions are made. These decisions can dramatically influence your working life and have workers' voices front and centre during the trial Keep an eye out for the latest updates on this review and how you can get involved in the process. Union members are always on the front line protecting our workplace entitlements. Join your union today and help us protect Working from Home rights. We are stronger together.
ASU members have campaigned and won a 3.75% pay rise for almost 3 million workers. Today, the Fair Work Commission announced a 3.75% increase in Modern Award Rates and an 3.75% boost to the National Minimum Wage, effective from 1 July 2024. This is less than we wanted but it’s a huge win in the face of relentless campaigning from big business to limit pay increases to 2%. It’s down to union members that we have achieved an increase this year – you're standing up for workers! In a year marked by more financial uncertainty, price-gouging supermarkets and rising housing costs, this win showcases the power of unity. Already, union members stood together to win the cost-of-living tax cuts, which will deliver some much-needed relief from 1 July, along with this pay rise. Congratulations to all members for their dedication and hard work in making this happen. Want to know what this 3.75% pay rise means for you? Calculate it here >>> Here's what you need to know about this win: Modern Award-covered workers will see a 3.75% pay rise starting 1 July 2024. The National Minimum Wage will increase by 3.75% from 1 July 2024. Office and Admin workers under the Clerks - Private Sector Award 2020 will receive a 3.75% pay rise as of 1 July 2024. Those on an enterprise bargaining agreement will only see an increase if their base rate falls below the minimum award rate for their classification. Our efforts don't stop here. We must ensure that employers implement this wage increase on 1 July. Your employer will be reviewing your current rates against the Award minimums soon. Your union will be working closely with members to ensure everyone receives their rightful pay. The National Wage decision has some impact on the decision the Queensland Industrial Commission makes with the State Wage Case, which has different flow on effects for members in the public sector. There will be more to say on that for the impacted groups soon. Send this to your colleagues to let them know about the huge achievement union members have won today and ask them to join your union. Together, we continue to strive for fair pay and conditions.
This is a life-changing win for work-life balance in Australia! The Senate has just passed legislation enshrining the Right to Disconnect. This is a monumental step towards a healthier, more balanced life for all workers, especially in our fight against unpaid overtime, after-hours contact, and excessive workloads. Don’t forget to share the news of this win with your colleagues! Thanks to the work of ASU members, Australian workers now have the right to: Set clear boundaries around working times. Put an end to unpaid overtime. Refuse work-related contact outside working hours without negative consequences. Be safeguarded from the pressure to be constantly connected or available. This win is thanks to our united voices, we've made it clear: workers in Australia deserve the time to rest, to enjoy hobbies, to be with family and friends – without constant interruptions and added stress. Remember the statistics? 70% of Australians working outside scheduled hours, 64% being contacted during leave, and an average of 4.6 hours of unpaid overtime each week. These figures underscored the need for change. And we made it happen! Our campaign mirrored successful movements in countries like France, Spain, and Ireland, drawing inspiration to create a fair and balanced work environment right here in Australia. A huge 78% of workers supported this legislation, showing a strong, unified desire for change. Your support, stories, and actions have been central to this win. So, what's next? As this new legislation takes effect, we'll be here to guide and support you through its implementation. Expect further information on how these changes will directly benefit you in your workplace. Today, we celebrate a significant milestone in our journey towards fairer work conditions. Your commitment and participation have been crucial in this victory. Let's continue to stand together for a better work-life balance for all workers. Thank you for your unwavering support and for being a part of this historical moment. Here's to achieving more together!
