As union members, we spend most of our days thinking about how to develop and promote equality and fairness in our workplaces and our communities. International Women's Day is an important date to help us highlight why it's imperative to continue to work towards gender equality in all parts of our lives. Every year there is a theme for IWD that focuses on different aspects and causes of the gender pay gap. This year's theme for International Women's Day is Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future. The global gender digital gap has not decreased in over a decade. It means that women are missing out on the opportunities and innovation new technological advancements can create. We know that across the planet, there are 250 million fewer women online than men and 327 million fewer women have access to a smartphone than men. This type of divide has real economic effects for developing countries - resulting in a combined $1 trillion dollars shaved off the GDP of those countries. This loss of economic activity overwhelming affects women and entrenches the gender pay and digital gap. We also know that women are grossly underrepresented in STEM workplaces. Globally, figures put women in STEM at 20% of total participation. We know we can fix this by making access to education a priority, to ensure girls go into STEM and envision a world where those opportunities are available to them later in life. Read more about this year's IWD activities and themes here. Our national union, the Australian Services Union, is currently running a number of campaigns aimed at reducing the gender pay gap, chiefly among them is the campaign to to boost women's super. The superannuation system is failing women: 1 in 3 women will retire into poverty The superannuation balances of women are 47% lower than for men ASU members and officials will be in Canberra this week lobbying the Government to pay super on parental leave. They will be calling on our parliamentarians to: Help close the gender super gap by paying super on paid parental leave as well as on all government carer and family payments. Put in place structures that encourage superannuation contribution sharing when only one parent is working. Fund government co-contribution top-ups for workers who are not on track for a decent retirement. Join the effort to close the super pay gap by signing the petition today.
Sexual harassment is never acceptable. The federal Albanese government has reversed the previous government's inaction and finally moved to put key Respect@Work report recommendations into legislation. The proposed legislation will enact a positive duty on employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment at work. The duty will also require employers to prevent harassment by third parties such as customers or clients of workers. “This is such an important and long overdue legislative change as sexual harassment at work is rife in Australia with women having a 2 in 3 chance of experiencing it in a current or former workplace, said ACTU President Michele O'Neil. The ACTU has welcomed the Albanese government's action in implementing the Respect@Work report's recommendations. “Employers having an obligation to prevent sexual harassment is essential to making workplaces safe for everyone. We will not have gender equality while women are having to leave jobs because they feel unsafe, Michele O'Neil said. This win comes after strong campaigning by members of Together and other unions. Union members are dedicating to eradicating the scourge of sexual harassment at work.
ASU members have led the campaign for 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave and this week we have won. On Monday, the Fair Work Commission made an in-principle decision that 2.66 million workers covered by modern awards should have access to 10 days paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave. We await the final details and introduction of the clause as they are finalised by the Fair Work Commission. This is an historic step and will be life changing for women experiencing family violence. Key points of the FWC’s decision are as follows: Full time employees and, on a pro-rata basis part-time employees should be entitled to 10 days paid FDV leave per year. The FWC’s provisional view is that it shouldn’t extend to casuals, and there should be no supplementary unpaid FDV leave. The entitlement should accrue progressively across the year in the same way as for personal/carer’s leave accrues under the NES, subject to a ‘cap’ whereby the total accrual does not exceed 10 days at any given time. The FDV leave entitlement should be accessible in advance of an entitlement to such leave accruing, by agreement between an employer and employee. Paid at the employee’s ‘base rate of pay’ as defined in s.16 of the FW Act. The definition of ‘family and domestic violence’ should be in the same terms as the definition in s.106B(2) of the FW Act (and not extend to FDV perpetrated by a member of the employee’s household who is not related to the employee as we wanted). In all other relevant respects the model FDV leave term should reflect the terms of the current unpaid provision in the NES. Unions will work with employers to formulate a draft model FDV leave and file with the FWC next month. Stay tuned for more details on the next steps! The very first family violence leave in an enforceable industrial agreement anywhere in the world was negotiated by the Australian Services Union in 2010. Paid family and domestic violence leave can give a woman – and it nearly always is a woman – the time, support and job security she needs to escape and recover from an abusive relationship. This is a fantastic first step, but we can't stop now. To cover all workers, we need at least 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave in the National Employment Standards. The campaign continues and you can still add your voice to the calls for FDV leave in the NES. Sign our petition here and support access to paid family and domestic violence leave for all workers. We won’t wait, because women can’t wait. Note: Queensland Public Sector members already have the protection of 10 days FDV leave under the Support for employees affected by domestic and family violence Directive.
This week is Queensland Women’s Week, and today is International Women’s Day! This International Women’s Day, I wanted to say a massive congratulations to all Together members who are working for safety and equality today and everyday. Last year, we saw huge movements of women and allies standing up against discrimination, inequity and gendered violence. Thousands of women took to the streets across Queensland, raising their voices and declaring ‘enough is enough’. Women from the union movement were some of the leaders of this national discussion – because if there’s one thing we know as union members, it’s that we have to stand up for what’s right. In 2022, we are still fighting for safety, respect and equality – at home, in our communities, and at work. Sign the petition for respect at work. Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected in their workplace. Sexual harassment and sexism is a serious workplace health and safety issue that impacts everyone. There is more work to do – and now is the time to push for safer workplaces. The Queensland Government hasn’t moved fast enough to change the laws that keep workers safe. Enough is enough. The government needs to step up to be a leader and part of the solution. Together members are calling for the Queensland Government to implement critical sexual harassment reforms in the Industrial Relations Act, the Anti-discrimination Act and the Work Health and Safety Act. Sign the petition. Union members have a history of standing up and winning for women’s rights at work and in our community. Women make an invaluable contribution to our workplaces, our homes and our communities. Together, we can make sure Queensland women get the respect they deserve at work and change our workplaces for the better. Finally - As part of Queensland Women’s Week, Together members are also invited to a virtual Queensland Council of Unions panel discussion on gendered violence and sexual harassment on Thursday 10th March, 12pm-1pm. You can register for this online panel here.
March4Justice is a movement of people calling for the end of gender-based violence in Australian society. Early in 2021, events swirling around federal politics exploded onto a national platform which galvanised Australians to come together to call for the end of sexual violence. In March 2021, over 200 events across Australia popped up and created the grassroots March4justice movement. It started with a tweet, and from there volunteers in cities and towns all over Australia put up their hands to create a movement unlike what we’ve seen in recent years. In 2022, the March4Justice events are back right across the country. The March4Justice movement is calling for 4 key demands; All women to be safe in Australia. First Nations women must be a priority. Women to be safe at work and at home. Real action to end gendered violence and promote gender equality across Australia. Criminal Justice reform. Together members will be joining the rally in Brisbane to support the cause and call for women to be safe at work. Gendered violence is a workplace issue. Gender equality is a workplace issue. Together members have a proud track record for standing up for the rights of women in the workplace. Stemming from the March4Justice rallies last year, our union established the Respect@Work campaign that called for gender pay equity, superannuation and safety at work. Together members also successfully campaigned to establish a Queensland Equity Commissioner to promote, encourage and facilitate the achievement of gender equity within the Queensland Public Service. With the commission just beginning, Together members are looking forward to continuing to advocate for gender equality in the public service. There are public March4Justice events in Warwick, Gold Coast, Cairns and Brisbane this year. You can find all the events details here. The Brisbane event details are below: 10:30am - 11:30am Sunday, 27 February 2022 Soundshell Hill, Brisbane City Botanical Gardens Dress code: Black with teal ribbon on your wrist Click here for the flyer. Please join us and be part of this movement for change. If you care about issues like eliminating the gender pay gap, gendered violence and achieving gender equality, being a Together union member is an important step in reaching those important goals. We are stronger when we act together as a collective and make our voice loud. If these issues are important to you - join your union today. Together we are powerful.
You did this. For years, ASU members campaigned to get super working for women. And overnight the Federal Government abolished the $450 earning threshold for super! Congratulations! It is because of union members Scott Morrison finally fulfilled his promise. What this means: Anyone earning less than $450 per month from a single employer will now receive superannuation. For casual, young, lower-income and part-time workers, this makes a huge difference to their futures. But it isn’t over yet. Women in Australia have been failed by our super system with 1 in 3 retiring in poverty. Help us get super working for everyone here. To get super working for women and low paid workers, the government needs to: Implement the planned increase to 12%super immediately Close the gender super gap by paying super on paid parental leave, Government Carer and family payments. Enforce structures that encourage superannuation contribution sharing for single working parents. Fund government co-contribution top-ups for workers who are not on track for a decent retirement. Together we can ensure working people are able to have a decent retirement, Let’s keep up the momentum and Stand Up for Super! Sign here.
A brighter economic future for women is in sight, if we demand it now. After years of campaigning by ASU members, the Morrison Government last year agreed to scrap the $450 monthly income threshold for Superannuation Guarantee eligibility. With only a few opportunities to make this happen before the election we need your support. Can you join us in calling on Morrison to Stand up for Super this week in Parliament by scrapping the $450 threshold? Sign the petition here! We don’t need any more delays. Systemic change to Super is urgently needed. No worker should miss out on savings in their retirement, yet women disproportionally fall below the $450 earning threshold, disallowing many from accumulating Super during their working lives. There are very few days left to ensure we can start closing the Superannuation gap for women. If the Federal Government is serious about supporting women’s retirement outcomes, they must prioritise this legislation in parliament now. The interests of working women who have suffered disproportionally through this pandemic should not be again cast aside by the Morrison Government. Stand with us by calling on the Morrison government to Stand up for Super here.
