Across the hospitality industry, from Barry Cafe to Chin Chin to Vue de Monde, wage theft has become a business model. Hospo workers are fed up and now we’re fighting back. We have joined together to launch Hospo Voice, a powerful new union just for hospo workers so we can hold employers to account. We're calling on the Fair Work Ombudsman to conduct a full audit of Hairy Little Sista and order repayment of unpaid wages to all past and present staff. Right now.

Hairdressing is already one of the lowest paid trades. This proposal by HABA would be a kick in the guts hairdressers just don’t need, particularly when pay is already so low. HABA is a powerful lobby group that represent salon owners. It’s time hairdressers made their voice heard! Make your voice count and sign this petition.

Since Broadspectrum was awarded the Court & Custodial contract by the Department of Justice in 2016, officers have seen their workplace suffer. The Liberal State Government at the time awarded Broadspectrum the contract at $36 million less than the previous contractor. This $36 million was stripped from the pockets of these workers’ by shafting these workers onto the JBU (Justice Business Unit) no-stake agreement. The JBU was voted on by people who didn’t have a stake in the workplace and undermined years of fighting for good working conditions. In doing this the work environment at Broadspectrum for court and custodial officers has deteriorated. In September 2019 a well published escape of a notorious prisoner Laurie Dodds was attributed to the deteriorating standards of employment at Broadspectrum. Training standards have deteriorated and remuneration for these officers does not compensate them for the job they do. No longer can the contractor attract and retain talented operators for the role. Officers are abused and spat at by prisoners daily and are not afforded the proper protections to remain loyal to this job. Morale is low and employee turn-over is high, which only leads to loss of human capital & knowledge that is built over time. Further an incident in February 2021 where a prisoner had their thumb severed in a prison van’s door is another example of policy and standards where Broadspectrum have cut corners and caused casualties. Since the Federal court of Australia quashed the JBU agreement, Broadspectrum officers have been building industrial strength to fight for the working conditions they are entitled to. These officers are now in the midst of bargaining their new Enterprise Agreement and fighting for better standards of employment to attract and retain talented officers to the job. But Broadspectrum continues to cut corners by devaluing the roles these officers do for safe & secure communities. Broadspectrum have made an offer of a 1% increase and a 1-year agreement for these workers. This is not justified for these workers to continue to keep prisoners locked up and communities safe. It is time for Broadspectrum to come to the table on a real offer. And for the state Government to consider if they really want a Government department to be associated with a contractor who treats their workers unfairly and unjustly. Read more about the history of this fight here: http://www.twuwa.org.au/articles/view/job-security-for-court-security.html

As parents of pre-school kids at the Melbourne City Childcare Centre on A'Beckett Street, we are upset and angry about the hastily announced proposal from Melbourne City Council to shut the centre in four weeks. We have been given an unreasonably short consultation period of two weeks and are feeling rushed and stressed by the sudden announcement. We want the decision reversed because it is going to be bad for our kids, bad for our families and bad for the early childhood educators and carers who work at the centre. Our kids need to stay with their friends and educators and carers they trust. The educators and carers need their jobs. Our families need accessible care near our work for our kids. Melbourne City Childcare Centre provides a safe, fun and professional service to our pre-school kids. This centre offers a unique 'family' like environment. Our MCCC community is irreplaceable and the value cannot be seen in budgets and bottom lines. Our response to this proposal is a reflection of the respect and support that we have for one another. As parents, we worry about moving our kids from their established friendships and relationships at the centre. We also worry about the confusion and stress caused by finding and settling in to new childcares. As working families it is important that we have access to childcare near our workplaces, we know that finding other good quality centres for our kids in such a short timeframe will be incredibly difficult and stressful. We ask that you sign this petition to call on Melbourne City Council to keep our childcare centre open. - Parents of Melbourne City Childcare Centre, A'Beckett Street

Women are more likely to be in insecure and casual work, therefore earning less super over their working life. They often don't reach the $450 super threshold to receive contributions, and women also receive 50% less super upon retirement. It is also a startling fact that 70% of single women upon retirement become homeless due to this Super gap.

Newstart at $269 per week, is $177 per week below the poverty-line. It is less than 41 percent of the minimum wage, less than 18 percent of the average wage, and has not been raised in real terms for 23 years.
 Even the Business Council of Australia has advocated to the government that the low rate of Newstart presents a barrier to employment and risks entrenching poverty. 
 Increasing Newstart would benefit local economies, by increasing the spending power of those on low incomes, whose extra funds would circulate through local businesses. It would also reduce the strain on Council community services assisting the growing number of people experiencing hardship. Eleven local councils in South Australia and Victoria have added their voices to the chorus of business, union and welfare groups which have called for Newstart to be increased. The South Australian councils which have passed motions are Adelaide, Clare and Gilbert Valley, Copper Coast, Kangaroo Island, Mount Gambier, Onkaparinga, Playford, Port Adelaide Enfield, Salisbury, and Streaky Bay. In Victoria, the Moreland City Council has also passed a motion. The inadequacy of the Newstart payment entrenches poverty and contributes to homelessness. With the growth of gentrification and development in Melbourne's inner west the Newstart payment is no longer providing the means for Maribyrnong's working-class and migrant population to live in the area. The Maribyrnong City Council should support the motion to increase Newstart and protect the area's identity as being one of the most diverse and accessible places to live in Melbourne.

Workers deserve a fair pay rise, the cost of living is increasing and wages are not. Yakult is making millions of profits and workers are struggling to keep up. This is a kick in the guts!

In 2016, there were over 53 million failed calls to Centrelink. The Centrelink Newstart line is engaged most of the day, which means it is actually impossible for unemployed workers to contact Centrelink. This is outrageous. As a result of this system, those on social security system are unable to call up to report, change circumstances, resolve a suspension, or just ask a question. Social security recipients deserve respect. The least the Government can do is listen to what we have to say.

Cleaning is hard, dirty work. From 7am in the morning, every day of the week I'm at work making sure the public housing estate I work at is clean and healthy for families who live there. I work long hours, I sometimes give up my weekends and make sacrifices every day to make sure I can pay the bills, but I’m still going backwards. It used to be that we worked hard, and we could live a good life. But that reality has been snatched away as our wages go backwards and our voice at work is silenced. We have to change the rules so we can all have a job we can count on, and a wage we can live on.

The Fairwork Commission is undergoing a review that focuses on swim teachers pay for the industry. Most of the swimming instructors we work with will train for anywhere between 6 and 12 months. The process to become a swimming teacher is quite long and arduous. We do internal train, we do training courses we must have Working with Children and CPR certifications. We would cover these requirements over the 6 – 12 month period. During this time, however, we would at times still be required to teach classes generally due to the lack of teachers on a given shift. So, there we are, teaching kids to swim but technically still a ‘trainee’ and being paid that way. Given their way employers want this sort of practice to be written into the Fitness Industry Award by having a ‘trainee swim teacher’ role at level one. Given that the words ‘swim teacher’ don’t come into the Award until level 3, this would blur the lines terribly for new swimming teachers coming into the industry. We want to make a difference. We want to change the rules, so they support young workers not exploit them. We would really appreciate your support!

After the threatening caption "You gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky, greenie punks? " with the image of George Christensen aiming a handgun. As per the Queensland firearms licence conditions, you are to be a fit and proper person, which stipulates that the person is Not fit and proper if within the last 5 years; the use or threatened use of violence. After this depiction as described above, the enacting, and invoking violence towards members of the public who are of "greenie" values or actions this is to be accounted as George Christensen to be found no longer a fit and proper person to be in possession of a firearms licence, and permits to own firearms.

PARSA provides students with information, advice and support to those relocating to Canberra, and offers emergency accommodation grants to students who require temporary accommodation due to unforeseen circumstances. However, the association’s funds are limited, and should only be relied upon as a last resort for our members. The results of the PARSA Accommodation Survey demonstrate the need for the ANU to acknowledge and respond to the concerns raised with prompt and meaningful action.