No university worker should be forced to choose between quarantine and feeding their family. The Coronavirus Covid-19 crisis is engulfing Australia - and our universities are in the eye of the storm. Right now, job security is health security and we need university Vice-Chancellors to do the right thing by staff, students and the public. That means securing our rights at work so we can protect our health at home. No-one can predict how long this crisis will continue - perhaps weeks or months. That's why we need to lock in firm commitments from university employers now to keep things fair, and keep us safe.

所有在澳洲工作的勞動者，我們站在一起，我們不把任何人屏除在外。 現在，在澳洲有330萬個勞動者並沒有辦法拿到給薪假，而這是32%的全國勞動人口。 如果這些人生病了，卻沒有病假或是被迫自主隔離在家，就沒有收入。 我們不能再等了，已經有人被迫自主隔離而失掉主要收入。 我們要求莫里森政府保證，給所有的勞動者兩周特殊給薪假。 現在就連署，讓所有因為新冠肺炎而受到影響的勞動者取得兩周特殊給薪假。

The lives of thousands of Australians hinge on our government taking immediate action by guaranteeing paid leave and protective equipment for all home care & disability support workers.

We are in unprecedented times and as workers, we are petitioning for the Government to introduce an Epidemic and Pandemic Special Leave Policies.  We encourage the Government to recognise that this is an unprecedented situation and as front line transport workers, working with people and their goods, and continuously exposed to the potentially sick patrons, we are at a heightened risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.  We seek the Government to provide special leave to individuals who do not have sufficient sick leave to cover their absence or carer’s leave to look after an affected family member - be their employment contract a casual, part-time or full-time contract. Read more about the risk Qantas and Jetstar workers are facing here: https://www.theage.com.au/national/union-fears-deadly-risk-of-poor-cleaning-on-qantas-jetstar-flights-20200316-p54amu.html

Many workers have no access to paid sick leave, have already run out of leave, or will run out of leave if required to self-isolate for 14-days. Workers in tourism, education, events and entertainment industries are highly casualised and experiencing massive cancellations and loss of income. The risk of losing access to housing is driving vulnerable workers to take any shift they can get, even when feeling ill, or under direction to self-isolate. The precarious nature of the rental and housing market, and its massive costs, provide incentives to people to continue to work, even when this puts the community at risk. Alone, these workers face economic strife and destitution, whether through large fines for breaking quarantine orders, or through punitive measures taken by landlords, real estate agencies and banks. Together we can ensure that the mortgage and rent amnesty is extended to everyone, so we can all take time away from work without fear of homelessness. We must assert the right to housing for all. We mustn't allow the most vulnerable people to be singled out. We must not ask for permission from the landlords and banks; we must take a strike to protect our community. Even if you can access leave, think of those who can't, please sign the pledge and join the strike.

As of March 15, the University of Queensland has had 4 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among students. This is on the same day that 15 more cases were announced across Queensland. Although classes have been suspended for a one week period, operations are continuing on the campus. Keeping UQ open, and bringing together the largest single workplace in Queensland with the thousands of students that attend the campus, is socially reckless. The UQ administration is endangering the health and wellbeing not just of students and staff at UQ, but of community members in Brisbane more broadly. Internationally, the evidence thus far with COVID-19 has been that early intervention, including implementing social distancing, is vital to slowing the spread of the virus. The sooner UQ closes the campus, the less people will potentially come into contact with COVID-19. We demand that UQ’s St Lucia campus is closed, and we demand that the closure is implemented in a way that protects the financial stability of students and staff. All employees at UQ’s St Lucia campus should be guaranteed wages for the duration that the campus is closed. This includes full-time, part-time and casual members of: the academic staff, the cleaning staff, the hospitality staff (including those employed in outlets run by the UQU and other independent vendors), and staff from any other sectors of the university. Workers must not be penalised for a health crisis. We demand that UQ should further extend the census date for students to withdraw from their courses without academic or financial penalty. Not all coursework is possible to complete online, and the disruption may impede students’ ability to participate. We demand that comprehensive extension allowances must be made for any research students (MPhil and PhD) whose candidature and associated scholarships (tuition-fee offset and living allowance) may be impacted by campus closure. We demand that UQ put the health and safety of their students and staff before their profits.

There is Lots of Panic Buying in our Supermarkets at this time of need. Lots of people are scared about COVID-19 Virus, i feel our Elderly are being left behind when trying to shop for their everyday items. If all Supermarkets were open one hour earlier on this Pension Day 19-03-2020 our Elderly could shop in Peace, and be able to secure their Everyday Items before the panic Buyers Entered the store. It would a safe haven for our Elderly who are most Vulnerable to the COVID-19 Virus.

School cleaners don’t have enough time to do their job because of cuts to cleaning hours by the NSW Government. Cleaners want to ensure your kids are safe but simply don’t have enough time to do the job they want to do.

We are saying with one big loud voice: it’s time for the Federal Government to step up and support casual workers and the businesses that employ them. Everyone besides this government understands that casual workers cannot afford to go into quarantine for two weeks without pay. Nor can these workers afford to go on Newstart which is just $40 a day and below the poverty line. And many workers aren’t even eligible. No one wants casual workers going to work who are sick simply because they can't afford to lose pay. Lots of businesses are doing the right thing and supporting their staff. But many small businesses are already on their knees from the bushfires and they face another massive blow from the Coronavirus. Now is the time for real leadership. We need this government to step in and ensure all workers forced to take leave because of Coronavirus can do so, and not be left out of pocket.

The possibility of university-wide shutdowns in response to the COVID-19 virus is a terrifying one for casual and insecure workers who have no sick pay or leave entitlements. In Australian public universities, more than half of all teaching at our universities is delivered by casual staff, we are not marginal we are the backbone of the sector. This means that in the event of a shutdown, thousands of university staff are facing the loss of income they rely on to pay the bills and keep food on the table or even job losses. Casual workers who become sick in the coming weeks and months will have to decide whether they can afford to self-isolate or quarantine. This is both unconscionable and dangerous. The responsibility for this disastrous situation lies squarely on the shoulders of university managements who have responded to declining public funding by building an insecure workforce – all while enjoying some of the highest salaries in the world for university executives. So far, only Macquarie University has guaranteed access to sick pay and leave for casual staff in the event of self-isolation or shutdown. This is a welcome decision and we call on all other universities to follow their example. Currently, universities remain open for business, but the COVID-19 travel bans and public health crisis have given spendthrift universities across Australia an excuse to cut jobs. Frontline teaching staff have already lost work and more job losses are threatened. At the same time, staff workloads have intensified as student support needs have escalated. Despite the number of unknowns facing Australian universities, one thing is certain: domestic and international students will need more support – not less – because of the disruption caused by COVID-19. A well-staffed university workforce is fundamental if we are to meet the needs of students during this public health crisis. Casual staff must not pay the price for the COVID-19 outbreak. We are not a ‘soft expense’ to be cut when convenient, nor should we have to choose between our health, the health of our students and colleagues, and putting food on the table. By March 18 all universities must guarantee: · Casual staff continue to be paid if they are required to self-isolate. This is a basic requirement to secure the welfare of casual staff and ensure the safety of the university community. · Casual staff continue to be paid in the event of university shutdowns, even if they are unable to work from home. Casual staff perform work in teaching and research that is core to the mission of universities. Retention and support of casual staff must be a university priority. · Stop job cuts and austerity measures. Universities need more – not less – frontline staff to support and retain students through this difficult time. Endorsed by: NTEU UniMelb Casuals Network, NTEU ANU Casuals Committee, NTEU UoN Casuals Collective, NTEU UQ Casuals Caucus

As Australians, we stick together with our mates – we don’t leave people behind. But there are 3.3 million Australian workers with no access to paid leave – this represents 32% of all working people. If these workers become ill they will either attend work sick or potentially be subject to self-isolation quarantine at home without means to pay their bills. We can't wait - people are already being forced to go into quarantine and losing income. Many workers are also being forced to use their leave and some are even being stood down without pay. We are demanding that the Morrison Government guarantee two weeks paid special leave for all workers. Sign this petition to demand access to two weeks paid special leave for all workers affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19).

As the media is click baiting audiences through fear mongering with false statistics and reports but also out casting minorities in our society and not taking due responsibility in a so called ‘time of crisis’.