Successful Campaigns

Thanks to your support, Howard is back at work!

A contract change at 469 La Trobe Street meant that seven of our cleaning members with decades of experience between them were going to be out of a job come October 1 – set to be replaced by a brand new cleaning workforce. It was unjust and unfair. So our members stood up. On Thursday night they received news that every single one of them will be redeployed to other buildings across Melbourne, they all get to keep their jobs and with the same pay and conditions. WIN. Join United Voice for good, secure jobs: po.st/joinUVnow

Reservoir East Primary School received some exciting news last week from Robin Scott, our state local member. He announced that our school will be receiving $6.3 million funding in the next budget to build a new school. We would like to sincerely thank Robin Scott for his support and hard work in advocating for our school. In addition, we would like to express our utmost appreciation to our dedicated parents and friends who have put in massive effort lobbying on our behalf. We are incredibly lucky to have such a supportive community and parent group.

After weeks of advocating for student voices, the University has finally changed its position on WAM. Last week we presented our petition to the University which had over 13,600 signatures. This outcome is the direct result of student voices. There is power in a union. UMSU will never stop standing up for students. #strongertogether

Workers won the strike and have successfully negotiated a new agreement.

Members have now endorsed the new EA with 71% approval. The new agreement will: - Lock in that all members receive 4 weeks per year of service capped at 80 weeks from 1 July 2021, and not just at "Full Site Closure"; (Members made redundant who are over 45 also retain the additional 1 week per year of service up to 10 weeks (still within the 80 week cap), plus the pay out of all accrued personal leave and other entitlements) - Secured a minimum number of 50 Voluntary Redundancies, which can go up to 80. - An 80/20 ratio of permanents to casual, thereby creating many permanent jobs; - Outplacement Services placed in the EA; - Ensuring members cannot be disciplined over pick rates; - Ensuring Coles uses all permanent team members first when applying job rotation or higher duties (including perms on OT), before using labour hire agency workers; - Ensuring that all members go back work without the threat of any disciplinary action; - A $1000 sign on bonus each - An ability to take a redundancy at their own initiative, not the company's. Thank you for your support and solidarity for these hardworking members!

Christmas was saved for sixty cleaners at University of Tasmania campuses in Hobart and Launceston. Union cleaners stood together, and with support from students and the community, were able to force their employer to back down from cutting workers’ pay over Christmas. UTAS cleaner Anna Reay says, "We are all so relieved to have our Christmas back, and we want to thank the community and the students for all their support.” There is power in your union!

Our elected representatives need to have the ability to represent us, the members, free of harassment and the threat of disciplinary hanging over their heads like the hangman's noose. The actions displayed from Sydney Trains set a terrible precedent and will impede the movement's ability to bargain into the future due to workplace delegates being in fear of the employment.

La Trobe backs down. Roz Ward reinstated. The university has withdrawn all charges and Roz returned to work on Monday. The concerted campaign by Roz's union, the Safe Schools community and the wider community has clearly forced the university to come to its senses. The NTEU calls upon Australia's vice chancellors to stand up and make it very clear that this type of unwarranted attack upon both academic freedom and the right of employees to hold and express an opinion will never be repeated. If anyone wondered why you might join a union - this is why.