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FIGHTING FOR WOMEN

VALUE IN ACTION – NOT JUST WORDS

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that women’s work is fundamental to Australia’s economic and social well-being. It is women who have been on the front line of the public health response.

Across the spectrum of essential work, United Workers Union women have provided care to our elderly and support for people with disabilities. We have continued to educate children. We have kept public spaces clean and safe; and we have sustained families and communities across multiple food supply chains – from farms to food processing through to warehouses and on to hospitality venues or our homes. In every part of the economy and across the country United Workers women have worked tirelessly – and have done so in situations where our skills are undervalued, our wages are low, and our jobs casualised and insecure.

For United Workers Union women, 2020 was a reckoning call. We say it is time to value the essential work and the contribution of women – in action, not just in words.

OUR 10 POINT PLAN FOR WOMEN

1 VOICE, TREATY, TRUTH. 

We commit to listen and learn from First Nations women in our union and across our country.

2 EQUAL PAY FOR EDUCATORS.

To achieve pay equity for women, UWU Educators demand policies, laws and governments that will uplift and value women, not ones that diminish their worth.

3 FIX THE CRISIS IN AGED CARE.

UWU aged care members demand job security and wages that recognise their commitment, skills and training. They demand minimum staffing and guaranteed time to care for every resident, so every elderly Australian gets the quality care time they deserve.

4 END EXPLOITATION OF MIGRANT WOMEN.

Migrant workers demand equal treatment with all workers and the provision of accessible workers’ rights information and training. We demand reforms to limit the ability of employers to engage workers in a revolving door of casual and temporary contracts over long periods of time. We demand stronger rights and better protections for those employed indirectly through labour hire and agency arrangements. We also call for a visa amnesty for migrant workers and an end to visa enforcement and detention actions by the Department of Home Affairs.

The United Workers Union stands against racism.

5 ENSURE SECURITY AND SAFETY AT WORK.

We demand a zero tolerance approach by venues, which includes removing patrons who harass staff or patrons.

United Workers union women have led – and won – amazing campaigns to have Labor governments criminalise wage theft in Queensland and Victoria. We will continue to demand that wage theft is taken off the menu.

6 STOP EXPLOITATIVE MODELS OF CARE.

Migrant workers demand equal treatment with all workers and the provision of accessible workers’ rights information and training. We demand reforms to limit the ability of employers to engage workers in a revolving door of casual and temporary contracts over long periods of time. We demand stronger rights and better protections for those employed indirectly through labour hire and agency arrangements. We also call for a visa amnesty for migrant workers and an end to visa enforcement and detention actions by the Department of Home Affairs.

The United Workers Union stands against racism.

7 ADDRESS GENDERED, DOMESTIC & FAMILY VIOLENCE.

United Workers Union is committed to working with women’s organisations and services to prevent violence against women. We support the Australian Council of Trade Union’s campaign for 10 days paid Domestic Violence Leave for all women, and for improvements in our industrial and occupational health and safety laws to better address gendered, domestic and family violence. We commit to continue our campaigns for secure work for women, and for rights in bargaining, recognising that security and certainty is so vital to women who are vulnerable to violence and abuse.

8 MAKE SUPER WORK FOR WOMEN.

It’s time to address the issues in the superannuation system that disadvantage women – the $450 per month minimum threshold should be abolished, superannuation should be payable for all paid and unpaid care-related absences, including parental and carers leave, and the Government must proceed with planned legislated increases to the superannuation guarantee of 12%.

9 REFORM OUR BROKEN GENDERED BARGAINING SYSTEM.

UWU members demand that workers be able to come together on an industry wide basis to bargain effectively with their employers – and that government has a seat at the table in sectors it funds – so we can improve our pay and the quality of our jobs.

10  ELECT POLITICIANS WHO SUPPORT OUR FUTURE.

We want our value recognised, and our hard work rewarded with decent pay and job security.

We want change and our plan will make that happen.

It's time to value the essential work and the contribution of women - in action, not just in words.