Fair Work Australia has issued a split decision (4:1) granting significant pay increases to workers covered by the social and community services sector Modern Award. VP Watson was the dissenter and would not have awarded anything! The increases range from 19%-41% depending on the MODERN award classification level plus an additional total or aggregate 4% loading. All increases are to be phased in over 9 equal instalments from 1 December 2012 to 1 December 2020.

Read more: FWA -Equal Remuneration Case WIN!

From Kazakhstan: This is shocking stuff -- and it's probably not being picked by mainstream media. This weekend LabourStart is carrying a number of news reports about clashes between armed police and unarmed strikers in Kazakhstan.

The BBC and others are now reporting on 10 strikers having been killed. Maybe even more than that.

We have launched an urgent action campaign to pressure the Kazakh government to stop the killings - please sign up and spread the word.

From Turkey: The cover story on last week's issue of Time magazine was about Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne. According to Time, Marchionne is "the man who saved the car business."

A couple of weeks earlier, the cover story in the same magazine was a puff piece about Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who a week later won Time's poll for the '2011 person of the year'.

Read more: Urgent: Kazakhstani & Turkish Unionists Need Our Support

The inquiry investigating the extent and impact of the growth of casual, labour hire and contract employment in Australia has received more than 300 submissions. The deadline for submissions has been extended, and workers, community groups, unions and employers now have until Friday, 20 January to share their stories about insecure work.

Workers across the country have less than one week left to contribute their experiences to the Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work in Australia, with submissions set to close this Friday.

ACTU President Ged Kearney said an overwhelming number of workers had already lodged their submissions, with 265 received at the end of last week.

“The submissions from workers will provide valuable evidence for the Inquiry to consider the impact insecure work has on people’s ability to plan for their future, to make ends meet and to spend time with family and friends,” she said.

Read more: Extended: Submissions Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work

Fiji refuses entry to Australian and New Zealand unions’ fact-finding mission.

The Fijian Government has today demonstrated its refusal to engage with the international community about human and labour rights after denying entry or consular support to an Australian and New Zealand union fact-finding mission.

The delegation, led by ACTU President Ged Kearney, was denied permission to enter Fiji at Nadi Airport this afternoon, and is on its way back to Sydney.

It is expected to arrive to at Sydney Airport this evening.

Read more: Union Fiji Mission Denied Entry

What is the Fijian Govt trying to hide? Aust and NZ unions to go ahead with visit despite reported ban

Unions from Australia and New Zealand intend to proceed with plans to send a delegation to Fiji this week and have called on the regime to clarify media reports it will ban them from the country.

ACTU President Ged Kearney said she was concerned at unconfirmed reports in today’s Fijian media that the union delegation would not be permitted to enter the country for a three-day mission to investigate allegations of human and labour rights abuses by the military regime.

She said the ACTU and its New Zealand counterpart were seeking clarification from the Fijian Attorney-General, but intended to go ahead with the fact-finding mission, which is the result of requests from Fijian unions and civil society groups.

Read more: Aust and NZ unions to go ahead with visit despite reported ban

In this edition of enews, we look at a roundup of November's ACTU Executive, the upcoming ALP Conference, the newly released Wages Report, and the Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work. We also bring you the latest on union activities and campaigning around equal pay, Fiji and superannuation.

Looking forward to 2012, the Organising Centre will release its course schedule this week, and with online registrations about to open in February – and we are asking unions to save the date for 15-17 May for ACTU Congress. 

There’s now just over a fortnight to make a submission to the Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work.

The inquiry, chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister Brian Howe, will investigate the growth and spread of casual, contract, labour hire and other forms of insecure work in Australia, and the impact it has on workplace rights, family finances, and society.

Read more: ACTU ENews December

Workers will have enhanced rights to bargain for better pay and conditions and secure jobs under
changes to the Labor Party's national platform adopted at the National Conference, say unions.

The Labor Party has committed to a more effective bargaining system and a more activist role for
Fair Work Australia in the promotion of good faith collective bargaining, says the ACTU.

“The recent actions of Qantas management demonstrated the need for more balance in the
workplace system to protect workers’ rights,” said ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence.

Read more: New Labor platform strengthens collective bargaining and improves worker rights

Our economy is performing well and the unemployment rate stands at a 5% low. Yet 40% of Australian workers are now employed in contract and casual work.

These people have little or no job security, have no rights to take holidays or sick leave, are paid varying amounts each week and often have little control over when they work and for how long.

For many, this impacts on family life and puts additional stress on already stretched households trying to keep on top of rent, groceries and electricity bills. Others struggle to be taken seriously when applying for a car or home loan or can’t take up childcare due to the inconsistency of their hours.

Read more: Secure Jobs. Better Future

The Officers of the ACTU thank our fellow unionists for their absolute commitment to organising and representing working Australians.

People who work and volunteer for unions are motivated by values of fairness, equity, and shared collective responsibility.

Recent media focus on the Health Services Union must not distract us from our commitment to this vital task.

Allegations about the HSU’s finances are being investigated, and those investigations must be allowed to run their course. As this investigation is underway, it would be inappropriate to comment any further.

These allegations do not suggest any systemic issues within the union movement.

The ACTU is absolutely committed to the transparent and accountable use of members’ funds.

Read more: ACTU says Thank You to unionists

Australian unions have condemned the Fiji military regime’s declaration of a draconian new decree as a blatant attack on workers’ rights.

ACTU President Ged Kearney said the illegal and unelected government led by Commodore Frank Bainimarama was increasingly defiant in the face of international criticism and must restore constitutional rights immediately.

The Essential National Industries (Employment) Decree, declared on Friday, seeks to:

Ban all strikes, slowdowns, sick actions or any action that may negatively impact the employer;

Ban unions from representing workers in negotiating collective bargaining outcomes;

Read more: Unions condemn Fiji’s attack on workers’ rights