United Workers Union

As someone who has spent their career advocating for injured workers and fighting for workplace safety I find it disheartening — no, actually, infuriating—to see yet another example of profits being prioritised over people. Woolworths’ “Coaching and Productivity Framework” has triggered widespread strike action from its warehouse workers, represented by the United Workers’ Union (UWU), and for good reason. This framework, requiring workers to hit 100% productivity scores every single day, represents a dangerous disregard for the human experience in its variables, bodily limits and safety. In my view, this framework isn’t about accountability; it’s about exploitation. And in my practice, I’ve seen far too many clients harmed by similar high-pressure systems. I fear that, in the future, I will be exhibiting a copy of these very same KPIs as part of one of many affidavits for these workers, referencing the unsafe system of work that placed these people under immense pressure which directly led to their injuries. And to be very frank, I would much prefer a world where no worker ever has to sit across from me, injured and fighting for their basic legal rights such as medical treatment, simply because their employer failed them. To Woolworths and Lineage, just in case you forgot: workplace safety is a fundamental right, not an optional extra that we tack on after we hit out quarterly profits. Also, just in case you need a reminder from your cosy boardroom chairs: behind every injured worker is a life disrupted. A person with a family, with dreams for the future, with hobbies and things that bring them joy —a person who deserves to work in an environment that values their safety above corporate KPIs. Hope that clears things up for us all! :) I stand with the workers taking collective action, putting their livelihoods on the line, to demand what is also supposed to be guaranteed under the law: a safe workplace. In standing with these workers I know that strike action is never taken lightly. These workers know the financial strain of going without pay, the sacrifices required to hold the line. Strikes affect livelihoods. Strikes mean parents wondering if their kids will get Christmas presents this year. Yet despite these challenges, these workers have stood together to demand change—not just for themselves but to ensure a safer workplace for others in the future. That courage deserves our applause and our support. I’m proud to stand in solidarity with these workers. If you care about fairness and safety in the workplace, I urge you to do the same. People over productivity, every single time. You can support the Woolworths strikers by donating to their emergency bill and food relief while they strike for safety here: https://lnkd.in/gxxtMENJ United Workers Union VICTORIAN TRADES HALL COUNCIL Maurice Blackburn Lawyers

We stand in solidarity with striking United Workers Union warehouse workers at Woolworths (who co-own us). Their fight for fair treatment in the face of inhumane algorithms is connected to the broader struggle for the social control of technology, and human decency in the midst of the climate crisis. We urge members to stand in solidarity here: https://lnkd.in/gtDYSkZr

Woolworth’s productivity framework assumes that a 40 year old can meet the same pick rate standards as an 18 year old. There is no accounting for age in the framework which is a massive failing when it comes to workplace health and safety. Workers deserve to be treated fairly, as humans, and with recognition that they will work to the best of their ability - not to an expectation of robots. I support the workers standing firm against unreasonable and unrealistic engineered standards which will only serve to increase workplace injuries.

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Ever wanted to tell Commonwealth Bank what you think of their shameful gender pay gap? Now you can! Tell them here: https://lnkd.in/gVFcWEps United Workers Union

Our comrades at United Workers Union have secured an election commitment with the insourcing of hospital cleaners at Canberra Hospital, as well as community health facilities and food catering services at North Canberra Hospital. We know that cleaning and catering services are vital for health care systems and these jobs should always be secure. Read more about the commitment, via the link >> https://lnkd.in/g-fu4PX2 #anmfact #union #midwives #nurses #act #canberra #UWU

Fair wages, safe conditions, and a voice at work. That's what Unions fight for. On 23 September, I joined the United Workers Union, and over 500 workers from DHL Western Sydney to strike for a fair deal. Later that week in Parliament, I spoke about the importance of the action taken. It's so important we hold big corporations accountable, and the workers on the ground get their fair share of the record billion-dollar profits. United Workers Union NSW Labor Unions NSW

We’re excited to announce that yesterday we launched CAF Portfolio Certification to market. Rather than assessing each individual building against our Standard, CAF Portfolio Certification enables an asset owner or manager to secure the same level of assurance across an entire portfolio, streamlining the process and scaling-up its impact.   We would like to extend our thanks to all our speakers. Alongside our Co-CEOs, Miriam Thompson and Ashley King, and CAF Worker Engagement Officer, Jennifer Alonso Garcia, we were joined by representatives from our founding members, including Antonia Parkes (AustralianSuper) and Jazmin Rivera (United Workers Union), as well ISPT's Chief Sustainability Officer, Steven Peters.   A special acknowledgment to ISPT, whose support over the past three years was instrumental in piloting CAF Portfolio Certification. This pilot involved the development and testing of three key programs that now serve as foundational pillars of our Portfolio Certification scheme.   We appreciate the great turnout and support from our members and stakeholders. Your collaboration has been essential in expanding the impact of our Certification scheme, which will ultimately benefit cleaners at a broader scale.   For more information about our CAF Portfolio Certification, please visit our blog: https://bit.ly/4dY4HEc   Australian Catholic Anti-slavery Network (ACAN) | AustralianSuper | Better Sydney | BIC Consolidated | Cbus Property | Dexus | Dimeo Cleaning Services | The Fair Work Ombudsman | Facility Management Association of Australia (FMA) | GECA | Green Building Council of Australia | IFM Investors | ISPT | ISS Facility Services Australia and New Zealand | Lendlease | Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools | Menzies Facility Services | Mirvac | QIC | RMIT Business and Human Rights Centre | Tradeflex | Trident Services Australia | United Workers Union | Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA)

So it’s been a little while - but that doesn’t mean that United Workers Union Industrial Team hasn’t been up to a lot! 👉The Fair Work Commission granted a bargaining Order to stop action being taken by Quantem by two delegates that we argued was a breach of good faith bargaining obligations. See the decision of UWU v Quantem [2024] FWC 2209 below, credit: Nikolas Pefanis. 👉We were successful in a section 739 dispute arguing that Probiotec was required to pass on a 5.65% wage increase. Shoutout to Abbey Sultan. See United Workers’ Union v Probiotec Pharma Pty Ltd [2024] FWC 2210. The matter is on appeal, so watch this space! 👉The UWU successfully defended an application by Hot Wok for leave to appeal to the High Court, with credit to Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Patrick Turner and Barristers Warren Friend KC and Hamish Clift. See Hot Wok Food Makers Pty Ltd v United Workers Union & Anor [2024] HCASL 224 👉We were also part of the Same Job, Same Pay application filed by with the SDA in respect of contractors of Metcash at Gepps Cross (shoutout Kiara Smith) On top of all of the above, we have been busy with a range of hearings in the last fortnight: 👉Liam McDonald appeared for a UWU member in an unfair dismissal hearing at the Fair Work Commission, challenging the dismissal of a member by their employer in immigration. The member was dismissed after nine years’ exemplary service for an incident involving an attempted escape by a detainee, despite our member not being provided appropriate support from their employer. 👉Claire Gray-Starcevic had been busy with many conferences regarding the gender based undervaluation in the FWC for Children’s Services Award, the Health Professionals and Support Services Award, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award 2020. 👉The UWU also appeared in a hearing at the Fair Work Commission last Thursday, in an agreement interpretation dispute against a food manufacturing employer who made two members redundant against their will over others who had volunteered for a redundancy. The decision is reserved. Shoutout to Liam McDonald and Sam Gill. 👉Sean Howe appeared for the UWU in a joint application with the IEU in an application for multi-employer bargaining for NSW preschools. 👉And last, but not least, we continued with three days of bargaining in the Fair Work Commission for ECEC multi-employer bargaining (shoutouts to Sheldon Oski and Rhys James) It’s been a big couple of weeks! #unionstrong #employmentlaw

HUGE congratulations to all early childhood educators who’ve spoken out for respect and recognition over many years. 🎉   I’m proud to have stood alongside you all the way! 💪🏼   This feminised, highly skilled profession has been taken for granted for far too long.   It’s no coincidence that an overwhelmingly female-dominated profession has been asked to work for low wages, just for the ‘love of it’.   Well love doesn’t pay the rent, and educators deserve better.   Today, our Government introduced legislation to deliver a 15 percent pay rise.   This pay rise will:   💜 Value the essential work our early educators perform   💜 Attract and retain dedicated early educators in jobs they love   💜 Benefit the children they educate in the critical early years It takes the union movement working together with Labor Governments to deliver reform like this - building women’s economic security, and changing lives for the better. United Workers Union Murray Watt Tony Burke Dr. Anne Aly Jason Clare MP Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Community Early Learning Australia Community Child Care Association #EarlyLearning #WomensEconomicSecurity