Liberals Confirm Workers' Fears
SA Unions says the Liberal Party's decision not to publicly reveal details of its Industrial Relations policy will send a shiver down the spine of every worker who values their job and their pay.   Iain Evans, Liberal Industrial Relations spokesman does not seem to understand the difference between the state and federal IR system and indicated that the SA Liberals IR position would be dictated by their federal masters ....>> read on

What's the Big Secret? Libs Hiding IR Policy
With little over  a week before the state election, voters still have no idea whether the Liberals intend to strip them of unfair dismissal protections and introduce individual contracts.  Voters deserve to know whether Ms Redmond would be a puppet for Tony Abbott and Nick Minchin's thinly veiled desires to rob workers of their rights....>> read on

Election Commitments on Key Issues
An increased take of mining royalties, an end to cuts to the public service, a new system of wages setting, and investment in green industries are amongst the commitments SA Unions wants from political parties going into the state election....>> read on

SA Unions has selected ten priorities that it believes should be must do's for Election 2010 ....>> read on

WorkCover a Hot Topic
The Liberals' swift release of its WorkCover policy has been welcomed by SA Unions and indicates the depth of public concern surrounding this issue.  Injured workers are paying the price of unfair laws that were put forward by Labor and supported by the Liberals, so both major parties are culpable, but both have the chance to right the wrongs.....>> read on

AEU - Arbitration Decision
The AEU welcomed the Industrial Relations Commission's resolution of the wages and award component of the Public Education Agreement and says educators remain extremely keen to see real improvements in teaching conditions in a future determination.  The AEU congratulates its members who have remained united through a long and difficult period. ....>> read on

Employment Figures for SA
ABS Trend Labour Force Survey data (released today) show that South Australian employment increased 0.3 per cent (+2,600 persons) in January 2010, raising total employment to 802,400 persons.  This marked the first time that SA employment has exceeded 800,000 persons.  Employment has risen for five consecutive months, and was 1.5 per cent higher than the same time a year ago.  Both full and part-time employment increased in SA last month.

There were 41,200 unemployed persons in SA in January 2010, 1,500 (3.5%) fewer than the month before.  Compared to a year ago, unemployment has fallen by 13.3 per cent (-6,300 persons).  South Australian unemployment is at its lowest level since July 2008.

The SA unemployment rate declined 0.2 percentage points last month, to 4.9 per cent – the lowest unemployment rate since June 2008 (4.8 per cent) and the third lowest unemployment rate of all Australian states and territories.  Compared to the national average, the SA unemployment rate was half a percentage point lower.

WorkCover Unfairly Punishes the Injured
An analysis commissioned by SA Unions and conducted by Uni SA has found that changes to the state workers compensation scheme WorkCover have resulted in unfair suffering and hardship for injured workers with no real improvement in the scheme's performance...>> read on

Asbestos Awareness Day 27 November 2009
SA Unions is using national Asbestos Awareness Day to warn against complacency in the fight against asbestos related diseases.

While South Australia has made progress in the fight for justice for asbestos victims, concern remains for potential future victims.

Asbestos Awareness Day was marked by a memorial breakfast at Jack Watkins Park, on the site of the old Islington Rail Yards in recognition of those who campaigned to raise awareness about the last legacy of asbestos...>> read on

Ark Tribe Rally to Defend Workers' Right to Safety
Friday 30 October 2009, 11.00 am Adelaide Magistrates Court, Victoria Square
Construction worker Ark Tribe faces 6 months jail for allegedly failing to attend an Australian Building and Construction Commission inquisition.  The ABCC alleges that Mr Tribe refused to appear before them and report on his workmates.  The ABCC is seeking to penalise workers who have committed no crimes while companies continue to get away with appalling rates of workplace death and injury due to shortcuts on safety and shoddy standards...>> read on

Ark Tribe’s story can be viewed on youtube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofB0TKkNPmM

SA Unions Climate Change Conference
Thursday 24 September 2009, at the eco-smart Ridley Centre, Wayville Showgrounds
More than 100 representatives from almost every union in South Australia gathered for the state's first ever union conference on climate change.

As part of the Union Agenda for a fair share of the future the conference to learn ways to tackle climate change both from an economic and a social perspective. ..>> read on

SA Campaign - Don't Risk 2nd Rate Safety
Australia has a chance to have the same Occupational Health & Safety laws in every state and territory around the country that protect workers with the world’s best safety standards.

But proposed new laws lower safety standards and put Australian workers at risk.
....>> click here for more information

Welcome Rise for the Lowest Paid
SA Unions has applauded the State Industrial Relations Commission's decision to award a 2.56% pay rise to the state's lowest paid workers.

This means workers on the minimum pay rate will receive a $14 per week rise, taking their weekly income from $546.65 to $560.65.  The Commission has assessed the unique circumstances of South Australia and made a decision in the best interest of our families, balanced with the needs of business. Read on>> 

WorkChoices Last Nasty Gasp
SA Unions has described today's decision by the inaptly named "Fair Pay" Commission as a final nasty swipe from a discredited Industrial System in its death rattles. Read on>> 

We Don't Want Your Construction Laws Here
SA Unions says to Gillard that there is no need for special construction industry laws in this state, and that such laws are hurting our building industry and worker safety. Read on>>

Fair Work Australia Welcomed by SA Unions
SA Unions welcomed the decision of the State Government to be the first state to formally adopt the new Fair Work laws.  It has been done in a way that guarantees South Australians will continue to have a say about industrial laws for our state. Read on >> 

Restore Justice and End NT Intervention
A poignant exhibition of the hardships created by the Howard government's 2007 intervention into Northern Territory Aboriginal Communities opened in Adelaide tonight at the ArtLab, 70 Kintore Avenue, Adelaide.  Called "autonomies" it is a photographic exhibition and aural journey into the lives of Aboriginal people stripped of their independence.

While it is good news that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Friday announced that the Racial Discrimination Act would be reinstated, this doesn't address the overall concerns of communities living under this dehumanising regime." Read on>>

Landmark Industrial Ruling for Victim Support
SA Unions hope the long awaited conclusion of the industrial death case of Daniel Madeley will be seized as an opportunity to better support victims' families Read on>>

Workers Rally for Safety
Workers rallied outside the meeting of the Workplace Relations Ministers and the Acting Prime Minister, Julia Gillard to call for the abolition of special laws in the Construction Industry and the introduction of the strongest possible Occupational, Health and Safety laws across every state in the nation.

Unions are calling for the strongest possible laws in every state and territory that ensure:

• The absolute duty of care of employers to provide a safe workplace
• Proper and effective right of entry provisions for union officials
• A strong system of independent health and safety representatives in workplaces
• A strong system of prosecution for employers who breach safety laws
• The abolition of special laws in the Construction Industry

>>.. read on

Clean Start Campaign
Contract cleaning firms have flocked to the historic Clean Start Union Collective Agreement, and now contracting firms cleaning more than half of Australia's capital cities have signed.

Nearly 30 companies in total have now signed.  They signed because cleaners stuck together and campaigned together until the companies agreed that they deserve fair jobs and decent pay.  >>.. read on
For more information visit the Clean Start Campaign Website.