Industrial disputes & news - 23 April 2025
XXXX; Cleanaway; Boral; Keolis Downer; Capital Airport Group; CFMEU Administration; VIC public sector mental health workers; VIC public schools & May Day
UWU/ETU QLD - XXXX
Members of the ETU and UWU continue their industrial action at XXXX factory in Milton. Workers went out on strike last Thursday (17/4) and yesterday (22/4). There may be more strikes this week. Workers are fighting for improved wages and conditions.
TWU QLD - Cleanaway Noosa
Workers at Cleanaway in Noosa remain in dispute. Further strike action took place last Thursday (17/4) and yesterday (22/4). TWU members are fighting for a decent pay deal, including a 7% increase in the first year of a new EBA. Members also have significant concerns about safety. The TWU have asked Noosa city Council to intervene as they have contracted Cleanaway to manage waste services on their behalf. The council declined to get involved saying it was a matter for Cleanaway and the TWU. It is worth noting that Noosa City Council is currently in dispute with both The Services Union and the AWU. Members of The Services Union took strike action for the third time last Wednesday (16/4).
TWU QLD - Boral
TWU members at Boral took 24 hours strike action last Thursday (17/4). This was the second strike by the tipper drivers in two weeks. Strike action by these workers threatens significant delay to critical infrastructure projects. Workers are fighting for improved pay and job security.
RTBU NSW - Keolis Downer
In an escalation of their industrial campaign bus drivers in Newcastle will strike for 24 hours starting at 2 am on Thursday 24th April. This follows weeks of bus drivers refusing to turn on Opal card readers. Workers are fighting for a new EBA with a decent pay increase to keep up with the cost of living as well as 72 hours notice for shift changes.
UWU - Capital Airport Group
UWU are holding a rally at Canberra Airport on 1 May to protest against worker intimidation by both the Capital Airport Group and the AFP. Apparently an UWU organiser was arrested by the AFP for attending a meeting with security workers at the airport. This follows terrible treatment of workers at the airport when the security screening contract was transferred to the “notoriously anti-worker“ MSS group. The transition has been far from smooth with workers having to reapply for jobs and those who were offered jobs by the new contractor all forced to undergo a six month probationary period. Details for the rally in the poster below.
CFMEU Administration
Last Monday (14/4) CFMEU Administrator Mark Irving announced via social media that he had approved a 2025–2028 Strategic Plan. In the update Irving states “It is essential that the union be returned to Democratic control.… We need to build a democratic union – a union where members and delegates have a greater say and control over what the union does and how it does it.” I am yet to find a CFMEU member who has seen this Strategic Plan, and from the comments on Irving’s Facebook post I do not believe that any rank and file members or delegates were consulted on the plan. Democracy cannot be imposed from above. Irving should hand back the union to its members.
HACSU VIC - public sector mental health workers
HACSU’s EBA campaign continues with work bans and stoppages. The most recent stoppage was held last Wednesday (16/4) at Eastern Health.
AEU Vic - Public school teachers
The EBA for public school teachers in Victoria expires later this year, with negotiations expected to commence with the state government in the coming months. The Age has reported that the union is “spoiling for a confrontation” and that Victorian teachers are eager to fight for improved wages and conditions. Victorian public school teachers are the worst paid in the country and would require a 13 to 14% pay increase just to reach parity with NSW. Schools are also facing chronic staff shortages and teacher workloads continue to be an enormous problem. The 2022 EBA included below inflation pay increases of approximately 2% per annum. In the campaign for the 2022 agreement, teachers participated in work bans but did not go on strike. With new leadership at the helm of the AEU and the rank and file increasingly agitated these negotiations will be worth watching.
May Day
May Day’s radical roots lie in the movement for the 8 hour day in the USA and have spread around the world as a day of both protest and celebration for workers.
There are a bunch of May Day activities happening around the country, get along to one if you can. If your union isn’t doing anything to mark May Day, ask your officials/organisers why not!
Thursday 1 May
Canberra - 12:30-1:30pm - Canberra Airport (rally as reported above)
Melbourne - 5pm - 8 Hour Memorial Wreath Laying
Saturday 3 May
Sunday 4 May
Gold Coast – 9 am - North end of Kurrawa Park, Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach
Sunshine Coast – 10 am - Caloundra Sharks Football Club, 1 Gregory Street, Golden Beach
Melbourne - 11am - Victoria Trades Hall, Lygon St Carlton
Fairfield - 11 am - Salvador Allende Monument, Honour Avenue, Fairfield Park (Australia-Chile Solidarity Committee)
Monday 5 May
Alice Springs – 9 am – Carpark across from the Old Memorial Club
Gladstone – 9:30 am - Gladstone Council Carpark, 58 Central Lane
Brisbane Labour Day March – 10 am corner of Turbot and Wharf Street Spring Hill
That’s all I’ve got this week. It has been a bit of a struggle to get the report out this week as I am having some health issues. In order to carve out some time to rest and look after myself I am going to take two weeks off. That means the next report will be on 14 May. In the interim you can find me on Instagram, Twitter, BlueSky and Substack.
In solidarity, Sarah
Thank you for all you do to foster our movement, hope you are back to full fighting fitness soon Comrade.
We appreciate you.