Industrial disputes & news - 24 April 2024
WA teachers; Transgrid; Adelaide trains; Fraser Coast Council; Victorian TAFEs; Electrolux; RSV Nuyina; Saputo; NSW child protection workers; AFP; International Workers Memorial Day
SSTUWA - WA Public Schools
Yesterday (23/4), public school teachers in Western Australia struck for half a day. This was the first time in a decade that teachers had taken strike action in the state. Teachers are seeking a decent pay rise as well as action on workload and class size. The SSTUWA is part of the Public Sector Alliance in WA which sees unions fighting for pay rises following the removal of the WA Government’s pay cap which was first introduced in 2021 and lifted late last year. Despite the lift of the pay cap, the WA Government has still not satisfied the teacher’s demand for a 12% pay increase over 2 years.
ETU NSW - Transgrid
The latest in the now long running Transgrid dispute sees the ETU taking Transgrid to the Federal Court due to workers not being paid for 12 days when they were participating in work bans. The union alleges that energy company Transgrid wrongly stood down its workers without pay while they engaged in protected industrial action in March. What effect this will have on the EBA negotiations remains to be seen.
RTBU - Keolis Downer Adelaide Trains
The RTBU has informed Keolis Downer Adelaide that members will strike for 24 hours on 2 May, bringing the train network to a halt. This has been met with hostility as it will effect players travelling to the “AFL Showdown” match between Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows. RTBU SA Secretary Darren Phillips pointed out there was still plenty of time to “thrash this deal out” before the footy. RTBU members took 2 x 2 hour strikes last week, and have also flagged further industrial action for 7 May.
CFMEU QNT/ETU/TSU - Fraser Coast Council
A number of unions, including the CFMEU, ETU and The Services Union have taken industrial action against the Fraser Coast Regional Council. Workers held a stop work meeting and rally out the front of council chambers in Hervey Bay on Friday (19/4). Negotiations with seven unions who represent workers at the Council have been underway since November 2023, and the current EBA expired in March. The Council’s most recent pay offer was 14% over 3 years, unions are fighting for more due to the cost of living crisis.
AEU Vic - Victorian TAFE Colleges
On Monday (22/4), after a successful protected action ballot, AEU members at Victoria’s 12 standalone TAFE colleges commenced a range of work bans. The industrial action includes stopping work for the duration of any campus visit by a state Labor MP; as well as bans on performance of Excess Teaching Duty Hours; work related to auditing and professional development; recording student engagement or attendance; participation in promotional events and responding to management enquiries (with exceptions for OHS & student welfare). TAFE teachers are fighting for a decent wage increase, action on workload and recognition of and funded support of teaching qualifications.
AMWU SA - Electrolux
Workers at Electrolux’s Dudley Park factory in SA walked off the job for the third time on Friday (19/4). The workers are fighting for an 18% pay increase over 3 years, after not having a single increase since 2022. Electrolux has also been using scab labour during the industrial action - hiring labour hire workers on lower wages than striking workers.
AIMPE/AMOU - Serco
Industrial action continues upon the RSV Nuyina. It is understood the icebreaker is meant to head on another voyage soon, but it is unclear if industrial action will pause to enable this, or if it will delay the voyage. Workers had previously committed to not interfere with research or leave anyone stranded. The ship’s Greenfield agreement expired on 6 January, and while Serco wishes to roll pay and conditions from that agreement over, the AMOU has described the it as “inferior” to other seagoing arrangements.
AMWU/CEPU Tasmania - Saputo
Dairy workers at Saputo in Burnie walked off the job again on Tuesday (23/4) in their ongoing campaign for pay parity with their mainland colleagues. Some Victorian Saputo employees earn up to 21% more than workers in Burnie. Workers at Saputo took industrial action earlier in the year.
PSA NSW - Child Protection Workers
As part of the PSA NSW’s “Child Protection in Crisis” campaign, child protection caseworkers held a stopwork meeting outside Edgeworth’s Community Services Centre to protest its imminent closure. Workers in the sector are fighting for decent wages and action on workload to fix the chronic “attraction and retention crisis”.
AFPA - APSC
The AFP has put forward an improved offer to federal cops to consider. In order to keep in line with the 11.2% sector wide pay increase but get more money in pockets the new offer includes inducements such as a one-off cash payment of $871, a $3000 “use of force allowance” for frontline cops, a $10,000 “rapid deployment” allowance as well as reduced tenure requirements for some roles. I hope the tradies at Parliament House are winning a similar $3000 “use of hammer” allowance.
International Workers Memorial Day - Sunday 28 April
Sunday is International Workers Memorial Day, a day to remember workers who have been killed at work and to commit to fighting for safe workplaces. Most workplace “accidents” are more correctly termed incidents as they are caused by bosses trying to save time and money at the expense of workers’ health and safety. Unions and Trades & Labour Councils will be holding memorial events over the weekend and on Monday - thanks to the AMWU for putting together this list. If you can’t make it to a memorial, maybe it’s the perfect opportunity to talk with your workmates about electing an HSR if you haven’t already!
That’s all I’ve got this week. If you know about other active or brewing disputes… I am very interested to hear about what’s going on. Please feel free to send me a message, email or leave a comment below.
In solidarity, Sarah