Handling Disputes and Grievances

Young people maybe treated unfairly in the workplace. Membership of a union may help the student resolve some of the issues they face.

A union is an organisation made up of people working in a particular industry, for example, teachers in public schools, or retail workers, or hospitality workers. The union represents the interests of its members, mainly through negotiating pay and conditions at work, but also assisting with resolving disputes, or in other matters which the members of the union decide. No one has to become a member of a union but we think it is an important part of joining the workforce for students.

Some union achievements

Every generation of workers has a right to enjoy the conditions and benefits that have been won by previous generations. It's sometimes easy to assume that things like equal pay for men and women, maternity leave, long service leave, sick leave, Occupational Health and Safety laws, anti-discrimination laws have always existed, or that they have been bestowed, unprompted by generous governments or employers.

However, in each case, and in other achievements, unions have played a leading role in campaigning and fighting for better conditions and entitlements.

Here are some of the great achievements of Australian unions over the past 100 years.

Equal Pay for Women
On 19 June 1972 the Commonwealth Arbitration Court decided that women should receive the same pay as men if it could be proved they were doing work of equal value. The Court ruled that as of 1 October 1969 women would get at least 85 per cent of the male wage; their pay would then go up in steps until 1 January 1972 when they would be rewarded with equal pay - 100 per cent of the male wage. Employers claimed in the court that such a move would have a negative effect on the employment of women. In fact, the number of women in employment has gone up faster than it has for men ever since.

Maternity Leave
Maternity leave was introduced for government employees via the Maternity Leave (Australian Government Employees) Act 1973. It recognised that working women had a right to come back to a job after the birth of their children. The Act for public servants entitled them to between six and 52 weeks of leave, including 12 weeks paid leave, if they had done 12 months continuous employment with the employer immediately before the start of the leave.
Women working in the private sector were entitled to maternity leave in 1979; adoption leave and paternity leave have been the more recent offspring of the Maternity Leave Act.

The 38-hour Working Week
During the 1980s, a 38 hour working week became a national standard across Australia. This followed union and ACTU campaigns. The last time working hours had changed was 1948.

Superannuation
Prior to 1986 only a select group of workers received superannuation - mostly public servants and middle and senior managers. Superannuation became universal for workers following the National Wage Case in 1986. Rather than a wage increase, all workers were to receive 3 per cent superannuation benefits. Then, in 1987, superannuation started to form part of awards. Now all workers must receive a minimum of 9% of their as superannuation.

Employees with Physical Disabilities
The Supported Employment Business Enterprise Award was the first federal award for workers in sheltered workshops or 'supported employees'. Flagstaff Industries is a factory that produces canvas and leisure goods. It employs about 100 disabled people. In 1990, the Federated Miscellaneous Workers Union became very aware of the needs of disabled workers as part of developing the first award to represent them. The Award - based on the Metal Trade Standard - covered all Flagstaff's disabled workers, except managers. It was a big step in recognising the needs and rights of this special 'industry.'

Equal Pay for Aborigines
In the 1930s Aborigines in the Northern Territory were in high demand as station hands. Not only did they cope much better with Australia's hot outback conditions but they cost much less to employ. Why? They were exploited! Aborigines were not included in the Federal Pastoral Industry Awards of the 1930s. Instead they were covered by something called the Wards Employment Ordinance that detailed pay and conditions for Aborigines employed in all industries. That meant that for pastoral work an Aboriginal man would be paid $6.32 a week, an Aboriginal woman $3.52 and a non-Aboriginal worker between $34 and $46. Often they received rations rather than pay. This didn't change until 1966 when the North Australian Workers Union fought for Aborigines to be paid equal wages.

Environmental Protection
Important areas of bushland, parkland and historical areas of Sydney, such as Kelly's Bush, Centennial Park, Woolloomooloo and The Rocks were saved from being destroyed by development when the Builders Labourers Federation, in partnership with local resident action groups and environmentalists, placed Green Bans on projects, preventing them from going ahead.

Why join a union today?

Over many years union members have worked towards establishing, then improving wages and working conditions. These need to continue to be protected and improved.

Recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that:

• Part-time workers who are union members earn $129 a week, or 42.9%, more than non-unionists
• Casual workers who are union members earn $164 per week, or 16.2%, more than non-unionists
• 15-19 year olds who are union members earn $140 per week, or 20.2%, more than non-unionists

That's why unions exist and why they are important.

As a member of a union employees join together with other workers in their industry. Unions offer:

• Workplace representation, chiefly through
  • Salary negotiation
  • Dispute resolution
  Sometimes disputes occur which cannot be resolved directly between the employee and employer. In that case, if a member of the relevant union can seek help in sorting out the problem.
• Advice about health and safety in the workplace
• Discounts/offers

Some unions offer discounts and special deals for members, for example, discounts at various stores or movie tickets. If your child joins a union look at their website to see what they might offer members.

Is there a union for my child?

Your child can join a union online through the Australian Council of Trade Unions. Link: https://joinup.actu.com.au/

More information is available here: http://www.actu.asn.au/joinaunion/faqs/default.aspx

What is expected of union members?

Unions are democratic organisations, and what happens at a workplace depends on what the union members at that workplace want. It is the job of unions to empower young workers to solve problems, not to tell them what to do.

In order to do this, students need to keep informed about what's going on, reads newsletters, watch out for notices, and of course, keep membership dues up to date.

Is it compulsory to join a union?

No, but it may be worthwhile finding out about.