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It’s been a tough week for workers, particularly in Victoria. Whether you’re working from home, losing your job, or confused about "permitted workers" la lucha continua I guess? Here’s a recap on significant happenings for workers in Australia this week. #ausunions #auspol
First up some breaking(ish) news, workers at Toll Kmart in Tarneit have walked off the job because Toll refuses to share information about positive COVID-19 cases in the labour hire workforce. It’s a @UnitedWorkersOz site, so keep an eye on their Twitter for updates. #ausunions
Workers at Spotless laundry in Dandenong fought and won the right to be paid while their workplace is shut and under quarantine; and workers who refused to work last week over COVID concerns will be paid leave-time for those days. #ausunions http://www.unitedworkers.org.au/spotless-dandenong-pay/
On Monday, workers @ MLDC distro centre refused to start work after discovering that a worker from the site had tested positive to COVID-19. Woolies pressured staff to continue working while waiting for test results. Full recap
https://red-ant.org/2020/08/03/woolworths-workers-walkout-over-covid19/ #ausunions
https://red-ant.org/2020/08/03/woolworths-workers-walkout-over-covid19/ #ausunions
Also on Monday the AMIEU reported that a majority of workers at Diamond Valley Pork refused to start work that morning as they were awaiting COVID-19 test results following 22 workers testing positive. #ausunions
It seems useful to point out that Diamond Valley Pork was fined $130,000 in late July over an incident where a worker’s hand was crushed. OH&S failings aren’t just something we see during a pandemic! #ausunions https://www.miragenews.com/meat-processor-fined-130-000-after-worker-s-hand-crushed/
The ACTU and the BCA put out a joint letter demanding a paid pandemic leave scheme. The government instead instituted a one-off “disaster” payment that workers can access if they have no sick leave. Not the optimum result. #ausunions https://www.actu.org.au/actu-media/media-releases/2020/pandemic-relief-payment-doesn-t-go-far-enough
I’m onto my 8th tweet and I haven’t even talked about the Victorian industry shutdown yet! Lordy what a confusing roll out. I don’t think there was a worker in the state who wasn’t stressed and/or confused this week. Solidarity to the workers of Victoria! We need it!
In short, if you’re a permitted worker your boss MUST provide you with a permit form. If you don’t have that, you shouldn’t be heading into work. If you have doubts, call your union. There are too many exceptions for me to cover in a tweet! #ausunions https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/permitted-worker-scheme-covid-19
Teachers in specialist schools in regional Victoria are still in the classroom, while all other schools have gone remote. Staff are stressed & feel abandoned. It’s impossible to socially distance when you need to help students with toileting & feeding. #ausunions #auspol
No one wants vulnerable kids to miss out on education, but are there safer options? @CydaAu demands the Gov. “fund and provide individualised supports and accommodations for students with disability at home” which seems like a sensible proposal. #auspol
https://www.cyda.org.au/resources/details/182/media-statement-the-ndia-and-victorian-government-must-prioritise-people-with-disability-so-they-do-not-suffer-in-stage-4-lockdowns
https://www.cyda.org.au/resources/details/182/media-statement-the-ndia-and-victorian-government-must-prioritise-people-with-disability-so-they-do-not-suffer-in-stage-4-lockdowns
Two of the biggest stories of the week come from Melbourne University - firstly, Melbourne Uni is paying back MILLIONS of dollars to workers in a wage theft case described by the @NTEUNational as “diabolical” and “systemic” #ausunions #auspol https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-05/university-of-melbourne-exposed-in-decade-long-wage-theft-case/12519588
450 jobs are to be cut at Melb Uni. Annual report lists $4.43b in reserves while 72.9 per cent of staff are in insecure work. VC earns $1.59m per year. Public uni staff are excluded from JobKeeper. It’s a nightmare. Please follow and support @NHECasuals https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/aug/05/university-of-melbourne-cuts-450-jobs-due-to-projected-losses-of-1bn-over-three-years
Early childhood educators in Victoria are also in a tremendously difficult situation. They have been excluded from JobKeeper; a rescue package from the Federal Government is not ironclad; and support is for centres, not workers. #auspol https://thesector.com.au/2020/08/06/unions-and-parent-advocacy-group-respond-to-yesterdays-core-ecec-announcements/
Good news: Woolies workers at Wyong have returned to work after strike action & a lockout. They have won a substantially higher pay increase than was 1st offered as well as casual conversion clauses, DV & bushfire leave & much more. If you don’t fight, you lose! #ausunions
The @CFMEU_CG has reported that the FWC has rejected a variation to the construction award. The union has called it “a cynical attempt by employers to use the pandemic crisis to cut wages and conditions and reduce the Award safety net” #ausunions https://cg.cfmeu.org/news/employers-fail-cynical-attack-workers
As the economic crisis deepens, many workers will have lost their jobs this week. Including 3,000 workers at Virgin. Government has extended the criteria for businesses who can apply for JobKeeper but they will still lower the rate in September. #auspol https://www.actu.org.au/actu-media/media-releases/2020/statement-from-actu-president-michele-o-neil-on-virgin-australia
Unemployed workers are still workers. The @AusUnemployment is organising a Mutual Obligations strike. In the Great Depression, workers organsied & struck on “work for the dole” sites - can those strategies be resurrected? #ausunions https://auwu.substack.com/p/how-to-participate-in-the-auwu-mostrike
And finally, solidarity to the people of Lebanon who are struggling not just with an economic crisis & pandemic, but now a horrific disaster from an explosion at the Port of Beirut. As we say, mourn the dead and fight like hell for the living. #ausunions https://www.itfglobal.org/en/news/itf-stands-in-solidarity-workers-and-people-beirut
I am finding this process personally helpful, I hope others are too as the news moves fast and our sense of time is skewed by isolation in these pandemic times. Any thoughts, tips, ideas or follow suggestions - my DMs are open. Solidarity comrades! #ausunions #auspol
Was remiss to mention that the @NTEUNational have started a #WageTheft hotline. #ausunions https://twitter.com/pewnack/status/1291643652456947712
