A message from the Acting South Australian Branch Secretary

I am currently serving as Acting Branch and State Union Secretary whilst Peter Lamps takes a lengthy period of well-deserved leave. I’m enthusiastic that the Worker is back and AWU members can learn more about what’s going on in their union!

Recently, the SA Government has passed significant WHS legislation that gives workers and their union the ability to raise WHS to the SA Employment tribunal – an important step to ensure our members are safe at work. At the time of writing, our branch has multiple industrial campaigns on the go, with Electrolux, and SMR Automotive taking protected industrial action in their fight for a fair EA, and Australian Submarine soon to follow.

^{Electrolux members take action}

We’ve recently secured fantastic outcomes for our members in Local Government:

• West Torrens Council: 11.25% + 4% (or CPI; whichever is greater) and 4% (or CPI, whichever is greater) over 3 years
• Charles Sturt Council: 9% + 3% (or CPI; whichever is greater; capped at 5%) and 3% (or CPI, whichever is greater); capped at 5% over 3 years
• Norwood Payneham St Peters Council: 10% + 3.5% + 3% over 3 years.
• Unley Council: 1-year rollover with 5.9%

We’re now taking up the fight for members at Tea Tree Gully Council, where the union-busting CEO is trying to bully workers, Onkaparinga Council, which has offered a poor wage increase, and Playford Council, where members have walked off the job to take part in stop work meetings.

Over in Whyalla, the GFG Blast Furnace shutdown – a planned 48-hour maintenance –lasted for several months, with the furnace finally back online in early July. GFG moved workers from 12-hour shifts to 8-hour day shifts for some time. With the furnace now back online, workers have transitioned back to their normal shift arrangements, which is great for them and the community. GFG owner Sanjeev Gupta has confirmed to AWU delegates that plans to expand the mine and build a new electric-arc furnace are on track for late 2027.

Our officials have been out across the horticulture industry, and have developed an intensive campaign to improve the wages and conditions of PALM workers – some of the most exploited and lowest-paid workers in the country. Thanks to our strong Papua New Guinean membership at Parilla Potatoes, the AWU has secured a wage increase of 7.4%, rostered start and finish hours, an increase in penalty rates, and overtime rates of Mon-Sat at 150% and Sunday at 200%.

Our industrial team has also been hard at work, and since the start of 2023 we’ve recovered over $500,000! This includes approximately $100,000 in back pay for up to 100 members at ASC Shipbuilders. The AWU made a claim on behalf of a member for shift penalties on public holidays and personal leave – and the SA Employment Tribunal agreed. The AWU also took on Visy Glass over the CPI applied to the latest wage increase. Visy applied the national CPI, while our officials argued the Adelaide CPI should be applied – leading to a 0.8% increase worth close to $100,000!

^{Playford Council members walk off the job}