Message from the National Secretary: Autumn 2025

The past 12 months have seen a significant upswing for our movement. Every AWU branch across the country has been growing their membership, allowing us to bring on more organisers and fight for workers in more industries. We’ve had major victories with State and Federal governments, fighting for new laws to make sure our members are paid fairly and have the right to come home healthy and safe.

While we’ve seen a lot of wins for workers around the country, we know that many of our members are still doing it tough. The cost of living is up, energy prices and groceries are at the forefront of people’s minds and household budgets are getting tighter. What workers need right now are pay rises. We know many bosses can afford it, so let’s get it done.

In the last three years, our biggest fights have been for rights that allow our members and officials to organise and bargain better than ever before. Legislation like Secure Jobs, Better Pay, Protecting Worker Entitlements, and the Closing the Loopholes Bills are all aimed to significantly improve the working lives of many Australians. And it’s hard to disagree that we made this happen.

Criminalising wage theft and industrial manslaughter are no-brainers. Strengthening minimum standards for causal employees and workplace rights for union delegates gives workers more of a say at work. And ending sham contracts, increasing rules for labour hire, and introducing same job, same pay ensures all workers in the country are playing by the same rules.We can say with full confidence that these wins could never have been achieved under a Coalition government.

We’ve achieved a lot in the past few years, but our fight is nowhere near complete. There are always new challenges facing us as industries evolve and employers across the country continue to take advantage of
their workers.

Be it the uncertain future of Australia’s manufacturing industries, or a historically underfunded public sector, our members are looking to us for guidance now more than ever. We plan to fight for our members and push the government to do what’s best for Aussie workers.

Australia’s future relies on strong industries supported by a government that looks out for them. Workers won’t find this leadership under the Liberals and Nationals.

Come May 3, I’ll be voting Labor, as will the rest of our AWU leadership, because nothing means more to us than our members. You deserve strong wages, good employment conditions, secure rights and entitlements, and a future that puts your job first.