{"id":2776,"date":"2019-07-08T19:42:35","date_gmt":"2019-07-08T09:42:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.awusite.com\/?page_id=2776"},"modified":"2020-02-28T13:11:10","modified_gmt":"2020-02-28T03:11:10","slug":"get-informed","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/awu.net.au\/tas\/get-involved\/get-informed\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Informed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Get Informed<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tWhat is a union?\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t <\/p>\n

In Australia, a union is sometimes referred to as a trade union or a labour union.<\/p>\n

A union is an organisation of workers who have joined together to achieve common goals. These goals can include seeking higher pay and better working conditions, fighting for job security and protecting the integrity of a trade.<\/p>\n

A union, through its officials and delegates, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members (the rank and file) and negotiates (or engages in collective bargaining) to reach enterprise agreements with employers.<\/p>\n

This bargaining may include the negotiation of wages, work practices, dispute procedures, recruitment, disciplinary and termination protocols, benefits, workplace safety and company policies. Enterprise agreements negotiated by the union are binding on the employer and all employees, including non-members.<\/p>\n

There are currently almost one hundred unions in Australia. Everyone who works in Austalia is entitled to join a union. Which union you should join depends on what sort of work you do and where your workplace is located. If you are not sure which union to join, contact us and we can help.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tSafety\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t <\/p>\n

Reducing death, injury and illness at work is a top priority for our Union <\/strong>
\nIf you’re confronted with a health or safety issue at work, you don’t have to deal with it alone, contact us and we can help. Workers need to have their say when it comes to workplace safety because it is an issue that affects them directly.<\/p>\n

All workers have a right to elect their workmates to be their representatives about health and safety issues. Health and safety reps are important watchdogs in the workplace to make sure employers comply with the law. These reps have rights to proper resources and training.<\/p>\n

We can provide a wealth of expertise, resources, know-how and training to help health and safety reps perform their role. And if there are any problems or issues, workers and their reps should always know the union is there to back them up.<\/p>\n

Protections for workers <\/strong><\/p>\n

Many protections and rights we take for granted were fought for and won by unions. These include workers\u2019 compensation; rest breaks; protective clothing; restrictions on lifting heavy objects; licences and training when working with heavy equipment; as well as bans on asbestos and dangerous chemicals.<\/p>\n

Workers have rights to: <\/strong><\/p>\n