{"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":"
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
Reducing death, injury and illness at work is a top priority for our Union <\/strong> 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 Workplace Health and Safety Websites <\/strong><\/p>\n Every state and territory in Australia has differrent safety guidelines and codes. You can find links to the various state-based workplace health and safety websites for more information about health and safety at work in your state.<\/p>\n Workplace Standards Tasmania<\/a> Better Wages & Conditions<\/strong><\/p>\n To get a better deal for yourself, your family, your workmates and your community the best thing you can do is join our union.<\/p>\n The best wages and conditions are won in workplaces where union membership numbers are high. Because you are always in a stronger bargaining position if you stand together and negotiate as a group.<\/p>\n Union members on average earn $275 per week more than non-union members.<\/p>\n Just some of the things AWU members have won in their workplaces:<\/strong><\/p>\n Wages<\/strong><\/p>\n Every workplace has different wages and conditions. Wages vary based on your classification, skill level, type of employment and the industry in which you work.<\/p>\n Wages and conditions are either outlined in your enterprise agreement or in the award that you are covered by. If there is an agreement at your workplace, the award will not apply unless it is incorporated into the agreement.<\/p>\n You will need to know whether your workplace is covered by an agreement or the award.<\/p>\n You can find your enterprise agreement or award on the Fair Work website by searching for “agreements” or “awards” or if you’re a member you can contact us and we can help talk you through your agreement or award.<\/p>\n If there is no union at your workplace, it is likely that your wages and conditions will be contained in the relevant award which may be complemented by a common law employment contract. If you need help understanding or want to talk about your award or agreement contact us.<\/p>\n Conditions & National Employment Standards<\/strong><\/p>\n As well as the enterprise agreement or award, the National Employment Standards (NES) provide a safety net for all employees in the national workplace relations system. While an enterprise agreement will apply to one workplace and an award will apply across an industry, the NES applies to all workers in the labour market (unless you are a state government employee or for some employees located in Western Australia).<\/p>\n An agreement or an award can provide more beneficial standards above the NES but it is illegal to undercut the NES.<\/p>\n The NES sets the minimum standards in 10 areas. These are maximum weekly hours, flexible working arrangements, parental leave, annual leave, personal\/carer’s leave and compassionate leave, community service leave, long service leave, public holidays, notice of termination and redundancy pay and the provision of a Fair Work Information Statement.<\/p>\n In addition to these minimum conditions of employment, further conditions can come from a modern award, enterprise\/collective agreement, your employment contract or letter of offer, a transitional instrument as well as state or federal laws.<\/p>\n If there is some disagreement in your workplace about conditions it may be because there are different sources of obligations which have to be considered together. The general rule is that the NES cannot be undercut. Similarly, if you have an enterprise agreement covering you, the agreement cannot be undercut. Other legal documents (letter of offer, contract of employment, company policy) will still apply to you but they cannot contradict or undercut the agreement or the NES. If you need help understanding or want to talk about your conditions contact us.<\/p>\n Conditions can vary based on the type of employment and the industry within which you work.<\/p>\n Conditions can cover things like: <\/strong><\/p>\n – and more.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t Know your rights <\/strong><\/p>\n Resolving workplace issues can be difficult \u2013 so it is essential to know your rights, and to understand what you are entitled to.<\/p>\n This section contains some basic information about workplace laws in Australia.<\/p>\n For more information, assistance or to discuss personal issues relating to your workplace, contact us today.<\/p>\n For example, it is unlawful for an employer to dismiss you, threaten to dismiss you, negatively alter your position, or cause you detriment because:<\/p>\n It is unlawful for an employer to place undue influence or pressure on you to agree to change certain employment arrangements. For example, your employer can’t pressure you to sign an Individual Flexibility Arrangement.<\/p>\n It is unlawful for an employer to coerce you to exercise your workplace rights in a particular way. For example, your employer can not pressure you not to take leave to which you are entitled.<\/p>\n An employee, Union or Fair Work Inspector, can enforce a workplace right. Please note that if you are concerned about unfair treatment, particularly involving dismissal, there are strict deadlines in relation to filing applications with the Fair Work Commission. Currently, applications need to be filed within 21 days of the dismissal. The date of dismissal is included in the calculation.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
\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\n
\nWorkCover Tasmania<\/a>
\nSafe Work Australia<\/a>
\nHeads of Workplace Safety Authorities<\/a>
\nWorkSafe ACT<\/a>
\nWorkCover NSW<\/a>
\nNT WorkSafe<\/a>
\nWorkplace Health and Safety Queensland<\/a>
\nSafeWork SA<\/a>
\nWorkSafe Western Australia<\/a>
\nWorkSafe Victoria<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\tYour wages and conditions\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\tRights and Entitlements\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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Be a part of our community.<\/h5>\n
Join the AWU.<\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n
Stronger together.<\/h5>\n
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\n Member Benefits<\/a><\/td>\n \n