ACTU executive member Linda White has told ACTU Congress delegates that it is no longer good enough for union leadership to be dominated by the “grey beards” sharing the stage with her.
The ACTU has released polling for six marginal federal seats that shows three-quarters of voters believe the Abbott Government is not doing enough on employment security and job creation.
The Heydon Royal Commission has today asked for further submissions on the introduction of US-style anti-racketeering laws "to combat unlawful activities" in the construction industry, while noting it would constitute "a significant step requiring detailed and careful consideration".
The ACTU is close to finalising alcohol and other drug guidelines that support oral testing rather than the urine sampling regime favoured by some employers.
Overall union membership might have fallen to as low as 10% if density had not stabilised across Australia's service and public sectors, new research has shown.
Unions lost almost 93,000 members in the 12 months to August last year and density plunged to new lows of 17% overall and 12% in the private sector, according to the ABS.
Unions gained 6,000 members in the 12 months to August last year, but growth failed to keep pace with the size of the workforce, so density fell from 18.4% to 18.2% overall and from 13.2% to 13% in the private sector, according to the ABS.
