Union Achievements

Apprentices

The ETU recognises that apprentices are the future of our trade. For this reason a lot of our agreements contain provisions that require the boss to employ a certain number of apprentices. An important consideration of this is to ensure that apprentices are paid a decent rate – traditionally a percentage of the tradesman’s rate. This equates to a Union apprentice being paid $5 - $13/hr more than non-Union apprentices paid at the award rate. Clearly ETU Collective Agreements deliver for apprentices.

Annual Leave

Paid Annual Leave was first won in a campaign by printing workers in 1936. After many more years of struggle workers now enjoy 4 weeks paid leave a year. In addition to that Union collective agreements give Union members 17.5% loading when they take holidays, this may pay for accommodation or a night out while you enjoy your time off work.

Penalty Rates

Penalty rates were established in 1947 when unions recognised that people needed extra money for working outside normal hours. These hours are usually anti-social so should attract extra remuneration when you give up time with family and friends for the boss. Double time kicks in after 2 hours in an ETU collective agreement.

Superannuation

Prior to 1986, only a select group of workers were entitled to Superannuation. It became a universal entitlement after the ACTU's National Wage Case. Employers had to pay 3% of workers' earnings into Superannuation. That rate has continued to grow so now most workers get 9%. Many ETU members currently enjoy approx. 10.5% with further increases in new EBA’s.

Equal Pay for Women

Although there were attempts to introduce equal pay, going back as far as 1949, the principle of equal pay for women was finally adopted by Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission in 1969. ETU agreements contain classification scales that ensure that if you have the skills you get the money regardless of your gender.

Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation

The ETU has also been involved in all the significant improvements to workplace health and safety made in the last 2 decades. From authorised safety representatives on jobs sites to seats on all the safety boards and councils in Queensland and the Northern Territory, ETU members are fighting to ensure every worker gets home to their family safely every day.

Workers Compensation was a benefit Unions fought hard for and eventually won so that now an employer funded scheme exists universally in Australia. The Howard government wound back the coverage offered to many workers and unions are fighting an ongoing campaign to ensure the best standards for compensation are adopted nationally. All ETU organisers are AREO’s under the WH&S act; this means they can enter a workplace on suspicion of a breach of the law and inspect work going on there. This is an obvious advantage to members of the ETU. In addition to this the ETU runs free, or heavily subsidised, WH&S training for our members so they can take back control of safety in their workplace.

Sick leave

Different unions have campaigned for better sick leave conditions over the years in different industries. Before sick leave, you turned up to work if you were sick or you went without pay. Many ETU members enjoy unlimited sick leave or income protection as a condition of their Union collective agreement.

Long service leave

From the early 1950’s Union members around Australia have won long service leave, so that now it is a basic entitlement. In both QLD and the NT there is a portable long service scheme for workers in the construction industry; this was introduced as a direct result of the unions influence on the Australian Labor Party.

Redundancy pay

The ETU has worked to ensure this entitlement through the use of CIRT – the construction industry redundancy trust. This scheme sees the boss pay your redundancy entitlement into a trust fund in your name, that way if you’re made redundant the money is there to get you through the tough times. Once it is paid into your account only you can access it, so if the company goes bust at least your redundancy is safe. CIRT funds a training company called JETCO which make thousands of dollars available to Union members to pay for training.

Allowances: fares/travel allowance, meal allowance

Meal allowance is enshrined in ETU agreements to ensure that when you have to work extended hours you can buy yourself some dinner.

Fares and travel allowances are another benefit ETU members in the construction industry enjoy, currently the ETU agreement fares and travel rate is above $30 a day, while the award rate is not much more than $13. Just another reason to join with your workmates and get yourselves a Union agreement.

Shift allowances are money that's paid for working at night or in the afternoon. Different industries have different allowances that were won by workers and their unions over the years in those industries.

Meal Breaks, rest breaks

Before unions agitated for meal breaks and rest breaks to be introduced, workers were required to work the whole day without a break. Now you are entitled to a meal break at least every 4 hours. When you work overtime under a Union Collective Agreement you get a meal allowance and paid time to eat. Most non-Union agreements have stripped this away.

Collective Bargaining

Enterprise Bargaining was introduced in 1996 which allowed workers and their unions to negotiate directly with their employer over pay and conditions. Evidence from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that collective bargaining delivers better wages than individual agreements for workers. And ETU collective agreements deliver significantly better outcomes than employer (non-Union) collective agreements.

Unfair Dismissal Protection

Unfair Dismissal Protection came from the concept of a "fair go all round" and unions have campaigned for laws that reflect that 'fair go' principle which is about having a valid reason to sack someone and that the dismissal cannot be harsh, unjust or unreasonable. The former Liberal federal government stripped away this important protection for most workers.  The ETU along with many other unions have acted to ensure that the new federal Labor government has restored this protection. Now once again you cannot be sacked unfairly or for no reason!

Why have we been able to achieve this?

The reason that we have been able to make these fantastic gains is simple – we are growing, and as we grow we gather strength to make more improvements and further gains. ETU members have the strength to influence governments and corporations alike and by continuing to grow we will be able to ensure a fair return to workers of the profits made from their efforts.

By joining the ETU you are taking the first step to enjoying industry standards that, not only, mean more money and time for you and your family but that you can be proud to leave for the next generation. As an active Union member you can have a say in how your company is run and how much is returned to the workers.