1 / 0

Understanding Workers' Rights and Responsibilities: The Role of Unions

This resource by Keelia Fitzpatrick from the Victorian Trades Hall Council explores the essential rights and responsibilities that workers have in the workplace. It emphasizes the importance of unions, which are organizations formed by workers in specific industries to advocate for fair treatment and representation. Discover how unions empower employees, promote equitable working conditions, and ensure that workers' voices are heard. Learn about the role unions play in protecting workers and providing necessary support in various occupations.

sunila
Télécharger la présentation

Understanding Workers' Rights and Responsibilities: The Role of Unions

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Rights & Responsibilities @ work

    Keelia Fitzpatrick Victorian Trades Hall Council Sandringham College
  2. What are unions? Unions are organisations run by workers in a particular industry/occupation to help employees get a fair go at work Unions give employees a stronger voice at work and in the community Every worker in Australia has a union- examples
  3. Why it is important to join a union Employees sticking together It can be hard to stand up for yourself with a boss alone Bargaining: employees sticking together get better outcomes: union members have better wages and conditions (Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that union members earn on average 15% more than non-members) Help, advice & representation for union members only Help with matters such as discrimination, not getting paid enough, bullying, unfair dismissal, safety.
  4. Industrial relations in Victoria What does ‘industrial relations’ mean? Fair Work Act- replaced Workchoices in 2009. Fair work- national industrial relations umpire or tribunal. Responsible for: the safety net of minimum wages and employment conditions enterprise bargaining industrial action dispute resolution termination of employment other workplace matters. In Victoria we come under the national IR system, other states still have state IR systems & bodies.
  5. Awards & Agreements Agreements: Sit above & compliment awards, negotiated between union and employer. Will apply to a workplace or employees of a company e.g. Woolworths National Supermarket agreement 2009 Awards: Basicconditions for an industry, negotiated between union, groups of employers & assisted by FWA. E.g. General Retail Industry Award 2010, Fast Food Industry Award 2010 NES & Minimum wage
  6. National employment standards (NES) 10 minimum entitlements set out in Fair Work Act 2009 For casual employees: -two days unpaid carer’s leave and two days unpaid compassionate leave (per occasion) -maximum weekly hours of 38 hours per week, plus reasonable additional hours -community service leave -right to a day off on a public holiday (unless reasonably requested to work by employer) -provision of fair work information statement (that gives info on rights, awards, agreement making). -for casuals who have been employed for over 12 months (on regular & systematic basis), right to request working arrangements + parental leave Other entitlements: 4 weeks paid annual leave, LSL, notice of termination & redundancy pay.
  7. Your rights @ work Right to be paid on time & receive a payslip (should be paid at least once a month) Right to receive a group certificate Cash in hand pay is illegal Minimum wage junior rates (your award or agreement will likely go above this rates) Under 16 years of age $5.71 At 16 years of age $7.34 At 17 years of age $8.96 At 18 years of age $10.59 Casual employees receive around 20% higher rates of pay (‘casual loading’) because they don’t receive annual or sick leave Unpaid trial shifts are illegal
  8. Your rights @ work (cont’d) Probation periods are common- make sure you know how long it is. Deductions: it is illegal for your employer to deduct payments from your pay without your consent (superannuation, work cover) Breaks: The minimum no. hours you can work before receiving a break will be in your award/agreement. Employment contract: Make sure you read it, and get others to look at it (your union, JobWatch, parents) . Don’t sign it straight away!
  9. Your responsibilities @ work Employment relationship; two sides. Perform the duties expected of you in the role prescribed in the contract of employment (letter of offer + legal doc). Punctuality Communication re: roster/shift changes, sickness, time off- reasonable notice periods. If you want to resign, give the correct amount of notice to your employer (as per employment contract/award/instrument) Be courteous and respectful towards co workers, this is part of creating a healthy & safe environment. Employees ‘face’ of a business/workplace- self presentation is important.
  10. Websites http://www.facebook.com/DrFirstJob http://www.worksite.actu.org.au/
More Related