2025 Member workshops
We’re kicking off the new year with a full schedule of member workshops! Here’s the full list of topics or check out the agenda here and start registering for the workshops that appeal to you.
Our 2025 Member Workshop topics are:
- Changing jobs? Know your rights before taking the leap
- Women at work: Getting a fair deal
- Cost-of-living hacks: How union membership can save you more
- Fighting workplace discrimination
- All things taxes: Maximising your return
- Migrant workers’ rights: Are you being treated fairly?
- Low pay? No way! Understand award wage increases
- Termination from employment: What to do, when to get help
- Mental health matter: Thrive in your workplace
- Working in heat: Your health and safety rights
- Casual workers’ rights: Are you getting what you’re owed?
Remember, all Member Workshops are recorded and are available for members to watch on-demand, so even if you’re busy, you don’t have to miss out!
Labor lowering costs for families
UWU consistently works with the government to get them to improve wages for our members in sectors like ECEC while also helping all workers and their families with the cost of living.
In December, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that three days of government-subsidised early education would be guaranteed for all families. UWU members celebrated the news here.
Giving every child 3 to 5 years old access to three days a week of high-quality early learning and care will benefit children, families and their communities. Labor’s proposed changes to the childcare subsidy eliminate the barriers that the current activity test presents, easing the cost of living for families.
Labor’s Early Childhood Education and Care reforms mean:
- Lower costs for families and better wages for early educators.
- Every child gets the best start in life with three days of guaranteed early education.
- Australia is on the path to universal care, where the benefits of early education will be available to all families no matter their income.
Labor’s move to address families’ early childhood costs is on top of Labor’s moves to boost wages for United Workers Union early educators.
As of December, more than 40,000 early educators were in line for the first stage of their 15% pay rise under Labor’s Wage Justice for Early Educators reforms.
Labor has lowered costs for families, and got Australia’s wages moving again after 10 years of wages going backwards under the Coalition. At this year’s election, Union members will be backing Albo to finish the job.
Celebrating wins of 2024
Before we fully launch ourselves into 2025, let’s take a moment to look at some of our union’s achievement from last year. As usual, United Workers Union members from every industry, and all around the country showed courage, determination and solidarity. We stood together and we WON!
And of course, thousands of members got assistance from our union for workplace matters. In 2024 we helped members win:
- Over ten million dollars in compensation and penalties
- More than 1500 workplace matters like accessing leave entitlements or conditions laid out in agreements
- Over 300 new agreements ensuring that these members have above-Award wages and conditions.
2024 was such a big year that we could write a book about all of our campaigns, here’s a selection of some of the biggest wins from last year.
Women Farm Workers Took a Stand Against Gendered Violence at Work
The 12 brave, migrant women who stood up against gendered violence on Australian farms, won a settlement of their court case.
Although they received financial compensation, the women knew that money alone would not fix the problem. That’s why they kept fighting until they won safer glasshouses for every current and future worker.
Together in their union, the women won through the settlement of their court case:
- stronger union rights;
- freedom to choose their union;
- right to be represented by their independent and democratic union;
- grievance process that protects and supports those who come forward with complaints;
- workplace training on ending sexual harassment at work.
This fight was not easy. It took mediation sessions, an album recording, and extraordinary resilience. But these women stood together and were supported by thousands like you.
Winery Workers Took Strike Action for Fair Pay and Conditions
Pernod Ricard winery workers won a better agreement after overtime bans and rolling 24-hour stoppages. Workers won:
- 5% wage increase, backdated to 1 July 2024, over the next 12 months + $1,274 bonus payment (which is equivalent to 2%).
- A tiered payout of personal leave upon termination of employment, with employees eligible for up to 30%, depending on their years of service.
- 1 additional annual leave day per year.
- An increase from 3 to 5 days for medical certificates.
- Shift-loading on personal carers leave.
Queensland Nuclear Medicine Scientists Threatened Mass Resignation
Nuclear Medicine Scientists in Queensland used their political standing as United Workers Union members, and threats of mass resignation, to push the government to address chronic workforce shortages.
Nuclear Medicine Scientists convinced the Queensland government to address a critical workforce shortage. Facing decades of government inaction on workforce planning and no nuclear medicine training program in Queensland, these highly skilled workers took the extraordinary step of threatening mass resignation unless their demands were met.
This display of solidarity and efforts to lobby Queensland Government achieved a big win. The government agreed to implement all of the workers’ demands, including establishing a much-needed training program in Queensland. The win ensures sustainable staffing levels for this critical healthcare service into the future.
Grill'd Workers Took Historic Strike Action
Aged Care Members Won Pay Increase of up to 28%
Airport Workers Stood Together and Won
Airport workers in cleaning and security up and down the East coast have won had some incredible wins this year!
Members at airports in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Launceston, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and Gold Coast stood together, have taken action and won significant pay increases and better conditions. Congratulations!
Early Childhood Educators Won 15% Pay Increase
2024 marked an historic victory for educators across the country with the Wage Justice for Early Childhood Educators Act, securing a 15% government-funded pay rise for early educators. This is a game-changing win for educators who received a much-deserved pay boost of 10% before Christmas, with more on the way.
This year UWU members in early education finalised Australia’s first-ever multi-employer agreement, which passes on the Albanese Labor Government-funded 15% pay rise to educators. Already several huge providers have signed up, as have smaller providers through Community Early Learning Australia and other peak groups.
More than 40,000 educators are already signed up to get the government-funded pay increase, with more educators and employers signing up all the time!
Congratulations to all of the educators who participated in the fight for this pay increase and for recognition of their vital work.
Members at The Star Casino in Brisbane Win Gender-Neutral Facilities
When the Star started plans for their new Brisbane location in 2021, Marcia Conlan, Table Games Dealer & Delegate at The Star Brisbane, saw an opportunity to push for them to include gender neutral bathrooms and changing facilities for staff.
Following years of follow-up and reminders, members, led by Marcia, won these crucial facilities.
Marcia went on to receive an award at the Queensland Union Pride Awards ceremony for her impressive work.
Woolies Warehouse Members Strike for Safety
Workers across three warehouses in Victoria and one in NSW voted to accept an offer from Woolworths after being on strike for 17 days.
Their campaign received a flurry of of media attention especially as Woolworths shelves became emptier and emptier and received widespread support from fellow UWU members, the broader Australian union movement and community members.
Here’s what they achieved:
- Worker Safety Over Speed: Woolworths agreed to a groundbreaking clause that ensures no worker will be disciplined based on the speed they work. This change to the punitive “Framework” respects workers as humans, not robots.
- Above-Inflation Wage Increases: Workers secured pay raises that help families navigate the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
- A Precedent for AI Oversight in Workplaces: This fight was about more than wages. It was about workers having a voice in how AI systems monitor and regulate their work, ensuring fairness, transparency, and safety in the age of algorithmic surveillance.
Additionally, workers at Lineage, who handle around 90% Woolworths stock – and were on their own 17-day long strike alongside Woolworths – also secured a major win. They achieved 50 new permanent jobs on site, a well-deserved pay rise, and improved workplace conditions that will make a real difference in their lives.
Massive congratulations to all UWU members this year. Whether you took action, spoke out, paid your fees each month, signed a petition, shared a union social media post or participated in any other way, our union wouldn’t be the same without you – we’re stronger together. Wishing you a happy and safe new year full of solidarity and union power!
Proud to be union at WA pride
UWU members and officials, under the Unions WA banner, joined representatives from TWU, SSTUWA, AMWU and CPSU/CSA to march in the 2024 PrideFEST parade.
The core work of UWU is to ensure workplace safety and fight for better pay and conditions. But there’s much more to being a union member. We are proud to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.
A Legacy: Three Generations of United Workers Union Members
In the heart of the Darling Downs, a remarkable legacy of hard work, pride, and union values thrives across three generations of women. The Hibbins family – Linda, Jackie, and Shakira – maintain the cleanliness, safety, and wellbeing of Queensland schools and are all proud United Workers Union members.
Linda
Linda has dedicated 29 years of her life to working as a school cleaner, and she’s still going strong. With decades of experience, Linda takes immense pride in her industry, knowing that her work ensures Queensland schools remain not only well-presented but hygienically safe for students and staff alike.
Her commitment to safety and longevity in the workplace has been a guiding principle throughout her career. Linda’s hard-earned knowledge and experience are a treasure she passes down to her daughter and granddaughter.
Jackie
Jackie, with 23 years of service, has not only followed in her mother’s footsteps but has also become a key advocate for change. As a Union Delegate, Jackie has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent the privatisation and outsourcing of school cleaning services, which has been an ongoing challenge under Liberal governments.
Through her role as a Union Delegate, Jackie continues to ensure that school cleaners have a voice in the workplace, influencing decisions that affect their pay, working conditions, and job security.
Shakira
With 5 years of service under her belt, Shakira is already a Union Delegate in her own right, championing the rights of workers in her school. She is particularly focused on ensuring that cleaners have access to Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions with consistent hours and the opportunity to develop professionally, including through obtaining a Certificate 3 qualification and first aid training.
As a Union Delegate, Shakira has a powerful voice in the bargaining process, ensuring that workers in her workplace have a direct line to decision-makers. Her work is a continuation of the vision her mother and grandmother have championed for decades: improving conditions, advancing safe practices, and securing better futures for generations of school cleaners.
What a powerful Union family.
Australian Senate passes legislation to protect the purpose of super
Australia’s compulsory superannuation system was established over 30 years ago to help provide millions of working Australians with security in retirement. The landmark legislation passed by the Senate on the 28th of November 2024 will enshrine the purpose of superannuation in law1.
This new objective of superannuation legislation ensures that future policymaking remains focused on delivering the best retirement outcomes for super fund members.
The new law states that the objective of superannuation is “to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way,” which is straightforward and emphasises the primary function of superannuation funds – to assist members in achieving their best financial position in retirement.
AustralianSuper endorses the new legislated objective, which is simple and focused on what superannuation funds are designed to do, which is help members save for their retirement.
“The magic of the system is compound interest and strong investment performance – preservation plays a key role in both. Enshrining the Objective of Superannuation will keep a steadfast focus on what super is supposed to do – preserve members’ hard-earned savings over the length of a working life to improve their retirement outcome and help them to have a dignified retirement.” – Paul Schroder, AustralianSuper CEO.
This legislative move is an important step in achieving policy and regulatory stability for the superannuation system moving forward. The law mandates that future governments ensure the superannuation system remains fit for purpose for generations to come. Any future law reform must consider the purpose and stability of the system, underscoring the fundamental nature of superannuation as a concessionally taxed, long-term savings vehicle for retirement.
Visit AustralianSuper’s website for further information – https://www.australiansuper.com/superannuation/changes-to-superannuation