Australian federal election: Workers’ rights at stake

If worker rights matter to you, make sure you are fully informed about what is at stake in the upcoming federal election.

Many Australians feel disillusioned with federal politics, viewing the major two parties as indistinguishable on many issues, and candidates as focused more on gaining power than achieving meaningful change.

However, when it comes to our rights as workers, there are some critical differences between the two major parties, and much is at risk – including the right of IEU members employed in Victorian Catholic education to exercise their collective strength through protected industrial action in support of a new Agreement.

Despite its shortcomings, the Albanese government has delivered significant gains for workers in its first term: historic reforms in industrial relations that sharply contrast with the Coalition’s promises to dismantle them if elected.

Industrial relations is the defining issue between the major parties.

Key reforms include:

• Wage rises for low-paid workers, including government-funded increases for childcare staff.

• New protections for casual workers and minimum standards for gig workers.

• Legislation outlawing wage theft and introducing domestic violence leave.

• Rights such as the “right to disconnect” from work outside hours.

• Multi-employer bargaining rights, empowering workers across multiple employers in similar enterprises to negotiate better pay and conditions.

• The right of union delegates (Reps) to free paid training.

These changes have begun to reverse years of erosion in worker rights and the wage stagnation experienced under the previous government.

Many reforms are still new, with full benefits yet to be felt. ACTU President Michele O’Neil warns that a Liberal government would undo these protections, reversing any progress. ACTU Secretary Sally McManus stresses they need time to take hold, as some changes are yet to take effect, and many workers haven’t yet experienced their impact.

This election carries real stakes for Australian workers. Protecting these hard-fought advances requires rejecting the Liberal Party’s agenda and ensuring that the current government has the time to deliver lasting change.

One important example:
multi-employer bargaining

Writing for AFR in 2022, industrial relations academic Chris F Wright said multi-employer bargaining would deliver better results for everyone – including business.

He said, “current laws make it too easy for businesses to opt out of enterprise bargaining and too hard for workers to negotiate new Agreements”.

In recent decades, Australia's policymakers have made it increasingly difficult for workers to negotiate for better wages and conditions. This has contributed to slow wage growth, many workers being stuck on insecure contracts, and the large gender pay gap.

The recent reforms help level the industrial playing field. It is vital they get time to become entrenched in our working lives once more.

What has been won under this government – and may be at risk in the next!

• 10 days paid family and domestic leave for all, including casuals

• Multi-employer bargaining reforms

• Rights and protections for elected union Reps, including paid training leave

• Criminalisation of and increased fines for wage theft

• Two weeks additional government-paid parental leave

• Superannuation payments made on government-paid parental leave

• The right to disconnect

• Pay-day super (more regular payment of superannuation)

• A stronger and fairer workplace umpire (Fair Work Commission)

• Same job, same pay for labour hire workers and better protections for contractors

• More rights for casuals and a path to permanent work

• World-first rights for gig workers

• Stopped employers cancelling Agreements during bargaining

• The banning of pay secrecy clauses

• Abolition of the $450 threshold on super

• Bans on the advertising of jobs below the minimum wage

• Easier recovery of unpaid wages and super

• Better equal pay laws

• Stronger laws to stop sexual harassment and discrimination

• Stronger flexible work rights for parents and carers

• Improved access to workplaces for unions to deal with health and safety concerns

• Criminal charges for employers for workplace deaths

• New rights for truckies to make our roads safer

• Bans on lethal engineered stone

• Establishment of Jobs and Skills Australia

• Migrant worker protections

• Long overdue pay improvements for Early Childhood Education and Care and Aged Care workers.