The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) has announced that Paul Farrow will become the union’s 22nd National Secretary, succeeding Daniel Walton who will officially step down on 14 July. Mr Farrow, a seasoned trade unionist with more than two decades of experience, was endorsed to succeed Mr Walton by the AWU’s National Executive, meeting in Darwin. […]
After nearly 7 years at the helm, and 15 years in our Union, Daniel Walton has announced he is stepping down as AWU National Secretary. “It has been a singular honour to lead the AWU and I’m incredibly proud of what our union has achieved by working together since 2016,” he says. “I have the […]
Vale William Patrick Ludwig OAM 25/05/1934 – 11/04/2022 William Patrick Ludwig OAM was fond of saying we are all just passing through this great union. But no one passed through the AWU quite like Big Bill. Bill was born in Longreach, in the central west of his beloved state of Queensland in 1934. The death […]
The Australian Worker’s Union has won a landmark industrial case that will soon guarantee all piece-rate farmworkers will be paid the minimum hourly rate. It’s a decision that will see the vast majority of farmworkers significantly increase their take-home pay and superannuation. WHAT IT MEANS FOR ME? As a farmworker you can still be paid […]
The coronavirus outbreak has exposed Australia’s weak fuel security policy and shown how vital it is to protect and strengthen our fuel refining capabilities. When the next crisis hits, Australia currently only has 50 days of fuel available. We’d run out of petrol within weeks and the shelves in supermarkets would be empty within days. It’s not good enough, and […]
As all manufacturing workers know, the cost and reliability of energy are vital to the survival of our sector. While gas prices crashed worldwide, Australians continued to pay a premium to use our own natural resources. This price gouging has sent manufacturers to the wall and allowed foreign multi-national gas companies to extract billions from us while we all suffer. It’s not […]
Members, it is with a degree of sadness that I inform you that Life Member Jim Doyle passed away on Saturday August 15th at the age of 102. Jim joined the AWU at the age of 15 initially working the shearing sheds in North Queensland. In his 87 years of continuous membership of the AWU […]
Please find link below for a Letter from State and Branch Secretary Peter Lamps to members regarding the Sale of O.I Glass. O-I Glass Sale
Each year 600,000 Australian workers are exposed to silica dust. When inhaled silica dust can cause a variety of lung diseases including silicosis, the new asbestosis. Silica dust can also cause kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Currently the mandatory silica dust exposure limit is 0.1mg per cubic metre, averaged over an eight-hour day. […]
The inaugural Yossi Berger Safety Award has been presented to Grant Cunningham, an AWU delegate and the Rolling Mill Team at Liberty Primary Steel in Whyalla, South Australia. The award was presented by National Secretary Daniel Walton, and South Australian Branch Secretary Peter Lamps at the Steel Works. “At the AWU, nothing is more important […]
Wednesday 08th January 2020 Across Australia there are hundreds of AWU members currently fighting bushfires as part of their work duties for State and Territory governments. The AWU thanks these members for their hard work, professionalism, dedication and their massive contribution to saving lives and homes during these unprecedented fires. Your union stands ready to […]
Lately, we have seen a series of raids by the AFP on media outlets. This is both a disturbing Government attack on press freedom and highlights the need for strong protections for whistle-blowers in the public and private sectors, in this case in The Afghan Files. Journalism relies on being able to protect sources that are […]
“Our number one concern is for the welfare of the young man injured working at a Cooktown quarry yesterday – and the welfare of his family and friends,”
Making sure AWU Members have safe and healthy workplaces is a top priority for our union.
