Academics described their universities as exploitative, oppressive, toxic and fiscally driven. They felt themselves being dehumanised and demoralised by management. Most reported feelings of burnout.
Beyond arguing for an increased minimum wage, the new Albanese government needs to fix an outdated system that’s failing our lowest-paid workers – especially women.
Lifting wages will be a priority for the Albanese government to ease the cost of living. But the unions and the Greens are likely to push for more changes to tackle problems with the Fair Work system.
The government’s latest industrial relations reform does little to change the power between employers and employees - with the former still strongly advantaged.
An examination of 80,000 enterprise bargaining agreements finds that on average 80% of each increase in compulsory super has been at the expense of wages.
As ACTU secretary, Sally McManus has proven effective at elevating the debate over workplace reform.
AAP/Alex Murray
Austraila’s minimum wages now operate in relative isolation. Until the 1990s they were part of an inter-connected system.
Unionists protesting the reduced role of the Industrial Relations Commission after the introduction of the work choices legislation in 2006.
Julian Smith/AAP
Echoes of WorkChoices? The Coalition is keen to avoid any whiff of the failed policy, but some of the Productivity Commission’s recommendations have a strong flavour of it.
Cafe workers are among many that stand to lose Sunday penalty rates.
Felipe Neves/Flickr
Over the course of the last few months, industrial relations has once again become a major issue on the national political agenda. Allegations of union corruption, uncompetitive wage deals, inflexible…