We see it in every industry, where employees have been called ‘casuals’ despite working for years and having regular and permanent hours. They have no paid leave, have difficulty securing loans and find they are not able to speak about safety or other workplace rights for fear they will be sacked, on the spot!
Now the Australian Council of Trade Unions- our peak union body- has made an application to the Fair Work Commission to introduce casual conversions to permanent work clauses in all awards- and ASU members will be part of the case! Members have provided witness statements about the impact long term casual employment has on their lives.
The ACTU application also includes increasing minimum daily hours for casuals and part timers to four hours. This will significantly improve the working conditions for all workers, particularly those working in our disability, social and community services sector and airlines industry. The case kicks off on 14 March.