News - Australian Services Union NSW & ACT Branch

May Day Celebrations 2021

This year ASU members joined marches across the country to celebrate May Day - the International Workers' Day.

There were rallies in Parramatta, Newcastle and Wollongong.

ASU Secretary Natalie Lang spoke at Prince Alfred Square in Parramatta. Here are some photos and stories from the day!

Disability Sector: Vaccine Delays

Less than 6% of disability residents have received their first vaccination shot.

Disability workers are essential workers – but, along with the people they support, they’re being overlooked by the Federal Government.

Today ASU Secretary Natalie Lang joined Sally McManus and Aruma CEO Andrew Richardson at a disability hub in Sydney to remind the Government that our sector needs priority access to the COVID vaccine – without it we’re heading to a disaster.

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic disability workers continued to turn up every single day to provide essential services. Disability workers stepped up to the plate.

The Government seems to have abandoned its plan to roll out workplace vaccinations for the sector. In an understaffed and underpaid sector, with a high number of casual and gig workers – we cannot afford to keep delaying the rollout.

The Government needs to show they value people with disability and the people who support them.

National Press Club: Reena and Michele

Australian Unions President Michele O'Neil invited Reena, an ASU member and frontline disability worker, to her speech at the National Press Club.

It was frontline workers like Reena who made the difference and got us through the pandemic.

But this is a fragile recovery and the pandemic is still raging.

Workers like Reena cannot be left behind.

$56 million to be cut from homelessness services

“You cannot say in one breath that you are concerned about the mistreatment of women and then cut the funding to essential services and women’s refuges.”

The Federal government wants to cut $56 million from homelessness services that support women and children leaving violence. This means women’s refuges will have to close their doors. Scott Morrison is all talk and no action and it’s not good enough.

ASU Secretary Natalie Lang speaks to 7NEWS Australia with Vinnies Australia at Elsie's Women's Refuge. Watch here.

Communities Need A Pay Rise

This recession was the only recession in Australian history were profits went up.

They went up 15%.

Billionaires don’t spend profits, but workers spend pay rises.

Our communities need a pay rise to help us recover from drought, floods, fire and the pandemic.

If you agree join your union. We’re calling for a 3.5% increase to the minimum wage.

That’s an extra $25 a week for millions of Australians to spend in our local communities.

Neighbourhood Centre Workers Make The Difference

Recently Newtown Neighbourhood Staff met with their Organiser to discuss the campaign around leave entitlements being carried over within the community sector, as they are in the public sector.

NNC voted and moved this resolution:

We are workers who make a difference every day. We should be valued for the difference we make, we should be recognised for our contribution to a Civil Society over many years.

Portable entitlements will make a difference to the workers who make the difference. Portable entitlements will make a stronger sector and stronger services for the people we support.

We call on our colleagues to join our campaign and to our employers to support us.

Members Meet Deputy PM about airline jobs

Today four fearless ASU members in airlines spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack about the reality right now for aviation workers.

Yvonne, Pascale, Catherine and Katrina spoke up on behalf of every aviation worker across the country, and they did a fantastic job.

Sign this petition and let’s make sure they get the message – no airlines worker left behind.

COVID VACCINE UPDATE: CATEGORY 1B (Disability Services)

Many disability workers are in category 1B and can now get the COVID vaccine. We held an online meeting for disability workers about the COVID vaccine rollout you can watch below.

Disability workers will need to show that you work in disability services – either by filling out a declaration form or by taking a letter from your employer saying you are in category 1B.

There are 6 million people who are in category 1B – that’s a lot of people. So there could be delays in getting the vaccine and it could be several weeks before you get an appointment at your GP.

Latest Training for Union Members

The ASU Career Launchpad is your exclusive member-only professional development program designed for ASU members. Below are just some of our upcoming courses available free of charge for union members.

Check out the course guide, catch up with past courses or enroll in upcoming courses via your member portal.

New Members Meeting: Penrith Hub Day

New union members from the community and disability sectors met for the first time at our Western Sydney office in Penrith. We’re making plans to make work safer and fairer (and learning how to make the most out of our membership!).

We hold regular inductions for new members at our regional hubs. Email [email protected] or give us a call on 0293104000 to find your nearest one.