Leader of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA), Joe de Bruyn, has come out saying he will oppose the Rudd government’s plan to scrap the restrictions preventing Australian aid money being used to fund abortion services overseas.
By SP reporters Melbourne (more…)

Over 300 people attended a demonstration to launch UNITE’s Boost Our Pay campaign on Friday March 30. The demonstration was held on the busy Swanston Street in Melbourne outside the main strip of fast food restaurants.
By UNITE reporters, Melbourne (more…)

Many young people will take on a casual job to make some extra cash over the summer period. It’s the busiest time of the year for areas such as retail, fast food and hospitality. Most shops put on extra staff to cover their increased workload. It is common for bosses to try and rip young workers off during this period. Some of the problems young workers face include; the underpayment of wages, not being given rest breaks, bullying and harassment or unsafe working conditions.
By Kylie McGregor, Socialist Party Melbourne (more…)

Burger King next on hit list!
After months of negotiation the Unite Union in New Zealand has reached a breakthrough collective employment agreement with fast food giant McDonald’s. Earlier this year Unite also signed agreements with Red Rooster and Restaurant Brands who own KFC, Pizza Hut and Starbucks. (more…)

The following article was carried by the AAP and published on the websites of several papers including The Australian and the Herald Sun. It includes quotes from UNITE Secretary and SP member Anthony Main.
A UNION has called for fast food and retail workers to join a mass protest in Melbourne this weekend, as the world’s economic leaders meet for the G20 summit. (more…)

A successful action was held in the Melbourne CBD yesterday in solidarity with the 500+ locked out distribution workers in New Zealand. The workers are employed by a company called Progressive Enterprises which is owned by Woolworths Australia. They have been locked out until they drop their demand for a collective union agreement. They are fighting for decent pay rises and pay parity across three New Zealand distribution centers. Read report and see photos below. (more…)

UNITE is organising an emergency action in Melbourne to support the 500 locked out supermarket workers in New Zealand. The workers are employed by Progressive, a company which is owned by Woolworths Australia. The details are: 4-6pm Wednesday September 13th outside the Safeway / Big W entrance corner of Lonsdale and Swanston Streets City. See below for the text of UNITE’s leaflet. (more…)

A new union for fast food and retail workers has been launched in Melbourne. The union, UNITE, grew out of a campaign for casual workers rights. UNITE first started in 2003 as an organisation fighting for low paid and casual workers. Its most notable campaigns were the ‘name and shame’ campaign on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy and the campaign to unionise Boarders Books on Lygon Street in Carlton.
(more…)

The fast food industry is a source of employment for thousands of young people. The life of a fast food worker usually means casual hours, low pay, workplace bullying, and unsafe work practices. Due to the decline in industries such as manufacturing more and more workers are being employed in the service sector. This growing sector is dominated by a handful of powerful multinational corporations who are determined to aggressively drive down production costs in order to boost profits.

By Anthony Main, UNITE Melboure (more…)

On Sunday April 2, UNITE held a benefit gig to raise money for the Trade Union Rights Campaign - Pakistan (TURC-P). TURC-P has been doing some fantastic work providing relief to thousands of earthquake victims in working class communities across Pakistan. TURC-P has already provided thousands of dollars worth of blankets, tents, food, water and medical aid to those who have been left stranded by the local and international ruling elite. (more…)