Trade Unionism

Unions, including nursing unions, have been at the forefront of organising members and using collective resources to achieve a range of conditions which include:

• wage increases and improvements to working conditions
• 38 hour working week and accrued days off
• annual leave and loading
• sick leave
• long service leave
• penalty rates for shiftwork, overtime and working unsocial hours
• parental and other family leave (including paid maternity leave in many workplaces)
• superannuation
• many other working conditions.

All of these benefits have been achieved by unions, despite opposition from employers.

Without unions, many of the working conditions we currently have simply would not exist.

From convict rebellions over work and living conditions, through to more recent struggles for maternity leave, superannuation and accident compensation, trade unions have been at the forefront of the movement for positive change for all Australians for many years.

For more information about the history of trade unionism in Australia visit the Australian Council of Trade Unions website.