An application by the United Workers Union, the Australian Education Union and the Independent Education Union of Australia to bargain across multiple employers has been granted at the Fair Work Commission (FWC). This allows the AEU to bargain with hundreds of employers, addressing gender-based undervaluation of the skills involved in early years education.
The first authorisation of its kind, employers from across the country can now band together to set a new standard for more than 500 centre, covering educators, teachers and other staff in the same agreement, setting important principles for future cases.
We have also lodged an FWC application for a single interest employer authorisation for the TAFE sector.
Also in TAFE, the AEU has commenced a proceeding in the County Court of Victoria against Bendigo Kangan Institute, based on allegations that BKI failed to conduct a conversion process in April 2023, which affected many fixed term and casual employees. The AEU has alleged that this constituted a “serious contravention” of the Fair Work Act. The maximum penalty is $939,000 per contravention.
In workers compensation matters, Redlich’s have recovered $640,604 on behalf of AEU members. The legal fees for these claims were paid by the AEU on behalf its members. No other Australian union provides this level of support to its members.
