Paid Parental Leave - it's all about families
ACTU MEDIA RELEASE - 10 MAY 2009
Unions welcome paid parental leave scheme
Unions welcome the historic introduction a universal, government-funded paid maternity leave scheme covering the majority of Australian women and their families.
“The campaign to win this essential piece of social infrastructure has taken 30 long years,” ACTU President Sharan Burrow said today.
“This is a major achievement for the thousands of women and men who have worked so hard to bring this scheme to fruition.
“Importantly, the scheme will cover hundreds of thousands of women in lower paid jobs with poor job security, especially in hospitality and retail where there’s been very limited access to paid maternity leave.
“The Rudd Government has rightly concluded that this money will go directly into spending on the necessities that go with having a new baby at a time when most families have been reduced to living on one wage.”
“It also recognises that paid maternity leave is good for business and the economy because it will help keep skilled, experienced female staff attached to the workforce.”
Treasurer Wayne Swan has today confirmed that a universal paid maternity leave scheme will go ahead, with funding to be committed in Tuesday’s Budget.
Ms Burrow said the 18-week scheme would give mothers time to bond with and breastfeed their babies without financial stress forcing them back to work too early, sometimes within weeks, as is currently the case.
“The ACTU and unions will continue to help working women bargain for measures to help balance their work and family responsibilities,” said Ms Burrow.
PAID PARENTAL LEAVE WEEK OF ACTION - 23 TO 27 MARCH 2009
COME TO OUR "WE SUPPORT THE INCLUSION OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE IN THE 2009 FEDERAL BUDGET" MORNING TEA!!
Unions are embarking on a week of action commencing 23 March to keep up the pressure on the Federal Government to include Paid Parental Leave in the 2009 Federal Budget. The QCU will hold a morning tea this Friday (27 March) in Alexander Smith Place (park next to QCU building). Come along and support the campaign - and enjoy a piece of cake too!
Click here to download the morning tea invitation
QCU Assistant General Secretary Amanda Richards cuts the cake at the morning tea on 27 March 2009
Another way to keep up the pressure on the Federal Government is to send a message directly to Hon Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Housing and the Status of Women. Click here to sign your name to an email to Tanya or alternatively, contact your union or the QCU to obtain a postcard which you can post off directly to her. Let's keep up the pressure!
Resources
Click here to download the PPL postcard
Click here to download the PPL poster
WE'VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR A LONG TIME ON THIS ISSUE...
The Queensland Council of Unions and its affiliates have been fighting for improved conditions for working families in the lead-up to, and following, the birth of a child for decades.
Whilst we have been able to achieve significant gains for union members through bargaining such as paid maternity and parental leave, paid carers and family leave and flexible work arrangements, thousands of workers remain without basic internationally recognised rights.
The QCU has provided a submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave which will deliver its findings in February 2009. In essence, the QCU submission calls for:
- a minimum standard of 14 weeks paid parental leave (plus 9% superannuation) for the woman or primary care-giver of the child
- the paid parental leave scheme would replace the current baby bonus entitlement
- the Federal Government would provide a basic 14 week payment at minimum wage levels with those in paid employment receiving a top-up from their employer to their normal wage level.
Click here to download a brochure on the QCU's paid parental leave submission
Click here to download the QCU's submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry
Click here to download the QCU's recent submission following the interim report from the Productivity Commission
QCU MEDIA RELEASES
MEDIA RELATED ARTICLES
PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION HEARING - NOVEMBER 2008
The Productivity Commission held public hearings in Brisbane on Tuesday 25 November. The QCU appeared along with appearances by four working mothers (as identified by members of the QCU Women's Committee). The witnesses were as follows and you can also read a brief about their evidence to the Commission:
Leisa Cusack (tutor train driver from MT Isa) - RTBU
Melissa Pignolet (public servant) - QPSU
Sam Pidgeon (teacher) - QTU
Susan Wesley (security officer) - LHMU
(A further witness, Sue Wittens - a mortician technician (LHMU) was unable to appear due to the demands of her work however a written statement was provided to the Commission).
In addition to the presentation, the QCU released a media kit and generated media attention from ABC radio, 4BC and channel 10.
The Productivity Commission will wind up public hearings in Sydney in the week commencing 1 December with the final report due on 28 February 2009.
