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Labor to Increase Paid Paid Parenting Leave
The Albanese Labor Government will phase-in an increase in the total package of federally-funded paid parental leave from the current 20 weeks to 26 weeks between 2024 and 2026. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Finance and Women Minister Katy Gallagher and Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said in a statement on 15 October that the entitlement will rise to 22 weeks in July 2024 and 24 weeks in July 2025, before reaching the full 26 weeks in 2026, noting that it had been one of the most frequent proposals raised at last month’s jobs summit. The current entitlement comprises 18 weeks of paid leave under the Paid Parental Leave scheme, paid at the minimum wage, and two weeks of dad and partner pay (also paid at the minimum wage). The Government says families “will have access to more leave and enjoy greater flexibility, with extended PPL able to be taken in blocks between periods of paid work”, while single parents “will be entitled to the full leave payable so their children don’t miss out”. It says the Government would maintain the two weeks of “use it or lose it” leave “to encourage more dads and partners to access PPL, so that both parents can share in those precious early days and share the caring responsibilities more equally”. The Government will make changes to boost the flexibility of the scheme from July next year, 12 months ahead of the first stage of the increased paid entitlements. The Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce will “examine the optimal model for 26 weeks and what mix of flexible weeks and ‘use it or lose it’ component for each parent will deliver the best outcome for families and encourage more shared parenting”. While the Government characterises the increase in paid parental leave as “a full six months” or 26 weeks, that refers to the overall package and the entitlement for the mother or primary carer is 24 weeks. However, a single parent will get the full 26-week payment. Unions and the Business Council of Australia made a joint call for the 18-week entitlement for primary carers to rise to 26 weeks.
Merry Chistmas
and a Happy New Year
to all RTBU Members and their Families
The WIMDOI 2022 National Conference was held Canberra from 13 – 15 September, with 192 women representing nearly 26 unions from all around Australia and New Zealand in attendance. The conference was held at the United Workers Union o ce in Kingston, and included presentations from women such as the Minister for Finance Senator Katy Gallagher, the founder of the Touched by Christopher workplace safety campaign Patrizia Cassanti, human rights Aunty Pat Anderson and writer Van Badham. National Vice President Leanne Holmes is on the WIMDOI Committee and helped to organise the event. “WIMDOI stands for Women in Male Dominated Occupations and Industries, and it was established as a forum to help educate and empower working women,” Leanne said. “WIMDOI prides itself in creating a safe environment where women can come together, network and share in what sometimes are horrific personal stories about their experiences in workplaces. “It brings together women employed in industries as diverse as transport, stevedoring, aviation, electrical and construction trades, and emergency services. “These women are often the only woman in their workplace, or experience work where decisions are made
RTBU ROCKS WIMDOI 2022 192 Women, 26 Unions,
2 Continents by men with little regard for issues that a ect women at work.” Leanne said this year’s event was a raging success. “It was inspiring to see so many incredible women in one place – including a huge delegation of 20 women members from the RTBU. “Besides the incredible speakers, we also had a trip to Parliament House and attended a rally in support of General Service O cers - the ACT Government employees who keep Canberra running through cleaning, trades, and facilities management.” WIMDOI will next be held in 2024.
The WIMDOI 2022 National Conference was held Canberra from 13 – 15 September, with 192 women representing nearly 26 unions from all around Australia and New Zealand in attendance. The conference was held at the United Workers Union o ce in Kingston, and included presentations from women such as the Minister for Finance Senator Katy Gallagher, the founder of the Touched by Christopher workplace safety campaign Patrizia Cassanti, human rights Aunty Pat Anderson and writer Van Badham. National Vice President Leanne Holmes is on the WIMDOI Committee and helped to organise the event. “WIMDOI stands for Women in Male Dominated Occupations and Industries, and it was established as a forum to help educate and empower working women,” Leanne said. “WIMDOI prides itself in creating a safe environment where women can come together, network and share in what sometimes are horrific personal stories about their experiences in workplaces. “It brings together women employed in industries as diverse as transport, stevedoring, aviation, electrical and construction trades, and emergency services. “These women are often the only woman in their workplace, or experience work where decisions are made by men with little regard for issues that a ect women at work.” Leanne said this year’s event was a raging success. “It was inspiring to see so many incredible women in one place – including a huge delegation of 20 women members from the RTBU. “Besides the incredible speakers, we also had a trip to Parliament House and attended a rally in support of General Service O cers - the ACT Government employees who keep Canberra running through cleaning, trades, and facilities management.” WIMDOI will next be held in 2024.
NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Emission Free Public Transport
Sergey Shehetinin and Jake Brooks attend Level 1 union training in Sydney in July 2022
Sergey and Jake are workplace delegates at UGL Regional Linx Infrastructure, who maintain the country rail network. Following the successful completion of the delegates training Sergey and Jake are in a better position to • Represent members in the workplace • Recruit new members • Assist with grievance handling The RTBU will be conducting further L1 and L2 Delegate courses in 2023 interested delegates please contact your Organiser.
The RTBU was invited to make submissions and appear as witness into the recently held NSW Legislative Assembly inquiry into Emission Free Modes of Public Transport, as this issue particularly affects our Tram and Bus Division.
Broadly, the RTBU was receptive of the Committee’s interest in de-carbonising the future public transport needs of the State whilst acknowledging that there exist more than 200 electric buses that are in service. Pursuing emission free modes of public transport will assist Australia reach its emission reduction targets, whilst providing sustainable job opportunities in manufacturing, servicing and technical trades, together with upskilling the existing workforce, was pressed by the union as an obvious economic benefit to investment in the State’s economy. The RTBU highlighted potential issues borne out of early transitionary arrangements which impacted Yard staff including poor training, shifting of recharging duties onto drivers and the poor design of recharging facilities, together with inadequate safety measures which must be addressed by TfNSW and private operators as adoption expands. RTBU Industrial Officer, Jason Hart spoke to the RTBU Submission in evidence to the Inquiry, excerpts are below: “We think that the adoption of emission-free passenger services is a welcome opportunity to decarbonise our current global footprint in relation to emissions. Even in today’s Australian Financial Review, the talk of reducing carbon emissions from new vehicles is welcomed by the Australian Government, noting that European emissions standards are much lower than what exist here in Australia and in New South Wales. We say that, as part of the recommendation from our submission, not only do we welcome the decarbonisation of the bus fleet as it transpires across the next couple of years, but also that the Committee should make recommendations with respect to lowering the emissions of fleet transport vehicles across the State.”
