Australian Unemployed Workers' Union

The Australian Unemployed Workers' Union (AUWU), is an Australian union representing unemployed, underemployed, and unwaged workers, including recipients of welfare payments and services in Australia. The AUWU is a national organisation, with divisions and branches operating in every State/Territory in Australia.

AUWU
Full nameAustralian Unemployed Workers' Union
Founded2014
Key people(vacant), President

Owen Bennett, Vice-President

Alex North, National Operations Coordinator

Jeremy Poxon, Communications Coordinator
Office locationMelbourne, Victoria
CountryAustralia
Websiteauwu.org.au

History and membership

The AUWU was founded in 2014 as a grass-roots advocacy group for the rights of unemployed workers.[1] As of 2020, the AUWU has grown to include branches in every state and territory in Australia. The AUWU is reported to have around 16,000 members. [2] [3]

AUWU's membership is open to all and free; some voting rights are limited to unemployed and under-employed members. Members upon joining must agree to the AUWU's list of demands, guiding principles and constitution.[4][5] To its members, the AUWU provides a regularly updated "rights guide" for unemployed/underemployed workers navigating the Social Security system, jobactive system, and the Employment Services Industry, online and in-person telephone support services (including a crisis support hotline for the unemployed). They also provide numerous training sessions, workshops and presentations.

Activism

The AUWU carries out campaigns,[6] produces original research, senate submissions and reports,[7] analyses Australian unemployment,[8] gathers stories of unemployed workers' experiences[9] and runs a regular "Fight Back" podcast,[10] amongst other activities.

In the media

In a June 2017 interview with the Courier-Mail, Greens senator Lee Rhiannon expressed support for the AUWU, and revealed she has donated $300 to the association.[11]

2GB broadcaster Ben Fordham has publicly criticised the union in a statement to news.com.au, claiming it 'coaches people how to dodge responsibilities when it comes to work for the dole or finding a job'. Liberal senator and Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash opined that, "Australian taxpayers and indeed those looking for work would be offended by a 'union' whose sole purpose appears to be keeping members out of gainful employment and encouraging them to shirk their responsibilities," and added that the organisation needs to "take a good hard look at itself." AUWU member Ewen Kloas's response to this criticism was also published by news.com.au. He said, "What we tell people are their rights. When unemployed workers go to employment agencies or to Centrelink and have to jump over the high hurdles and burning hoops just to get their social security and live week to week ... all we do is point them in the direction." [12]

Junkee.com.au reported in August 2020 that the AUWU is encouraging its members and other unemployed people to respond to the Federal government's reintroduction of mutual obligations for people on JobSeeker and other welfare payments by going on strike, doing so by refusing to engage with job agencies. [13]

In a statement to The New Daily, AUWU spokesperson Kristin O’Connell voiced the AUWU's opposition to any move by the Federal government to cut JobSeeker payments, saying that, "It’s still a poverty payment. Now it’s just above the poverty line," [14]

See also

References
  1. Schneiders, Ben (18 October 2014). "Australian unemployment union wants to represent the out of work". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  2. "Unemployed job seekers going on 'strike'". News.com.au. 4 August 2020.
  3. "If You're Among The 7.5% Of Unemployed Aussies, Here's The Group Fighting For Your Rights". Pedestrian.tv. 21 August 2020.
  4. "AAWU Constitution & Guiding Documents". Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  5. "AUWU List of Demands". The Australian Unemployed Workers' Union. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  6. "AUWU Campaigns".
  7. "AUWU Research & Submissions".
  8. "AUWU Analysis".
  9. "AUWU Stories".
  10. "AUWU Fight Back Podcast".
  11. Viellaris, Renee. "Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon backs Australian Unemployed Workers' Union". Courier Mail.
  12. "Unemployed workers union hits back at 'bludgers' club' claims". news.com.au. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  13. "Here's Why JobSeekers Are Striking Against Pointless Job Search Requirements". Junkee.com.au. 12 August 2020.
  14. "JobSeeker examined: How a rate cut may ruin thousands of Australians". TheNewDaily.com.au. 26 August 2020.
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