Women

Standing up for women’s rights at work

Union members are leading the fight for gender equality in the workplace, ensuring that all women receive fair wages, equal opportunities, and workplace protections. This section highlights how collective action is securing paid parental leave, fighting gender pay gaps, and pushing for policies that support women’s job security and career advancement. By standing together, union members are creating safer, fairer workplaces for all women.

Ending workplace discrimination and gender inequality

Women continue to face challenges such as workplace harassment, unequal pay, and job insecurity. Unions are actively working to enforce stronger anti-discrimination laws, increase superannuation for women, and ensure flexible work arrangements that support working mothers and caregivers. These ongoing campaigns give women the power to challenge inequality and demand better conditions at work.

Join the movement for fairer workplaces

Union members are pushing for real change, from stronger workplace protections to better wages for women in low-paid industries. By becoming a union member, you help drive the fight for equal rights at work, ensuring that all women have the same opportunities, pay, and respect in the workplace.

View our articles below for more information about Gender Equality and Women’s Rights in the workplace!

“Don’t read the comments”: women journalists harassed out of a job

December 9, 2022

A report from the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) states that more than a third of female journalists have experienced online harassment, trolling and stalking while doing their job. But only 15 per cent are aware of a workplace policy to address such online abuse.

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Decades of progress for women’s workplace safety in one week

December 2, 2022

Public outcry and collective action have been indispensable to the fight against workplace sexual harassment. And behind the wave of progress in Australian workplaces have been thousands of workers in their unions, pushing every step of the way. 

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Multi-employer bargaining accelerates gender equality in the workplace

November 25, 2022

Multi-employer bargaining contributes to gender equality by raising wages in female-dominated industries.

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How far have we come with equal pay for women?

November 18, 2022

It’s hard to believe we face a gender pay gap in Australia that still sees men take home an average of $263.90 more than women per week. But thanks to generations of women working together, that gap has shrunk.

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15% pay rise in aged care a win for women

November 11, 2022

Personal care workers in the aged care sector will receive a well overdue 15% interim…

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Why we need to shift our thinking about self-care to community-care

November 4, 2022

It’s easy for bosses to virtue-signal about self-care without providing the necessary means to prevent burn out and other hazards in the first place. But in order to actually practice self-care, workers need time and financial security to do so. 

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Structural change the key to women’s safety in the workplace and at home

October 28, 2022

This new legislation will shift the burden of responsibility of victims onto employers by introducing a positive duty on employers to take all reasonable action to prevent sexual harassment at work.

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We did it: paid family and domestic violence leave for all workers

October 27, 2022

Today, parliament passed a bill that will enshrine 10 days paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave as a workplace right for every worker in Australia.

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Have you had to put up with men making the decisions for working women? You should meet Zelda

October 21, 2022

There are many ways workers spend their lunch break. Some tuck into food in the breakroom. Others leave the desk or worksite and go for a stroll.

One woman headed down to a busy building in Melbourne’s CBD and chained herself to the front door of a busy building.

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Why we’re talking reproductive leave on World Menopause Day

October 21, 2022

Reproductive leave would allow workers to take five days paid leave to cover IVF, endometriosis, hysterectomies, and any pain, discomfort or treatments associated with menstruation and menopause.  

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