More Tasmanian workers joining unions to improve pay, conditions and job security

Unions Tasmania, Tasmanian Branch of the ACTU

Media Release Wednesday, 12 May 2010

More Tasmanian workers joining unions to improve pay, conditions and job security

An increasing proportion of Tasmanian workers are joining unions and Tasmania remains the leading state in Australia for union membership according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released today.

Union members now make up 26% of the Tasmanian workforce, an increase of .6% from 2008.

The statistics show the tangible benefits of union membership with Tasmanians who are members of their union earning, on average, $183 more a week than non-union workers.

In Tasmania the most significant rise in membership was amongst men with 2.8% more male workers now union members.

Commenting on today’s figures, Unions Tasmania Secretary, Simon Cocker said:

“The current figures are the highest for a number of years despite the Global Financial Crisis and the number of Tasmanians who have been put out of work.”

“The figures clearly show working Tasmanians are turning to unions to improve their living standards and that they understand that being an active union member and bargaining collectively is the best way to improve their wages and conditions.”

“As unions continue to focus our work on issues that are important to working people, they are responding by joining their union.”

“The community appears to be responding to our campaigns for safer workplaces, better childcare, a national paid maternity leave scheme, pay equity for women, a fairer workers’ compensation system, decent working conditions for the low paid, improvements in aged care, better retirement incomes and protection from exposure to asbestos.”

“Joining a union is also a lot simpler with the Unions Australia website and hotline helping to put workers in touch with the union that is right for their line of work.”

“I want to congratulate every union member, delegate and union organiser in the state on their hard work and ask them to keep encouraging their workmates to join the union.”

Mr Cocker also encouraged more women to join a union with Tasmanian women union members earning $255 per week more than their non-union counterparts.

“We know a lot of women don’t join their union because they are part-time and casual workers but these figures clearly show that union membership is important to help close the gender pay gap in Tasmania,” said Mr. Cocker.
Simon Cocker