On The Job with Francis Leach

On The Job is back and with new hosts: Kleo Cruse and Emma Hartley. This episode is for all workers with a reproductive system – yes, that's you! The social stigma attached to menstruation and menopause often means workers are enduring the pain of normal bodily functions in silence. We chat to Ann-Marie Allan from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and Kate Marshall from the Health And Community Services Union about how reproductive leave can help ease some of that pain. Keen to have reproductive leave at your workplace? Get things kickstarted by joining your union.Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The last pod in our summer series takes a look at one of 2022's best pieces of investigative journalism. Since it arrived on our streets over a decade ago, Uber has prided itself on being a "disrupter" with little regard for convention.At the heart of their business model is a fanatical commitment to upend the employer/employee relationship and create a new army of sole contractors working on their tech platform with Uber having no responsibility for them, and with drivers having no rights and entitlements. This high-tech exploitation has made it a massive company that has caused controversy wherever it goes.In July of 2022 the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) dropped a trove of documents and emails from Uber's inner sanctum that reveal how the company was able to curry favour with governments and institutions around the world to achieve its aims. The Uber Files are a stunning insight into how Uber inveigled their way into the realm of prime ministers, presidents, bureaucrats and power brokers to get things done.  Fergus Shiel is the Managing Editor of the ICIJ. He oversaw the Uber Files project. Fergus joined us on the line from his home in Washington DC to discuss the contents of the Uber Files and their implication.   You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach is Editor at Large for the Australian Council of Trade Unions Twitter - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week in our summer series, we head back to August 2022 to examine the growing demands for food assistance from workers and their families. The promise of the Australian Dream is that you should be able to work one decent, secure job and earn enough pay to put a roof over your head, support your family and thrive. That all seems like a pipe dream in the current climate, where insecure work, no entitlements, climbing inflation, and a housing squeeze means that hard-working Australians are driven to the margins. Many of them are turning to organisations like Foodbank to help them make ends meet. Foodbank is Australia's largest food relief organisation, operating on a scale that makes it crucial to the work of the front-line charities who are feeding vulnerable Australians. Foodbank provides more than 70% of the food rescued for food relief organisations nationwide. Matt Tilley is acting of CEO at Foodbank in Victoria. He joins us on the pod.   You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach is Editor at Large for the Australian Council of Trade Unions Twitter - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest episode of our summer series, we head back to June 2022. At the time, Tesla billionaire Elon Musk was launching a hostile takeover bid for one of the world's biggest and most influential social media platforms, Twitter. At the same time, the Tesla founder has been playing footsy with the libertarian/alt-right, blabbing on about freedom of speech, and promising to unleash the dogs of hate speech and misinformation back onto the platform. Now had did that all turn out for the man who was then, the world's richest man? Is it healthy that one individual can amass such outsized wealth and influence whilst tens of millions of people struggle to make a living? What is the danger that the billionaire class poses to the health of our society? John L. Campbell is a sociologist and economist at Dartmouth University in New Hampshire in the United States. He's been writing about these very issues.  John joined me on the pod to discuss.     You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach is Editor at Large for the Australian Council of Trade Unions Twitter - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the first episode in our summer series, where we take a look back at some of the great conversations we had in 2022. Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz is one of the world's great thinkers. Professor Stiglitz won the 2001 Nobel Prize for his ground-breaking work in economics. Professor Stiglitz's work in pushing back against neo-liberal free market economic models and arguing for the importance of empowering workers and unions to build a more equitable economy is revered. He served as an advisor in the Clinton White House, holds a professorship at Columbia University, and was the first person the Greek government called for help when it faced a financial meltdown in 2010. He was is in Australia in July of 2022 to talk with Unions, workers, and the newly elected Labor government, and he joined me in conversation.   You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach is Editor at Large for the Australian Council of Trade Unions Twitter - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian workers know all too well the dangers posed by working in an unsafe environment where being on the job means exposure  to dangerous, toxic airborne substances. Zac Smith is the Acting National Secretary of the CFMEU. He's our guest on this week's pod to discuss silicosis, and what Unions are doing to stop it.  The cruel punishment suffered by workers because of asbestos exposure lives long in the memory of the Union movement. Now, there is another airborne scourge in many workplaces that needs to be eliminated.Silicosis is a deadly disease caused by exposure to Silica dust, which is prevalent in the types of Engineered stone common in Australian homes and industries.   You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach is Editor at Large for the Australian Council of Trade Unions Twitter - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big business and corporations are always thinking about new and more subtle ways to change the perceptions and narrative about how they operate. On this week's edition of "On the Job", Emma Hartley and Kleo Cruse from ACTU HQ tell us about the bosses latest trick - "Woke-Washing."   You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach is Editor at Large for the Australian Council of Trade Unions Twitter - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week was a huge one for workers across the country as Labor passed its new Industrial Relations laws, The Secure Jobs Better pay bill. Australian Unions have spent a decade campaigning for a fairer deal when it comes to our workplace laws, and the Albanese government has started the work of repairing our broken system with this legislation. The Secretary of the ACTU, Sally McManus is my guest this week discussing the implications of these new laws. Also, we're joined by Jamie Newlyn, Assistant Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia, to discuss the attempt by a big international shipping company to shut down Australia's port and lock out its workforce.   You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach is Editor at Large for the Australian Council of Trade Unions Twitter - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian workers are finding that what money they do earn is no longer anywhere near enough to pay the bills. Yet, employer and business groups are sharpening their attacks on Labor's plan to get wages moving with its “Secure Jobs Better Pay” industrial relations legislation. Richard Denniss is the Chief Economist with the Independent think tank, The Australia Institute.  He's not fooled by the bleating bosses. He joins us once again on the pod to talk about the silent crisis they don't want you to know about - The Profit Crisis. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the FIFA World Cup gets underway in Qatar this week, the plight of migrant workers who have built the stadiums that are hosting the games will dissolve into the background for many people. For others though, this World Cup has become as much about human rights and workers safety and freedom from exploitation as it is about the scores and results. On this week's pod, I take a deep dive into the issue of workers and human rights in Qatar. Have reforms made it ok to play the world's greatest sporting event in that country?   _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent budget handed down by Labor treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered a huge win for families all across Australia with the extension of Paid Parental Leave to 26 weeks, and more affordable early childhood education and care.Like all ground-breaking change, it didn't happen by accident.Unions and their allies have been campaigning tirelessly for over a decade to revamp Paid Parental Leave, better and affordable early childhood education, and the status of workers in the sector.Georgie Dent has been at the forefront of these campaigns.Georgie is Executive Director at The Parenthood, and has been central to the campaign for change.She joins us on this week's podcast. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How as your weekend? I hope it was cracking good fun!Did you know that not too long ago the idea of 'the weekend' didn't exist? Two days off in succession for workers to enjoy leisure time was unthinkable for generations of workers.Our historian, Dr. Liam Byrne is once again our guest on the pod. He's here to tell us the history of how Unions and workers created the weekend._____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Tuesday night, treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the first Labor budget in nine years. For workers and Unions, it was an evening of milestones.As the Treasurer outlined his Budget, the inclusion of 10 days paid domestic and family violence leave and a significant revamp of paid parental leave represented huge victories for a series of long running Union campaigns.Michele O'Neil is the President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). She joins us on the pod after a landmark week in Canberra. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The gender pay gap remains unacceptably and woefully high.Across Australia, it remains a fact that women on average earn around 14% less than their male counterparts.In the ACT though, there's an example of how you can not only close the gap - but end it.Maddy Northam is The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) ACT Regional Secretary. She joins us to tell us how it was achieved. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFrankly  Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Job turns 100 this week! Yep, it's our 100th episode, and I want to thank you for being part of the journey. This week, we do a bit of California dreaming, and meet one of the heroes of Cali's fast-food workers movement. California has just passed its most significant labour rights act on decades, AB257, which raises the hourly wage to $22 an hour and guarantees worker representation on a new board that will oversee wages and conditions in the industry.Ingrid Vilorio has been a Jack in the Box worker for 2 years, is married, and has a son with special needs. During the pandemic she got Covid-19 at work and passed the virus to her special needs son. She was forced to quarantine and miss work. Ingrid was denied Covid pay and told by her supervisor that she did not qualify for sick pay and had to go on strike to win sick pay that she was entitled to under California law. She joined the Fight for $15 and a Union because she was tired of verbal harassment from her supervisor, wage theft and unsafe working conditions during the Covid pandemic. She continues to be an active leader, advocating for a voice on the job, most recently through the passage of AB 257.Ingrid is our special guest on this week's pod._____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFrankly  Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many workers, recent climactic events like bushfires and floods have not only caused huge disruption in their personal lives, they've caused chaos in their working lives as well.In response, workers at the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) have taken the lead on this issue.They've just negotiated something called Climate Disaster Leave.Grace Vegesana is a Climate & Racial Justice Campaigner with AYCC and she's our guest on this week's pod.AYCC - https://www.aycc.org.au/Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Great Britain is facing an economic crisis and a grim winter as the Tory government, under new Prime Minister Liz Truss, cuts taxes for the wealthy as ordinary people struggle to heat their homes and put food on the table.This latest trickledown, meltdown has sunk the British pound, and workers and trade Unions are once again readying to take on the Conservative government that has all but abandoned working people.Britain saw a wave of industrial action across all sectors as it sweltered through summer, and it's likely to see plenty more as workers and unions say enough is enough.Our guest this week is Kevin Rowan. Kevin is Head of Organising, Services and Learning with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Great Britain.Kevin talks with us about how there's still power in a Union! _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFrankly  Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As another AFL season reaches its crescendo, it's an opportunity to reflect on how the Australian game has become such an extraordinary cultural phenomenon.The game, which emerged out of the paddocks and fields of mid 19th Century Melbourne, has had many versions of its origin story told. One part of its history that is often overlooked is the role that organised workers and their unions had in the success of footy as a spectator sport.Dr. Tony Ward is a historian based at Melbourne University who has researched this part of Aussie Rules history. He joins us for the opening bounce on this week's edition of "On the Job". Read Dr Tony Ward's Aussie Rules rules thanks to the eight-hour working day_____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFrankly  Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Millions of Australian workers know what it's like to shiver through a winter in a rental property that is too cold, without enough heating, or is drafty or damp.It impacts your wellbeing, mental health and can actually make you sick.The last thing people on low wages and in insecure work need in their lives is to miss work because they're ill.Better Renting is an organisation that campaigns to improve the quality of rental properties to ensure renters getter a better deal and stay healthy.Their recent survey revealed that the vast majority of renters in Australia are living in housing that could be making them sick.Joel Dignam is the Executive Director of Better Renting. He is our guest. We also hear from ACTU Assistant Secretary, Liam O'Brien, on why substandard housing is a work and safety issue as well._____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFrankly Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For decades, Qantas was an institution that inspired a form of civic pride in most Australians.It was an airline with an impeccable safety record, a reputation for excellence in service, as well as being a great place to work.In 2022, Qantas' stellar reputation is in tatters, replaced by a long list of grievances - delayed and cancelled flights, lost baggage and safety concerns.At the heart of this has been CEO Alan Joyce's relentless job stripping, cost cutting and a union busting crusade that has made Qantas a pariah.Last week, ABC TV's "4 Corners" did an investigation into the goings on at Qantas. What it found was a company at war with its workforce and struggling to deliver for its customers.Michael Kaine, National Secretary of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) is our guest on the pod this week, to discuss Qantas - the wounded kangaroo. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFrankly Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians love to talk about how we need to give our children the best possible start in life.Yet when it comes to providing those kids with accessible, affordable, early childhood education, things get sketchy.And it really falls away when we examine the pay, conditions, and career prospects of the people entrusted with educating children at that crucial early stage of their lives - early childhood educators.These educators are grossly underpaid and equally undervalued. They love their work and the children they nurture, but as our guest on the pod today tells us - you can't pay the bills with love.Early Childhood Educators have had enough. This week across Australia, they are taking industrial action to highlight their plight.We're joined by Helen Gibbons, Executive Director - Early Education, with The United Workers Union, and Talie Mengell an early childhood educator who has been working in the field for 20 years. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For generations of young Australians, our first job experience has often been in the world of fast food retail.Working hard at slinging burgers or working the register as someone grabs a feed on the run is often where we learn about the reality of the world of work.The good, the bad and the ugly.What is still all too common are stories of young people in those jobs being underpaid or exploited by unscrupulous employers.McDonalds is one of the largest employers of young Aussies in the fast food business. It's also one of the businesses unions are calling out for bad behaviour.The burger giant is currently the subject of $250 million law case brought by the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) which is seeking compensation on behalf of more than 250,000 current and former McDonald's workers across Australia over alleged denial of paid breaks to workers.Grace Becker is one young worker who had to work without breaks for Maccas. Gerard Dwyer is the National Secretary of the SDA.Both are our guests on this week's podcast. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The promise of the Australian Dream is that you should be able to work one decent, secure job and earn enough pay to put a roof over your head, support your family and thrive.That all seems like a pipe dream in the current climate, where insecure work, no entitlements, climbing inflation and a housing squeeze means that hard working Australians are driven to the margins.Many of them are turning to organisations like Foodbank to help them make ends meet.Foodbank is Australia's largest food relief organisation, operating on a scale that makes it crucial to the work of the front line charities who are feeding vulnerable Australians. Foodbank provides more than 70% of the food rescued for food relief organisations nation-wide.Matt Tilley is acting of CEO at Foodbank in Victoria. He is our guest on this week's pod. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the host Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Albanese's Labor government is hosting a Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra in early September where the problems and the inequality inherent in Australia's economy will be front and centre.Australian Unions will be there, arguing that it's high time that working people are put at the centre of every decision that effects the economy.To underline that, the ACTU has just released a new paper entitled "An economy that works for people."We speak with the author of the paper, Dr Jim Stanford.Also, aged care workers are one step closer to the significant pay rise they deserve and desperately need after the federal government supported a significant wage rise in its submission to the Fair Work Commission last week.Lloyd Williams is the Secretary of the Health Services Union (HSU), he joins us this week on the pod. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode of 'On the Job' is a double feature.First up, ACTU President, Michele O'Neil, joins us for a discussion about Labor's Climate Bill which has just been passed in parliament. How will it impact the lives of working Australians? What opportunities and challenges will it present? Is the promise of a new, green economy one that will offer good, secure jobs?Then we turn the spotlight on one of Australia's favourite front men. Phil Jamieson made a name for himself as the singer with the legendary Australian band, Grinspoon. Like so many artists, he found his working life come to a shuddering halt at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having found his way through that, he has just released his very first solo album called "Somebody Else".Phil joins us to discuss how those in the music industry have been impacted by the pandemic, how artists and those who work with them are rebuilding Australia's live music scene, and how his love of music is what sustained him. Read the ACTU's full statement on the climate bill here_____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All change that improves the lives of working people is hard won, and more often than not, it is Unions and workers who are at the forefront of the fight for change. That was the case again last week in federal parliament, when the Albanese Labor government introduced its landmark Paid Domestic and Family Violence Leave legislation. For over a decade, Unions and advocates have been campaigning for this legislation which would see women and men who need to escape violent and abusive personal circumstances able to access paid leave in order to take action to protect themselves and their families. People will no longer be forced to make the dreadful choice between seeking shelter, visiting a doctor or going to the police and losing hours at work and the income that they need. In these crucial days and moments when they need help, they can seek it without being penalised. It is a change that will save lives. On today's podcast, Francis speaks with two people who have worked tirelessly on behalf of their members for this watershed legislation, the first of its kind anywhere in the world. Julia Angrisano is the National Secretary of the Financial Services Union (FSU).  Lisa Darmanin is the branch Secretary for Victoria and Tasmania for the Australian Services Union (ASU). They're our guests this week. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a very special episode of "On the Job" this week!Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz is one of the world's great thinkers. Professor Stiglitz won the 2001 Nobel Prize for his ground-breaking work in economics.Professor Stiglitz's work in pushing back against neo-liberal free market economic models and arguing for the importance of empowering workers and unions to build a more equitable economy is revered.He served as an advisor in the Clinton White House, holds a professorship at Columbia University, and was the first person the Greek government called for help when it faced a financial meltdown in 2010.He is in Australia to talk with Unions, workers and the newly elected Labor government. Francis sat down with Professor Stiglitz in Melbourne last week. Read more about Professor Stiglitz here _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since it arrived on our streets over a decade ago, Uber has prided itself on being a "disrupter" with little regard for convention.At the heart of their business model is a fanatical commitment to upend the employer/employee relationship and create a new army of sole contractors working on their tech platform with Uber having no responsibility for them, and with drivers having no rights and entitlements. This high-tech exploitation has made it a massive company that has caused controversy wherever it goes.Last week, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) dropped a trove of documents and emails from Uber's inner sanctum that reveal how the company was able to curry favour with governments and institutions around the world to achieve its aims. The Uber Files are a stunning insight into how Uber inveigled their way into the realm of prime ministers, presidents, bureaucrats and power brokers to get things done.Fergus Shiel is the Managing Editor of the ICIJ. He oversaw the Uber Files project. Fergus joined us on the line from his home in Washington DC to discuss the contents of the Uber Files and their implication. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's never been more expensive to complete a qualification at an Australian University.  At the same time, it's never been more difficult, stressful, and financially punishing to work at one.Australia's tertiary education system has become obsessed with revenue streams, and at the heart of that strategy is making sure they keep the cost of staffing to a minimum. That has resulted in academic and professional staff being stuck in endless cycles of insecure and casual work for years on end.Whilst University management rakes in huge executive fees and bonuses, staff are dependent on seasonal work that may disappear at any time. Alison Barnes is the President of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU). David Harris is a career academic at Swinburne University and the University of New South Wales. Both of them are busing campaigning to restore permanent work and decent conditions for workers on Australian Uni campuses.They are our guests on today's pod. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's podcast, we pay a visit to one of our favourite friends of the pod.Wayne Swan is a Labor legend. the proud Queenslander served as the Member for Lilley between 1993-1996 and again from 1998-2019.As Treasurer in the Rudd/Gillard governments, he steered Australia successfully through the Global Financial Crisis that decimated economies around the globe from 2008 until 2012 and beyond. Having retired from parliamentary politics, "Swanny" remains active as the National President of the Australian Labor Party. Wayne Swan is a proud advocate and champion for workers, Unions, and a fairer economy that shares its wealth more equally. Francis paid him a visit at his Brisbane home to discuss the challenges and opportunities the Albanese Labor Government faces in making Australia a better place for all. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's industry super funds have become one of the country's biggest and most powerful forces in determining investment decisions and the shape and nature of our economy.How are industry super funds using their market power? What shapes their decision making about how and where they invest workers' retirement savings?Sam Trobe is head of Corporate and External Affairs at one of Australia's biggest industry funds, Australian Super.He's our guest on this week's podcast. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast   Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466   About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the short few weeks since the election of the Albanese Labor government, Australia feels.... different.Changing governments always has an impact on the tone of the times, but with the recent election, it feels somehow more pronounced.Journalist and friend of the pod, Lech Blaine, has written a brilliant essay in the latest edition of The Monthly magazine from the eye of the election campaign trail.He explores the true essence of contemporary Australian attitudes to politics, economics and democracy.And there's no doubt Australians have undergone a major shift in attitudes towards, workers, jobs, wages, climate and what "the fair go" should look like in the 21st Century.Lech joins Francis and Sally on this week's pod. Read Lech Blaine's latest essay Teal and loathing: On the campaign trail _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It hasn't taken long for the defeated Liberal Party to give their tired old jukebox of classic Tory hits a swift kick to get it playing a familiar tune.Less than a week into his tenure as Liberal leader, Peter Dutton had already begun banging on about a mythical group of Australians who are forever carrying an unfair burden on behalf of the rest of us - the mythical "forgotten Australians".Just who are the 'forgotten people' who loom so large in the Liberals' imagination? And why is Dutton starting his time as leader making a pitch in their direction?The ACTU's resident labour historian, Dr. Liam Byrne, is our guest this week as we go in search of the "forgotten Australians". _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the world was in the depths of this gruesome pandemic, the world's billionaires were carrying on like it wasn't happening.The likes of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos were pursuing their pet projects, firing themselves into space, titling crypto-currency markets off their axis at a whim, and acting like they didn't have a care in the world.Recently, Musk has stepped up his narcissistic indulgences, launching a hostile takeover bid for one of the world's biggest and most influential social media platforms, Twitter. At the same time, the Tesla founder has been playing footsy with the libertarian/alt-right, blabbing on about freedom of speech, and promising to unleash the dogs of hate speech and misinformation back onto the platform.Is it healthy that one individual can amass such outsized wealth and influence whilst tens of millions of people struggle to make a living? What is the danger that the billionaire class poses to the health of our societies?John L. Campbell is a sociologist and economist at Dartmouth University in New Hampshire in the United States. He's been writing about these very issues. John joins us on this week's pod. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a week since the election of the new Albanese Labor government and the appetite and expectation for change is huge.What should workers expect from the new Labor government and how do they ensure that promises made about improving the lives of working Australians are kept? _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a couple of days after polling day and Francis and Sally are here with their reactions to the election of an Albanese Labor Government. And Pumpkin the tabby cat is here to give his two bobs worth as well! _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After nearly four decades as one of Australia's foremost political journalists, Barrie Cassidy is enjoying his first election in years as just another voter with opinions of his own that he can share when and how he likes.The legendary founder and long-time host of the ABC's flagship Sunday morning political gabfest Insiders" joins Francis and Sally on the pod to discuss the 2022 federal election campaign. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In between their bouts of COVID, various travel and work commitments, and the time/space continuum being utterly shredded by the madness of modern living, Francis and Sally haven't been together on the pod for a while.That all changes here as they reassemble to assess the state of the 2022 Federal Election campaign. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How much government is too much government?If the neo-liberal politicians and commentariat had their way, Australia would be shrinking its government footprint even at a time in our history where massive crisis like climate change and the COVID19 pandemic has shown that there is a major role for strong, effective, and substantial government action.In his latest essay entitled "Big: The Role of The State in the Modern Economy", Professor Richard Denniss argues that Australians have been sold a lie about the role of government and its ability to improve the quality of our lives.Richard Denniss is Chief Economist at the independent think tank, The Australia Institute and he's our guest on tis week's pod. Click here to visit The Australia Institute online _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As 2022 Federal Election campaign gathers steam, it's clear that there is plenty on the line for workers.ACTU Secretary, Sally McManus joins Francis to discuss why this election is so important to the working lives of millions of Australians. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the federal election campaign lurches into gear, there is one group of Australians who are routinely forgotten about in the conversation - young workers.Younger Australians have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID19 pandemic. They've had their schooling and studies disrupted, their working lives upended, and their prospects for the future imperilled.Felicity Sowerbutts from The Young Workers Centre joins us to discuss what's at stake for young workers.Young Workers Centre - https://www.youngworkers.org.au/ _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Mutch is a freelance journalist who has spent the last few years covering conflict and war around the globe. He was in Ukraine as war broke out following the Russian invasion.Like many journalists who cover war zones, his experiences and reportage play a vital role on countering the propaganda and lies that make up the other front in this conflict - the information war.Increasingly, reporters are being targeted by combatants in war zones and a number of journalists have been killed in Ukraine whilst doing their important work.Tom took some time out from his recovery time whilst he was recuperating in Warsaw, Poland, before he went back to Ukraine to continue his work.He is our guest on this week's edition of "On the Job". _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With an election looming, this year's federal budget is a crucial one for working Australians who are hurting as they struggle with the sky rocketing coat of living and flatlining wages.Ben Davison, co-host with Van Badham of the fab podcast "The Week on Wednesday" joins Francis for a conversation about Morrison's budget and want it means for you. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Budget time and it's never been more important for working Australians that they are at the top of the government's list of priorities.With flatlining wages, the rising cost of living pressures, and an uneven economic recovery from the pandemic, this budget is set to make or break many working families.ACTU President Michele O'Neil joins us this week to discuss what workers need from this year's budget. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Often, when commentators and journalists talk about the economy, they discuss it as though workers - the people that drive all economics - don't matter. We here at 'On the Job' know that's daft. An economy without workers is nothing. That's what this weeks' podcast is all about. We're joined in discussion by the Director of the Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute, Dr. Jim Stanford, Dr. Fiona Macdonald, Policy Director, Social and Industrial with the Centre for Future Work, and Dr. Mark Dean, the Laurie Carmichael Distinguished Research Fellow at the Carmichael Centre, to talk about economics for workers. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk a lot about Super on the pod. What we haven't done a good job of so far is explaining what the hell it actually is!That's where Peter Treseder comes in. He's an educator with one of our biggest industry funds, Australian Super. Peter is here to give us all a crash course in what Super is and why it makes good sense to get yours sorted. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation - it's like disco and scratch and sniff t-shirts (look it up, people) - so very 1970s!Strangely, its making a comeback as our economy struggles to recover from the pandemic and Scott Morrison's government overheats the housing market.So, what is inflation? Why is it a threat to the well being of workers? And what's this nonsense about wages causing inflation and workers asking for a pay rise being the problem?Economist and journalist Greg Jericho ( The Guardian and the Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute) joins us on the pod to slay a few inflationary myths. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a brief period in 2020 at the height of the first COVID 19 outbreak, families around Australia experienced something remarkable - free early childhood education and child care. For many, it was the circuit breaker they needed to navigate treacherous financial challenges and other pressures that put families under stress.As we head towards a federal election, the campaign to see the provision of free early childhood education in Australia is ramping up.Georgie Dent is Executive Director of The Parenthood, an advocacy organisation that represents over 72,000 parents, carers and allies around Australia.Georgie joins Francis and Sally on this weeks pod. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unless you've been living in a Netflix bubble or under a rock, you might have noticed that the election campaign is on in earnest, as Scott Morrison tries desperately to save his government.For most working Australians, politics is, well, a pain in the arse.Do they care if Scott Morrison is a liar or can't hold a hose? Or are they simply more concerned about whether they'll have a decent job they can rely on and build a life with?Academic and writer Lech Blane returns to the pod to discuss all this. Lech wrote a superb Quarterly Essay in 2021 called "Top Blokes" that looked at the shifting sands of Australian political culture and whether workers think about politics the same way political junkies like you and I (well if you've read this far, you qualify!), do. _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode, we try and help Sally settle into her new surrounds in Hobart, Tasmania.And what better way to do it than to introduce her to some good Union peeps? Jess Munday heads up Unions Tasmania. She knows everything there is to know about working life in Tassie and how it is changing.She also gives Sally some sage advice on which beers to drink in Hobart and Launceston, something that is vital to know for your Tassie cred! _____________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amongst the many things the COVI19 pandemic has taught us, Australia would fall apart without our transport workers.As supply chains feel the strain of the omicron surge, the pressures on an already over worked and under resourced trucking and driving sector were taking their toll.Nick McIntosh from the Transport Workers Union (TWU) says that transport workers are already doing one of the toughest - and most dangerous - jobs in Australia.It's only become more difficult in recent times.Nick is our guest on this week's episode of "On the Job." ______________________________________________________________ * You can now email us with your comments, story ideas, tip-offs, flip offs, and questions - otjpodcast@protonmail.com *On the Job is made by Australian Unions. More about On The Job podcast Need help with working conditions? Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466 About the hosts Sally Rugg - @sallyrugg Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFranklySupport the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.