Podcasts about australian workers union

3CR's Subscriber Drive is on now! Subscribe to become a part of the 3CR community, get more involved in the governance of the station, and have your say at our AGM.How to subscribe:Head to 3cr.org.au/subscribe, where you can choose to pay for a single year's subscription or set up a recurring payment online,Phone (03) 9419 8377 during business hours (Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm), orSubscribe in person during business hours at 21 Smith Street, Fitzroy, where you can pay by cash, EFTPOS, cheque or money order.// Acknowledgment of Country// Headlines// Defend Dissent Coalition//Catherine from the Defend Dissent Coalition joined us to talk about the coalition's emergence in the face of the Victorian Labor Government's proposed anti-protest and social cohesion laws. The Coalition is a diverse group of activist organisations and individuals fighting to ensure the right to protest, which has been increasingly threatened in Victoria. In the face of mass protest in solidarity with Palestinians subjected to Israel's 15+ month genocidal assault on Gaza, the Allan Government has already introduced several bills into Parliament which encroach on freedom of expression and assembly, though the proposed legislation represents one of the harshest anti-protest crackdowns in recent years.  The Defend Dissent Coalition is organising a rally against the anti-protest laws on March 19th at 5:30PM outside the Parliament of Victoria - follow them on Instagram at @defenddissentcoalition for updates.// Amin Abbas at Palestine Rally//We listen back to a speech by Palestinian activist Amin G Abbas from the Free Palestine Rally on Sunday 9 February in Naarm, where Amin condemned Donald Trump's announcement of his intention to ethnically cleanse Gaza, and praised the strength of the people of Gaza as they return to their shattered homes.// Slingshot Books on Tabkha//Tess Cullity, founder of Slingshot Books, spoke with us about the process of publishing Tabkha: Recipes From Under the Rubble, a cook book written by Palestinian chef Mona Zahed while under genocidal siege in Gaza and illustrated by artists from Coffees For Gaza. We also play a clip of Mona talking about the book which she recorded last year before the announcement of the ceasefire agreement (our thanks to Mell Chun for editing and sharing this audio).  Mona has always loved cooking, artfully presenting food, and helping her friends prepare for their special occasions. Prior to October 2023 she ran a successful catering business, putting her skills and passions to practice. Tabkha is Mona's debut title, filled with twenty of her most beloved recipes.  Slingshot books is a tiny radical publishing house creating playful and politically potent books for kids and their grown-ups. Tess aims to serve a revolutionary readership, providing people with print objects that ignite their imagination and passion for change.  Preorder Tabkha by heading to tabkhabook.com - all proceeds from book sales (apart from printing and postage costs) will go to Mona and her community in Gaza.// PALM Scheme Worker Exploitation//RMIT PhD researcher Ema Moolchand joined us to discuss the co-authored report, Meat the Reality, which exposes the exploitation of workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme in Australia. People from Timor-Leste and Pacific Island regions working under the PALM scheme form the backbone of the Australian meat industry, but despite their crucial labour, PALM scheme workers commonly face "sub-minimum wages, sham contracts, and punitive deductions." Ema's doctoral research focuses on the ways that modern slavery shows up in local and global production networks, with a particular focus on the cleaning and meat industries.  Learn more about the conditions faced by PALM workers and what needs to change by reading the full report here. You can support the Australian Workers Union's campaign for fair conditions for PALM workers by signing this petition. Ema mentioned an exhibition of photographs taken by PALM workers which will be held at the Australian National University in March 2025 - find out more here.// Queensland Trans Youth Healthcare Access//Content warning: this interview includes discussion of transphobia, suicide and self harm. If you need to speak with someone for free and confidential support, you can call:Lifeline (national, 24/7): 13 11 14Suicide Callback Service (national, 24/7): 1300 659 467QLife (national, 3PM-midnight): 1800 184 527Rainbow Door (Victoria, 10AM-5PM): 1800 729 36713YARN (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people only, national, 24/7): 13 92 76 Necho Brocchi, proud trans woman and service manager at Open Doors Youth Service in Magan-djin/Brisbane, discussed the impact of the Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls decision on the 28th of January to pause the provision of puberty blockers and gender affirming hormone therapy to new patients under 18 years old in the state. This decision, which was met with national outrage and protests around the country this past Saturday the 8th of February, forces 491 young people to wait for life-saving care until an inquiry into gender-affirming healthcare and hormone therapies takes place. Further information about the changes, state and federal inquiries, and their impacts are available in this resource developed by Transcend Australia, AusPATH, and LGBTIQ+ Health Australia. Necho shared several calls to action to support trans and gender diverse young people in Queensland:Write to Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls to express your concern about the government's decision to suspend access to gender affirming care for new patients under the age of 18. Contact details for Minister Nicholls are available here.Trans young people and their families can write to Open Doors Youth Service to share their stories about the importance of gender affirming health care here.Donate to Project 491, an initiative led by AusPATH in response to the Queensland Government's decision to restrict gender affirming care for trans and gender diverse children. AusPATH will these funds in collaboration with care providers in Queensland and across Australia (including Open Doors Youth Service) to establish multi-disciplinary pathways to ensure affected young people receive timely, evidence-based care.//  Image credit: Ember L, 2025. Follow and support Ember's work here.//

Grain handlers across New South Wales are downing tools, after the union and operators at Graincorp failed to come to an agreement on a pay dispute.  The Australian Workers Union rejected a 14% increase over three years, as well as increasing the sign on bonus and back pay to the first of July.  The Industrial action will bring the bumper winter harvest to a standstill.  Rural Editor Emily Minney spoke with AWU State Secretary Tony Callinan, outlining what the union wants from the company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the Monday Breakfast show for Monday October 28th, 2024.  Last week, Eric spoke with Myles Russell-Cook about Reko Rennie's REKOSPECTIVE exhibition at The Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia in Fed Square. The pair spoke about the exhibition, the importance of platforming Indigenous artists, toxic masculinity as well as art being inherently political.  This Saturday, there was an anti-military rally on the Geelong waterfront organised by IPAN Geelong & Vic Southwest, and Elbit out of Vic (an initiative of Free Palestine Coalition Naarm), denouncing the push by ALL levels of Government to make Geelong a Military hub under the guise of 'job creation'. We will now hear from Zelda Grimshaw, an antimilitarist organiser with 'Wage Peace/Disrupt Wars' and a core organiser at the recent Disrupt Land Forces mobilisation. Zelda zooms out to discuss links between militarism and climate collapse from a decolonial perspective - bringing us the personal story of Wity Unue, a young man from the highlands of West Papua.The speech mentions an article about Wity's story, which includes the video of him singing with his friends prior to his murder.  [CW* This segment makes mention of military violence].  On Wednesday of last week around 300 workers from the Qantas Engineers Alliance, a coalition of workers from the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, the Electrical Trades Union, and the Australian Workers Union, walked off the job for 24 hours. The strike is part of industrial action that the Qantas Engingeers' Alliance has been taking for weeks and was a response to Qantas' refusal to discuss a new enterprise agreement with the alliance. The current enterprise agreement expirence at the end of June; the alliance is asking for a 5 per cent per year pay rise as well as a 13.5 per cent first-year increase to compensate for three and a half years of wage freezes and to align wage levels with elsewhere in the industry. To talk about the action and the wider campaign for better conditions and wages for workers in the Qantas Engineers' Alliance, Rob spoke with Michael Wright, National Secretary of the ETU on Friday. NSW Police have conducted almost 900 strip searches at train stations since 2016, data released by Redfern Legal Centre last week has revealed. Of the 883 strip searches conducted, a disproportionate number were conducted on First Nations people, making up 9% of all searches. A total of 66 searches involved children aged between 10 and 17. To speak more about the data and the legality of the searches, Rob spoke with Sam Lee, supervising solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre. A class action filed by Inner Melbourne Community Legal launches today to find answers about why the Victorian Government made its decision to 'retire and redevelop' 44 public housing buildings across the state. Lead plaintiff Barry Berih argues that the Victorian Government did not properly consider the human rights of residents when making its decision to demolish the towers. To find out more about the class action Rob interviewed Harry Millward, General Secretary of the Renters and Housing Union. The class action will be taking place today and tomorrow at the Supreme Court on Lonsdale St, with the residents requesting for Community Members to come down in support if possible. You can also find out more at imcl.org.au ; and listen back to the last episode of Raise The Roof on the 3CR website, which presented voices of affected older residents. Raise the Roof is hosted by the Housing for the Aged Action Group, and you can find that previous show at 3cr.org.au/HAAG.      

Grain workers are expected to carry out strike action during an expected bumper harvest in New South Wales.  200 grain handlers at Graincorp sites across the state could refuse to load or unload grain trucks and trains during the upcoming winter harvest.  Members of the Australian Workers Union will vote on Friday, after negotiations for better pay stalled.  Rural Editor Emily Minney spoke with State Secretary Tony Callinan, who says workers want to be paid the same as their interstate counterpartsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of Stick Together, focus on the Wilmar Sugar dispute in Queensland, which we've been providing you with updates over the past year or so. Just a reminder, workers from eight plants of sugar giant Wilmar International have rejected its new wage offer as of 11th June.Some 84.7% of 1,200 workers voted against the pay proposal from the Singapore-owned company. Unions have temporarily suspended industrial action at mills run by Australia's largest sugar producer as negotiations over worker pay resume. My guest later in the program today is Jim Wilson from the Australian Workers Union.Plus some union news.

Industrial action at eight of Wilmar's sugar mills in North Queensland was over before it began after Wilmar Sugar and Renewables threatened to lock any workers taking part in the action out of the worksite. It follows almost a month of industrial action from three unions, which have been in deadlock with the sugar processor.

Lead Construction Organiser of the Australian Workers Union, Joel Archer, has commented on the claims made by the union alleging corruption in Victoria's Big Build on 3AW Drive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Workers Union wants industrial manslaughter laws used, after a man was killed during a mine collapse near Ballarat. A 37-year-old's body was recovered this morning after being pinned by fallen rocks, while another man is in serious condition in hospital. 28 other workers were also rescued. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the Union wants to make sure an incident like this doesn't happen again. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Workers Union state secretary Brad Gandy has accused Anthony Albanese of treating WA 'like an ATM', using the state's strong mining industry as a slush fund for Eastern States priorities. Mr Gandy's comments have sparked discussion on the mining companies' place in WA, including the place of "social responsibility" within the industry. Sean Cowan talks to Chamber of Minerals & Energy Chief Rebecca Tomkinson about the amount of money put into the community by mining companies, as well as the messages and myths around the relationship between the two.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exclusive first interview with Paul Farrow, the new National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union. Plus, IBM's Australian chief on artificial intelligence and UniSuper's Chief Investment Officer on investing during a downturn. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The soaring cost of living is undoubtedly driving an increase in strike action, says the Australian Workers Union.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Nationals leader and deputy opposition leader David Littleproud makes the case for modern nuclear energy generation to be included in Australia's future energy mix, doubles down on his concerns about the Australian Workers Union's role in the challenges faced by the Agriculture Visa the former government created - and talks about a cost-recovery model in biosecurity to permanently resource efforts to preserve Australian agriculture faced with increasing threats from incoming material from offshore

Ben looks at the big win for farm workers this week as up to 130,000 workers will see their wages rise from as low as $3/hr to a minimum of $25.14 an hour.  Despite a second record harvest year in a row and as many as 16,000 jobs needing to be filled the usual corporate agri-business lobbyists are condemning the outcome and suggesting they will appeal.  The Australian Workers Union has said "If you work on a farm and aren't being paid at least $25 an hour someone is stealing your wages." The hospitality sector is claiming it needs 100,000 temporary migrant workers to meet demand even as it claims a $44Million program from the Victorian government designed to boost demand in hospitality.  The sector is rife with wage theft, super theft, rostering abuses, sexual harassment and awful working conditions.  None of which the Hotels Association is suggesting they will fix before the importation of more easily exploitable temporary migrant workers. These "labour shortage" claims come as RBA and ABC reports show that 2.2M Australians who want to work do not have the work they need.  More than 200,000 people who want to work can't due to caring responsibilities and a lack of access to appropriate alternative care for their child, elders or family member with a disability.   The systemic problems are low wages, poor working conditions, lack of support to enter the workforce through the provision of care facilities and services and a quick fix mentality among many in these sectors that have become hooked on easily exploitable temporary migrant workers. There's also info on the launch of the new children's book by the Victorian Trades Hall Council "Sticking Together", a new track by mr?e & the 4.I.S crew, an update on FriendlyJordies' effective win over Barilaro and Van's in studio appearance on Marcus Paul to talk Alan Jones, Morrison's disgrace and Qanon and On.

The Fair Work Commission has ruled workers picking fruit on a piece rate, must be guaranteed a minimum wage under the Horticulture Award. The Australian Workers Union lodged its claim with the commission in December and argued that every worker should be guaranteed a minimum casual rate. The National Farmers' Federation had opposed the changes, arguing it could drive farmers out of business. AWU National Secretary Daniel Walton says the decision is monumental. Australia's Agriculture Minister David Littleproud says the Fair Work Commission's ruling on the Horticulture Award could create upward pressure of fresh food prices. Mark Scott farms at Nannup, 260 kilometres south of Perth and is president of Pomewest, the industry body representing WA's apple and pear growers. He says this decision by the Fair Work Commission to introduce a mandatory minimum hourly floor wage for workers hasn't come as a surprise to industry. Queensland strawberry growers say the Fair Work Commission's ruling on piece rates threatens the future viability of farming.

Van Badham and Ben Davison contrast the former Liberal Minister Pru Goward's opinion piece in the AFR where she calls unemployed workers "the underclass", "proles", "weasels", "damaged", a "deficit" and "lacking in trust and discipline." who need to be "harnessed" to the news today that 1.2M children in Australia went hungry in the last 12 months, the facts laid out in ACTU Secretary Sally McManus's New Daily article that more Australians than ever before are working multiple jobs and the piece by Australian Workers Union leader Dan Walton that exposes the rank hypocrisy of business and Liberal interests trying to import hundred of thousands of temporary migrant workers while hundreds of thousands of people are without secure work and are being denied training opportunities. The starkness of the political contrast is almost blinding, as is Van's rage! Morrison's attempts to claim victory on emissions reductions by virtue of state action lowering emissions by 30-35% instead of the Abbott target of 26-28% has been met with scorn by our international allies and has failed to solve his National Party problem.  The Nats continue to ignore the national farmer federation, science, the public opinion and the capital markets to insist on even more pork for them to barrel in exchange for any movement towards net zero emissions.  The shamelessness of their position has been further highlighted by more revelations of misused tax payer money, "regional" grants going to cities, and BILLIONS handed out without any true assessment of value for the taxpayer.  Van and Ben both join the calls for a federal ICAC as the NSW ICAC hears damaging revelations about how money is handed out in Liberal/National governments.  And to think they call us "weasels"! The good news is people are starting to be reunited, including Van and Ben, and Australian's are getting vaccinated!

Daniel Walton, Australian Workers Union (AWU) National Secretary

We're all being encouraged to roll up our sleeves to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.  Some industries have introduced mandates.  Companies like Qantas, SPC and others say all staff MUST get the vaccine.   So, do vaccine mandates create more problems than they solve?  What if you don't want to get the jab?  Can you be forced to get it?   We're joined by Ben Davis from the Australian Workers Union to discuss the mandate in the Victorian construction industry and Hugh de Kretser, Executive Director at the Human Rights Law Centre to discuss the legal minefield of health mandates.   The vaccine mandate debate on today's Briefing.   TODAY'S HEADLINES Turnbull calls on Morrison to attend Glasgow summit, reveals conversation with Macron VIC Health Dept. facing millions in fines after being charged over Covid hotel scandal Argentinian rugby players' trip to Byron Bay puts test at risk DFAT urges Australians to renew passports ahead of expected surge Danish artist pockets over $100k in blank canvas prank Follow The Briefing Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast  Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAU Twitter: @TheBriefingAU  YouTube: http://bit.ly/TheBriefingSUBSCRIBE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Acknowledgement of Country News Headline We play a short excerpt of episode 4 of Black Gold, a series produced in the studios of 3CR Community Radio on Wurundjeri land in Fitzroy, by Kerri-Lee Harding and assistant producer Corey Green. The episode is presented by Viv Malo and celebrates the life of broadcaster Lisa Bellear.  We would also like to advise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners that the program contains the voices of people who have passed away. Content warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual abuse.  Lloyd Williams, National Secretary of the Health Services Union joins us to talk about the Change Aged Care Campaign to increase the pay of aged care workers by 25%. El Gibbs is a disability advocate and an award-winning writer with a focus on disability and social issues. El joins us to talk about the Senate inquiry into the Disability Support Pension and Department of Social Services consultation on the DSP impairment tables We speak to Cait Kelly, a journalist currently working at The New Daily. Cait joins us to discuss the pay and conditions of fruit pickers, And the application by the Australian Workers Union to the Fair Work Commission for a rise in the award wage for farm workers.    Songs  Baarka - King Brown Miiesha - Made for Silence  Squidgenini - All Made Up Miss Blanks - Fly High

A group of unions is in Parliament House Canberra today calling for a Royal Commission into Australia's horticulture industry. The Australian Workers Union; Transport Workers Union' and Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association want an investigation into the treatment of workers across the supply chain.

A group of unions is in Parliament House Canberra today calling for a Royal Commission into Australia's horticulture industry. The Australian Workers Union; Transport Workers Union' and Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association want an investigation into the treatment of workers across the supply chain.

A push to make COVID-19 testing mandatory for hotel quarantine workers on their days off is gaining momentum. Currently, workers are being encouraged to get tested on days they do not work, but it is not mandatory. The Victorian secretary of the Australian Workers Union says he welcomes a push to make the move compulsory, but workers should be paid for it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Workers Union has launched a petition to increase the minimum pay of shearers, the first 100 workers from Vanuatu will land in SA this week but Citrus Australia says it is lacking thousands of workers and there's been a big increase in the number of students planning to study Agricultural Sciences.

The Australian Workers Union has launched a petition to increase the minimum pay of shearers, the first 100 workers from Vanuatu will land in SA this week but Citrus Australia says it is lacking thousands of workers and there's been a big increase in the number of students planning to study Agricultural Sciences.

“Thousands of District workers now have hope that they can return to the jobs they once held before this scourge hit us.”Today’s labor history: Australian Workers’ Union ousts Northern Territory administrator. Today’s labor quote: Kathy Newman@wpfwdc #1u #unions #LaborRadioPod @DCHotelworkers @DCJWJ @ChmnMendelson @DC_IWW @iww @AFSCME @tweetelissaProud member of the Labor Radio Podcast Network

Daniel Walton, National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union, says the industry is "full" of repeat offenders who won't pay their workers properly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the PSA / CPSU Podcast, we wrap up our mental health month special with a statistical break down from Manager of Industrial Support Shay Deguara. Also, we document this week's stop work meeting of Special Constables at NSW State Parliament.

WARNING: Confronting Content.October is Mental Health Month and the theme for this year is ‘Share the Journey’. The PSA/CPSU Podcast sits down with members from youth justice to discuss mental health in the workplace. This is part of a series of discussions that will be posted throughout the month of October. A warning to listeners, this episode contains descriptions of violence and harassment. Please call lifeline for crisis support on 13 11 14.

On last week's podcast we reported that the government will be closing four correctional centres in NSW. This week, POVB Chairperson Nicole Jess and PSA Senior Industrial Officer Julie Bond got a first hand look at the devastating outcome for two of those communities.

On the back of the announcement four weeks ago that the Grafton Correctional Centre will close mid 2020, this week the government announced the closure of a further four correctional centres leaving some communities to face an unknown future.

On the podcast this week, the PSA embark on a state-wide tour of NSW schools to congratulate SAS staff on the pay equity victory, letting them know of the relevant information moving forward and a history of how the victory came to be.

This week on the pod, we talk to PSA Industrial officers and organisers regarding the provisions in the NSW enabling act. Juvenile Justice continues to fight for fairness in the wake of the Frank Baxter riot and a major victory for temporary TAFE employees.

This week PSA delegate Kim De Govrik tells us of the impact the NSW budget cuts continue to have on National parks and wildlife services. The POVB Prison Officers fight for a fair agreement and Juvenile Justice secures a backpay victory from the department.

Dunn Street founder Stephen Donnelly sat down with ACTU Assistant Secretary Liam O'Brien for an in-depth conversation about the trade union movement.Liam spoke about his entry into the labour movement and his time as a union organiser with the Australian Workers Union. He discussed the Change the Rules campaign and the recent federal election campaign; as well as the future of organising and new approaches being adopted by unions to build power in the workplace.They also discuss the Democratic primaries and may or may not preview the 2019 Tour de France.The presenting sponsor of Socially Democratic is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help organise to build winning campaigns in your community or organisation and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

In his book, A Powerful Influence on Australian Affairs: A New History of the AWU (Melbourne University Publishing, 2017), Nick Dyrenfurth, Executive Director of the John Curtin Research Centre, explores the history of the nation’s oldest and most influential trade union, the AWU. Over 131 years, the Australian Workers Union... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his book, A Powerful Influence on Australian Affairs: A New History of the AWU (Melbourne University Publishing, 2017), Nick Dyrenfurth, Executive Director of the John Curtin Research Centre, explores the history of the nation’s oldest and most influential trade union, the AWU. Over 131 years, the Australian Workers Union has had a significant impact on Australia’s national identity and its center-left politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his book, A Powerful Influence on Australian Affairs: A New History of the AWU (Melbourne University Publishing, 2017), Nick Dyrenfurth, Executive Director of the John Curtin Research Centre, explores the history of the nation’s oldest and most influential trade union, the AWU. Over 131 years, the Australian Workers Union has had a significant impact on Australia’s national identity and its center-left politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his book, A Powerful Influence on Australian Affairs: A New History of the AWU (Melbourne University Publishing, 2017), Nick Dyrenfurth, Executive Director of the John Curtin Research Centre, explores the history of the nation’s oldest and most influential trade union, the AWU. Over 131 years, the Australian Workers Union has had a significant impact on Australia’s national identity and its center-left politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his book, A Powerful Influence on Australian Affairs: A New History of the AWU (Melbourne University Publishing, 2017), Nick Dyrenfurth, Executive Director of the John Curtin Research Centre, explores the history of the nation’s oldest and most influential trade union, the AWU. Over 131 years, the Australian Workers Union has had a significant impact on Australia’s national identity and its center-left politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The present housing market reflects a dangerous public policy failure where a worthwhile national aspiration – the so-called ‘Australian dream’ of owning your own home – has combined with generous tax concessions, poor government planning and a lack of investment imagination to pose a serious threat to our ‘fair go’ economy and society.Misha Zelinsky is an author, lawyer, and economist. He currently serves as the Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union and as a director of Cbus Super Fund.

The present housing market reflects a dangerous public policy failure where a worthwhile national aspiration – the so-called ‘Australian dream’ of owning your own home – has combined with generous tax concessions, poor government planning and a lack of investment imagination to pose a serious threat to our ‘fair go’ economy and society.Misha Zelinsky is an author, lawyer, and economist. He currently serves as the Assistant National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union and as a director of Cbus Super Fund.

Jude Elton explores the very different approaches taken by trade unions in the South Australian and Northern Territory pastoral industries to the union membership, workforce participation and wages of Aboriginal workers. The Australian Workers Union included Aboriginal workers as members and in award claims, while the North Australian Workers Union excluded most Aboriginal workers and actively supported discrimination in employment. Clues to their differences are found in the contrasting workforce characteristics and profitability of the wool and cattle sectors of the industry; geographical location; competition between workers for jobs; and legislation specific to Aboriginal peoples. Trade union leadership and politics also play a part. Jude’s talk will conclude with a reflection on current trade union responses to the Temporary Work (Skilled) 457 Visa Program given her findings in relation to Aboriginal workers. Jude Elton is a curator with History SA and President of the Association for the Study of Labour History (SA Branch). She was awarded a PhD in 2007 for her thesis on factors affecting union relations with Aboriginal workers in the South Australian and Northern Territory pastoral industries. As a professional historian Jude has worked on Native Title claims and undertaken research for a film an Aboriginal war veterans. Work at the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia has included teaching in Labour Studies and gender analyses of industrial legislation. Jude has also been an elected Assistant Secretary of the United Trades & Labor Council (now SA Unions) and Director of the Working Women’s Centre.