United Casual Workers Alliance launched

Amelia Taylor, Gold Coast

A group of casual and low-paid workers on the Gold Coast has begun to organise, inspired by the New Zealand-based Unite union's "Super-size my Pay" campaign, which has mobilised thousands of casual workers in industrial action for better wages and conditions against employers such as Starbucks.

Following a Channel Nine news broadcast and interview with members of the newly formed United Casual Workers Alliance about the plight of casual workers on the Gold Coast, especially in the tourism industry, the UCWA received an overwhelming response from people interested in the campaign. The group is now holding a public meeting of all interested workers and unionists, but especially casual and low-paid workers, to discuss a UCWA charter and their experiences in the workplace.

A statement released by the UCWA says: "We can no longer ignore the plight of casual workers, who are often the last people to seek representation. We need to create an environment that puts the rights of casual workers at the very top of the agenda — and lets those workers know that there is a way to have a united voice within the workplace."

The UCWA meeting will be held at 7pm on February 13, at Fradgley Hall, Park Avenue, Burleigh Heads. For more information, call 0417 062 844 or email <ucwa@mail.com>.

From Green Left Weekly, February 8, 2006.

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From GLW issue 655