Blog.
Have a read through recent thoughts and ideas, bits and bobs from the AIER or access past editions of the AIER Newsletter.
Ron McCallum Debate 2018
Collective Bargaining: Delivering for the public interest? Enterprise bargaining under the Fair Work Act 2009 is failing. Agreements under our system may be reached without the involvement of trade unions and absent any actual process of bargaining. The number of...
Ensuring Integrity Bill Threatens Integrity of the System
Only weeks after the installation of Prime Minister Scott Morrison the sand has been poured and the political football that is industrial relations has been set up for the kick. Passage of the Ensuring Integrity Bill ('EI Bill') has been listed for the Senate this...
Some thoughts on HILDA and gig economy workers
Last week the Melbourne Institute released its Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey finding no evidence of a rise in the use of independent workers, prompting commentary that the ‘gig economy is a myth’. One interesting aspect of this finding is the Survey’s ready equation of gig economy workers with the solo self-employed.
New Executive Director appointed to the AIER
The Australian Institute of Employment Rights is delighted to announce the appointment of Renee Burns to the role of Executive Director. Renee has a background working in human resources and industrial relations for local government and private sector employers and is...
Job Opportunity: AIER Executive Director
Job Opportunity: The AIER is looking for an Executive Director to lead its work, including our project to envisage a new workplace relations architecture.
Whither unionism?
AIER Board Member Keith Harvey asks what happened to the union movement and what needs to be done to reverse the decline of unionism.
The living wage and the ‘Harvester’ decision
AIER Board member Keith Harvey takes us through the Harvester decision and its legacy.
AIER 2017 AGM
The Australian Institute of Employment Rights held its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 9 November 2017. Thank you to all our members and supporters for the support you have shown for our work over the past year. Read all about it int our Year in Review report.
2017 Ron McCallum Debate: summary
The 2017 Ron McCallum Debate provided an excellent and robust discussion on the current failings of the workplace relations system and proposals to fix it. Our amazing panel covered a whole range of issues in the course of the event. If you missed it, read our summary or watch the Debate
Watch the 2017 Ron McCallum Debate
The 2017 Ron McCallum Debate was one of the best yet! Watch our panel discuss and debate why the workplace relations system is broken and what is needed to fix it.
AIER at the IRSQ Convention
AIER recently attended the Industrial Relations Society of Queensland’s annual convention. The theme was “Back to the Future”.
Our presentation included the AIER’s analysis of why the system is broken and an outline of our ambitious project to envisage a new workplace relations architecture.
2017 Ron McCallum Debate
The 2017 Ron McCallum Debate is being held on Wednesday 25 October in Sydney. Join a great panel of speakers discussing and debating “The system is broken. What is the fix?”
Creating fair and equitable workplaces in progressive organisations
AIER, along with the NUW and ASU, ran a workshop at the recent Progress Conference on how progressive organisation can set up fair and decent workplaces.
Submission to Modern Slavery Act Inquiry
AIER’s submission to the Inquiry into a Modern Slavery Act for Australia. While the complexity and length of supply chains is a challenge for developing effective regulations, it cannot be an excuse for inaction. Australia can and should implement robust laws to eradicate human rights abuses in supply chains.
Economic rationalism wins the day (again): initial thoughts on the penalty rates decision
The Fair Work Commission today handed down its decision to cut Sunday and public holiday penalty rates in the hospitality and retail sectors. Here are our initial thoughts on the decision and its implications.
UBI and the Future of Work
AIER’s Executive Director, Clare Ozich, contributed to a recently released report, “Can Less Work Be More Fair? A discussion paper on Universal Basic Income and shorter working week”. Clare’s essay considers the potential for reconsidering our relationship to work.
Climate and work
Climate change will profoundly change our workplaces and the way we work. The impacts of mitigating and adapting to climate change are already being felt by workers throughout the economy. How can workers and unions respond?
Workers’ rights for campaigners
Clare Ozich from Australian Institute of Employment Rights and Jake Wishart from the Media Entertainment Arts Alliance presented a session for the Melbourne Campaigners’ Network on workers’ rights for campaigners.
2016 Year in Review
Read the Executive Director's Year in Review for 2016, to be presented at AIER's 2016 AGM.
AIER 2016 AGM
The AIER's AGM for 2016 will be held on Thursday 10 November from 4pm. See the attached documents for details. 2016 AGM Notice of Meeting 2016 AGM Agenda 2015 AGM Minutes
There is always another way
The 6th Annual Ron McCallum Debate saw a fascinating discussion on inequality and insecurity. Read the summary of the discussion or watch the Debate.