General news

But it does signal that we’ve turned a corner – and more importantly, that the progress we’ve made over the past three years is at risk if Peter Dutton and the LNP win the upcoming election. 

After a decade of wage stagnation under the previous Coalition government, it has taken some time to turn the ship around, thanks to previously entrenched workplace policies deliberately designed to keep wages low.  

But now, according to the ACTU, an independent review of the Albanese Government’s ‘Secure Jobs, Better Pay’ reforms – which were championed by the union movement – has found the new laws are working as intended.  

That is, wages are increasing in real terms again, job security is improving, and the gender pay gap is closing at a faster rate. 

And now interest rates are falling. 

FSU National Secretary Julia Angrisano said so much is at stake this election. 

“Not only do we have work to do to win better pay and rights for workers, but we need to protect the rights we’ve secured over the past few years. 

“The right to disconnect, for example, is now a right enjoyed by all finance workers – but Peter Dutton has said he wants to repeal it. That means more unpaid overtime and more stress. 

“Our new workplace laws, which are shifting the balance of power back to workers, are also set to be abolished if Peter Dutton gets his way. 

“And new gender pay transparency laws, which resulted in a 4% reduction in the finance sector’s gender pay gap last year alone, were voted down by Peter Dutton and the LNP. They won’t be interested in keeping them either, if given the chance.” 

Help protect your rights 

These rights and conditions we’ve fought for – fair pay, job security, protections against wage theft, and the right to disconnect – are all at stake. That’s why we need union members like you to help drive our campaign and ensure finance workers’ voices are heard. 

If you’d like to get involved in the federal election campaign, click here.