Workers United

A panel of amazing union women joins Workers United to talk about how we safeguard workers’ physical and mental health, including how organised union campaigns make a differenceTopics of discussion range from new legal protections for workers, the importance of health and safety reps in workplaces, protecting workers in high-stress industries like paramedicine and dealing with “bastard bosses”.Moderated by ETU Media and Women’s Officer Kristin Perissinotto, the panel includes Kylie Muscat, Gillilan Armit, Fiona Scanlon and Dee Spink.This episode was recorded live at the 2023 Union Women Get It Done Conference on 19 July 2023, hosted by Queensland Unions, on unceded Jaggera and Turrbal land in Meanjin (Brisbane).

A panel of amazing union women joins Workers United to talk about how we create strong campaigns that call the community to action.Topics of discussion range from decriminalising sex work in Queensland, ensuring equitable access to abortion and reproductive health services and creating more inclusive spaces for people with disability.Moderated by QNMU Campaign Coordinator Karthika Raghwan, the panel includes Lulu Holiday (Decrim QLD), Daile Kelleher (Children by Choice), Mel Fox (Health Consumers QLD) and Deb McPherson (QTU activist).This episode was recorded live at the 2023 Union Women Get It Done Conference on 19 July 2023, hosted by Queensland Unions, on unceded Jaggera and Turrbal land in Meanjin (Brisbane).

Acclaimed writer, speaker and organiser Karen Pickering joins Workers United to talk about women's reproductive health at work - and why it's time to end the stigma and empower women to embrace their true selves at work.In this extended chat, Karen explains why comprehensive and compassionate reproductive health policies and entitlements are needed in all workplaces to ensure that women are no longer punished for the effects of their reproductive health.Karen created and hosted the long-running monthly salon Cherchez la Femme, is a founding organiser of SlutWalk in Melbourne and a long-term activist for reproductive rights and women's safety.This episode was recorded live at the 2023 Union Women Get It Done Conference on 19 July 2023, hosted by Queensland Unions, on unceded Jaggera and Turrbal land in Meanjin (Brisbane).

In this special edition of Workers United, we share live audio from the 2023 International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) ceremony in Brisbane.IWMD commemorations are a tribute to those who have died at work and a call to action to do everything we can to make workplaces safer. Because every worker should make it home.Recorded live from Emma Miller Place, on Jagera and Turrbal land, on 28 April 2023.Ceremony chapters:00:00-Welcome by QCU Honorary President Kate Ruttiman01:12-QCU Acting General Secretary Jacqueline King on what IWMD means in 202311:07-Asabi Goodman performs hymn Danny Boy14:57-Shane Murphy from the Communication Workers Union Secretary commemorates workers killed in the communications industry20:14-Jared Abbott from the Transport Workers Union commemorates workers killed in the transport industry24:54-Ian Leavers from the Queensland Police Union commemorates officers killed in the line of duty28:23-Asabi Goodman performs hymn Solidarity Forever31:57-Chris Lynch from the Electrical Trades Union on how union members can make workplaces safer38:42-Kate Ruttiman closing remarks

Talking: The Voice to Parliament Exclusive audio from the Queensland Unions International Working Women’s Day (IWWD) event on 11 March where Brisbane unionists and supporters gathered to hear about feminist history and continue progressing the fight for gender equality in our communities.Kaurna Woman Rachel Bos shares her story and talks about the upcoming referendum on constitutional recognition and a Voice to Parliament for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women – including a moving reading of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.Rachel is a mother, partner, daughter, sister and Aunty. Currently she is seconded from the Queensland Teachers’ Union to the Australian Council of Trade Unions as their First Nations Educator/Organiser for the Unions for Yes! Campaign. She was a proud State School teacher for 20 years. Rachel lists her hobbies as swearing on plates, writing, gardening, fighting the patriarchy and slaying colonial paradigms.

Talking: Industrial justice for womenExclusive audio from the Queensland Unions International Working Women’s Day (IWWD) event on 11 March where Brisbane unionists and supporters gathered to hear about feminist history and continue progressing the fight for gender equality in our communities.Jacqueline King talks about fighting for justice for women at home and at work, covering the industrial landscape in Queensland, the key wins in recent times and the fights and struggles ahead.Jacqueline is the Acting General Secretary of the Queensland Council of Unions, the peak body for 25 affiliated unions representing over 380,000 union members in Queensland. She took on the role after previously serving as QCU Assistant Secretary from 2020.She has worked for several unions, held senior roles with the Queensland Council of Unions and the Australian Council of Trade Unions, and worked within government.Jacqueline is passionate about workers’ rights and in particular work health and safety, mental health, gender equity and sexual harassment matters at work.

Exclusive audio from the Queensland Unions International Working Women’s Day (IWWD) event on 11 March where Brisbane unionists and supporters gathered to hear about feminist history and continue progressing the fight for gender equality in our communities.Honourable Shannon Fentiman MP shares her perspective on the challenges facing working women.Shannon Fentiman is Queensland’s Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence. She is also the Ministerial Champion for Torres Strait.A strong advocate for social justice, Shannon is committed to ensuring all Queenslanders have access to justice and equality before the law. Shannon will use this term as Attorney-General to review, modernise and update laws so they better reflect Queensland’s diversity and evolving social framework.Shannon holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws. She was admitted as a legal practitioner in 2007 and has worked as an employment lawyer prior to her election to Parliament.

Exclusive audio from the Queensland Unions International Working Women’s Day (IWWD) event on 11 March where Brisbane unionists and supporters gathered to hear about feminist history and continue progressing the fight for gender equality in our communities.Senator Larissa Waters shares her perspective on the challenges facing working women.Larissa Waters is the first Greens Senator for Queensland and is the Greens Leader in the Senate and co-deputy Leader of the Australian Greens. Senator Waters is passionate about representative democracy and public participation, accountability in government, equality for women, and protecting our environment. As Leader of the Greens in the Senate she is working to improve federal laws to put an end to domestic violence, transition to renewable energy sources, and clean up politics by ending corporate donations to political parties.She lives in Brisbane with her two young daughters, the younger of whom caused a bit of a stir when she became the first baby to be breastfed in our federal parliament.