Excerpt from: The Signal Issue No.191, 20 February 1998
Bulletin of Communications Electrical Plumbing Union, Communications Division, Telecommunications & Services Branch

On January 22nd 1998, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released the 1997 Union Data. It is clear from this data why Telstra Corporate Management and the Howard Government is sustaining such an attack on Unions and Union Membership, the figures speak for themselves:-

• Union members continue to earn more than the general workforce - the average weekly wage of union members is 10.9% greater than that of the average of all workers.

• The median wage shows the benefits of union membership is increasing - in 1992 union members median wage was 11.6% more than median weekly earnings. In 1997 this has risen to 15.6% more.

• For full time workers the wage gap between union members and average weekly earnings was 2.2% in 1992. In 1997 union members received 12.31% more.

• For part time workers the wage gap between union members and average earnings was 18.4%. In 1997 union members received 19.9%.more.

These figures support a 1996 study "Unions on the Job" prepared by the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations, Research and Training from the University of Sydney.

In the section "Unions Make a Difference" the following statistics apply.

Workplace Characteristics	% of NonUnion	% of Passive Union	% of Active Union
Level of dismissals	8.8%	4.6%	2.3%
Rate of Casualisation	25%	16%	8%

Other EmployeeBenefits

Workplace Characteristics	% of NonUnion	% of Passive Union	% of Active Union
- Counselling	7%	27%	49%
- Disabled facilities	5%	16%	28%
- English class	1%	.7%	18%

No wonder the Management will try to get you to abandon the union. Active unions make a major difference and unions active at the workplace succeed.

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Last Modified : 20 February, 1998