United Workers Union
LocationAustralia
Num members146,248 (as at 31 December 2024)[1]
Founded2019
PredecessorUnited Voice
National Union of Workers
National PresidentJo-anne Schofield
National SecretaryTim Kennedy
Vice PresidentGary Bullock
AffiliationsACTU, ALP, ILU
Websitewww.unitedworkers.org.au

The United Workers Union (UWU) is an Australian trade union. Described as the biggest blue-collar union in Australia, the UWU covers more than 150,000 workers within over 45 industries, including warehousing, defence, hospitality, health, disability support, early childhood education, aged care, logistics and supermarket supply, cleaning, security, farming, manufacturing, and market research.[2][3] The union is the result of the 2019 merger of two Australian trade unions: United Voice and the National Union of Workers. The United Workers Union is a member of the Labor Left.

The union is unique in its structure, having only one centralised federal branch which is not separated into state branches.[4]

History

See also: United Voice and National Union of Workers

In 2018, plans began to merge the two the unions United Voice and National Union of Workers.[5] In June 2019, the Fair Work Commission approved a vote on the proposed merger between the two unions held in August 2019.[6] On 30 August 2019 the Australian Electoral Commission declared the result of the vote, with just over 95% of members supporting the amalgamation.[7][8][9]

Governance and structure

The organisation operates as a national structure and does not have divisions or branches. Governance of the organisation is vested in a National Convention of approximately 500 Delegates, from industries and workplaces across Australia, elected by all financial members. A meeting of the convention is held every 4 years.[10]

Between meetings of the National Convention its powers are exercised by a Member Council, consisting of 50 rank and file Councillors and the National Executive. Both the Councillors and the National Executive are elected by and from the convention.[10]

The Committee of Management of the organisation is called the National Executive. It consists between 12 and 24 members, including the National President, National Secretary and 4 National Vice-presidents.[10]

Elections for all office positions within the organisation are conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission.[10]

The term of office for all offices is 4 years.[10]

Tim Kennedy, former National Secretary of the NUW, is the National Secretary, and Jo-anne Schofield, former National Secretary of United Voice, is the National President.[11]

Industrial coverage

The UWU have industrial coverage over:[12]

  • Aged care, home care & disability support
  • Cleaners
  • Property Services
  • Security
  • Early Childhood Educators
  • Teacher's aides and education assistants
  • Farm workers
  • Food manufacturers
  • Poultry workers
  • Dairy workers
  • Restaurants, bars and cafes
  • Casino workers
  • Clubs
  • Pub workers
  • Ambulances & Paramedics
  • Health Workers
  • Health and Fitness workers
  • Logistics and supermarket supply
  • Manufacturing
  • Market research & call centre workers
  • Sales workers
  • Tourism
  • Veterinary, zoos & animal care
  • Laundries
  • Sports & entertainment workers

Politics

During the 2020 recession, the UWU pushed for "a universal income of $740 a week" and a "jobs guarantee".[13]

References

  1. ^ "Membership size of registered organisations – 2025". Fair Work Commission. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  2. ^ Marin-Guzman, David (30 August 2019). "Workers vote to create new mega union". Australian Financial Review. Archived 10 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Who we are". United Workers Union. Archived 9 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  4. ^ Moase, Godfrey (29 May 2019). "Aussie Rules: Trade Unions and Capitalist Realism". The Social Review. Archived 21 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  5. ^ Patty, Anna (16 October 2018). "Second major union merger proposed for next year". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived 18 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  6. ^ "'Mega Union' tipped with United Voice close to merger with National Union of Workers". thesector.com.au. Archived 18 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Members vote in favour of United Workers Union". United Voice Australia. August 30, 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-01.
  8. ^ Marin-Guzman, David (30 August 2019). "Workers vote to create new mega union". Australian Financial Review. Archived 31 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Union members give merger thumbs-up - 9News". www.9news.com.au. Archived 31 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  10. ^ "United Workers' Union". Fair Work Commission. 2019-11-11. Archived 8 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2019-12-08.
  11. ^ Schneiders, Ben (9 November 2019). "Big union merger vows to tackle wage theft, redistribute wealth, shift Labor left". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived 16 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Industries". United Workers Union. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  13. ^ Schneiders, Ben (26 March 2020). "Key union pushes for universal income of $740 a week, guaranteed jobs". The Age. Archived 26 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 March 2020.