2025 was another massive year for United Workers Union members
Looking back over the year, we’ve stood together and achieved some solid wins across all our industries. As members, we can be very proud of our determination, energy and collective spirit throughout another year of campaigning, taking action and negotiating for better workplaces.
Here’s what we’ve achieved together:
- Won over $11 million in wages and backpay for members
- Finalised over 600 workplace agreements
- Assisted 1000s of members in individual workplace matters
But as a union that covers over 45 industries, we’ve had a lot of action – and a lot of wins. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights from 2025.
Bargaining and industrial action
After months of members’ campaigning, negotiating and taking action, South Australian health support workers and disability support workers won a whopping pay rise that will see wages increase for most workers between 24% and 44% across the 3-year period, and real improvements to their conditions.
It’s the biggest public sector pay rise we know of… ever!
Other campaigns that saw members win pay increases and improved conditions include (but are definitely not limited to):
- Ambulance Victoria support staff won a 20% increase over 4 years
- Avalon Airport security guards, who were all employed on a casual basis, won pay rises equivalent to 16% in their first year, and permanent jobs
- Laundry workers at Ensign in Perth secured a 10.5% pay and increase AND a paid day off for their birthdays
- Members who make Doritos and Smith’s chips at PepsiCo in South Australia won a 13% increase bringing them in line with workers employed by the company in other states.
Congratulations to all members who stood together and took action! A special shout-out to anyone who took action for the first time – like workers at the RSPCA in South Australia and Crown and Star Casinos in Sydney!
Moments to celebrate
In addition to winning improved pay and conditions through bargaining, there were a couple of moments that really stood out in 2025.
The first? We marked ten years of union power in farms across the country. Over the last decade, farm workers have been fighting exploitation, demanding respect and campaigning for visa justice while making sure we have food at our supermarkets and on our tables.
UWU farm members have:
- Stood up to dodgy contractors
- Exposed rampant and systemic wage theft
- Fought for visa justice and protection, and more!
Secondly, school cleaners in NSW won direct employment! Starting with workers in the Hunter and Central Coast, school cleaners will return to being government employees. This life-changing win will see the workers who keep schools clean and safe for our children have better pay, conditions and job security. This was a long and hard-fought campaign. Hear from long-time union leader Kath Hadden about what this will mean for current and future school cleaners.
Hopefully this time next year we’ll be celebrating a similar policy in Victoria where members in school cleaning are still fighting for direct employment.
But wait, there’s more!
Read on to hear about a few more notable wins and campaigns we can’t leave out.
50 Aged Care Providers (and counting) signed on to Labour Agreements
Members have worked tirelessly to petition their employers to sign up with UWU to offer pathways to permanent residency for migrant aged care workers.
Tasmanian Education Facility Attendants (EFAs) take action
EFAs in Tassie, along with other public sector unions, spoke out and took industrial action resulting in a 3% pay increase and better entitlements. Job security negotiations are ongoing and will be picked up next year, so watch this space.
Educators set the agenda
This year showed the impact early childhood educators have made by building collective power across the early education sector. We changed the rules, lifted standards, and made sure educators’ voices were heard by government.
Together we:
- Won up to 18.5% in wage increases
- Exposed staffing loopholes with misuse of “under-the roof” ratios and changed the national conversation
- Put educators at the front of media coverage and policy discussion with the launch of the Safer Staffing Action Plan, the EarlyEd Quality Check, and a National Survey of 3000 educators.
Victorian School Cleaners held Serco to account
Giant cleaning contractor Serco was found to be breaching the minimum shift hours rule. UWU members identified this breach across multiple schools in Victoria.
Victorian school cleaners won back:
- Serco had to back pay over $760,000 to cleaners – $87,000 of that went to 37 UWU members
- Cleaners are now paid for a minimum 4-hour shift (as they should be!)
9,000 casino jobs saved
After Star revealed serious financial difficulties early in the year, thousands of workers were suddenly left wondering if they’d still have jobs. But with the help of their union, these jobs have been saved and members at Star in Brisbane and Sydney went on to win better agreements.
This and so much more – members should be proud
This is not a comprehensive summary of the year, there was far too much going on for us to include it all. For more details about the campaigns and wins of 2025, check out this article in our January newsletter.
All members should be incredibly proud of the work we’ve done together in 2025. We continue to stick together and back each other up, because that’s what being a United Workers Union member is all about.
We hope you have the chance for a well-earned break over the New Year period. We need to rest up, because 2026 promises to be even bigger!