{"id":62315,"date":"2025-06-02T10:01:56","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T00:01:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/?p=62315"},"modified":"2025-07-25T16:13:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T06:13:11","slug":"how-union-fees-build-your-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/blog\/how-union-fees-build-your-power\/","title":{"rendered":"HOW UNION FEES BUILD YOUR POWER"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"62315\" class=\"elementor elementor-62315\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82e3e3b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"82e3e3b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5450992 sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5450992\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>If you&#8217;ve just joined, or you&#8217;re thinking of joining, or maybe you&#8217;ve been a long-time faithful member of the mighty United Workers Union \u2013 whatever your situation, you&#8217;re probably curious about how we spend your membership fees.<\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-207c203 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"207c203\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3266e6 sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a3266e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Finance-breakdown-pie-charts-1400-x-1080-px.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-63003\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Finance-breakdown-pie-charts-1400-x-1080-px.png 1400w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Finance-breakdown-pie-charts-1400-x-1080-px-600x463.png 600w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Finance-breakdown-pie-charts-1400-x-1080-px-300x231.png 300w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Finance-breakdown-pie-charts-1400-x-1080-px-1024x790.png 1024w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Finance-breakdown-pie-charts-1400-x-1080-px-768x592.png 768w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Finance-breakdown-pie-charts-1400-x-1080-px-370x285.png 370w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Finance-breakdown-pie-charts-1400-x-1080-px-770x594.png 770w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Finance-breakdown-pie-charts-1400-x-1080-px-1170x903.png 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-68915ee e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"68915ee\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96c70ef sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"96c70ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It\u2019s a fair question, so we&#8217;ve done a budget breakdown to demystify how much is spent on what.<\/p><p>We&#8217;re all UWU members (including all of us who work for the union). So, no matter what industry you\u2019re in, we all want to make su<span style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">re our fees are never wasted and always put to good use.<\/span><\/p><h4>All unions are not-for-profit organisations<\/h4><p>Unions collect fees from members because, by everyone chipping in together, we can achieve way more as a group than you ever could alone.<\/p><p>We&#8217;re a union of over 150,000 members. That\u2019s a lot of people power, and a fair bit of budget. And because we\u2019re non-profit, you can be sure all our budget is put back into the organisation.<\/p><p>Our budget is enough to cover core union business and costs such as:<\/p><ul><li>Organising and on-site support<\/li><li>Legal advice and representation<\/li><li>Campaigns and communications<\/li><li>Education and training<\/li><li>Staffing and administration<\/li><\/ul><p>We&#8217;ll talk about these activities and what&#8217;s involved in more detail below.<\/p><p>We participate in a range of other activities, such as campaigning for better wages and conditions for all minimum and award wage workers and supporting UWU members to stand for parliament. All this helps workers in more industries than we cover, here in Australia \u2013 and other parts of the world!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5160bfd e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5160bfd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229676f sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"229676f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"697\" src=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/yvette-berry.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-62286\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/yvette-berry.jpg 1171w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/yvette-berry-600x408.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c240eba e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c240eba\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ace3b1c sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ace3b1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Run for members, by members<\/h4>\nAs a non-profit organisation, we need to manage our budgets very carefully. Our member council, made up of members from a wide range of industries across the whole country, oversees and approves how our budget is spent.\n\nSo, let\u2019s look at the budget breakdown in a bit more detail and see how it helps us with our core work, and to grow even stronger.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-38a199f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"38a199f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e8bd2d elementor-widget__width-inherit sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6e8bd2d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"489\" height=\"82\" src=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/organising-strip.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-62355\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe66788 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"fe66788\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca8722c sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ca8722c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>We provide support at your worksite when you need it<\/h4><p>Most of our funds \u2013 almost half \u2013 go towards supporting and organising members at their actual place of work. We call this on-site support. It&#8217;s when union officials come to your workplace to ensure it\u2019s safe and that everybody is aware of their rights. This builds awareness and power among co-workers and always creates fairer working conditions. <strong>FACT: Union members earn more than non-unionised workers.<\/strong><\/p><p>On-site support also helps inform union officials while negotiating an Enterprise Agreement for higher wages and better conditions, or a workplace grievance, such as a health and safety issue.<\/p><p>We&#8217;re a national union, so we have people in every state and territory who come and visit, listen, inform, educate, organise and negotiate to ensure you and your co-workers are being paid and treated right at work.<\/p><p>This is by far the best way to get to know all the issues specific to you, your work and your workplace. And so, it&#8217;s where we spend most of our funds.<\/p><h4>Can I get support without an on-site visit?<\/h4><p>Yes. Definitely. If you\u2019re in a remote or a very small workplace, or you don\u2019t have a delegate, you might want to get in contact with us off-site. This is where our <strong>Member Rights Team (MRT)<\/strong> comes in. MRT is often the first port of call for any issue you may be facing at work \u2013 whether you\u2019re working at a giant workplace with heaps of union members and delegates, or for a small ore remote business with very few employees.<\/p><p>Our <strong>MRT<\/strong>\u00a0is available to take calls, give advice and refer your issue to the right team for expert advice specific to your issue.<\/p><p>Last year alone, MRT won back around <strong>$10 million<\/strong> in underpayments and errors in wages. They\u2019re trained to deal with disciplinary procedures, to give advice if you\u2019re injured at work, or just answer general queries about your rights at work. They can help you as an individual worker, or give support on issues affecting a large group of employees at your workplace.<\/p><h4>We support union delegates so they can support you<\/h4><p>Delegates are union members and co-workers with special training in workers&#8217; rights. UWU trains interested members to become leaders at work and empower their co-workers. This keeps costs down by needing fewer visits from officials, but still staying up-to-date with important issues at your workplace. If you&#8217;re interested in becoming a delegate (even if you&#8217;re the only worker at your site!), register for our delegate training now.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6997b1a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6997b1a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7848bc8 sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"7848bc8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"489\" height=\"82\" src=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/admin-strip.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-62356\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba27979 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ba27979\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c9e1d6 sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3c9e1d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>150,000 memberships to manage!<\/h4><p>UWU has more than 150,000 members. It takes a pretty big chunk of the budget just to manage that many members, maintain a space for campaigning and delegate training, provide IT for the organisation to run smoothly and efficiently and keep our members informed.<\/p><p>Our IT team is also charged with keeping all our member data safe. Don\u2019t worry, they do an excellent job.<\/p><p>Our Finance team makes sure our budget stays on track, organises our member tax statements (so you get your fees back) and manage our funds responsibly.<\/p><p>We\u2019re also required to spend on external legal and financial advisors and auditors from time to time to make sure we\u2019re operating responsibly and according to the law.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-201b758 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"201b758\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa1791c sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fa1791c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"489\" height=\"82\" src=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/MRT-strip-copy.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-62357\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3cd3a2e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3cd3a2e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-935570e sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"935570e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Unions keep legal costs down<\/h4><p>We all know any legal matters are costly. It\u2019s one of the main reasons that unions are so useful when we have an issue with pay or conditions at work. It\u2019s also one of the top reasons workers join a union.<\/p><p>Legal negotiations for Enterprise Agreements or workplace grievances are core business for any union.<\/p><p>We simply couldn\u2019t afford the level of legal expertise we get from a union, if each of us tried to go it alone.<\/p><p>Our lawyers and industrial officers are dedicated and have chosen to work in a non-profit organisation, so we all get the best experts at the lowest price when matters end up at the Fair Work Commission or the courts.<\/p><h4>The numbers tell the story<\/h4><p>So far, between January and March this year, UWU\u2019s industrial officers have:<\/p><ul><li>recovered a whopping $4,168,318.62 in wages, entitlements, compensation and penalties for members<\/li><li>continued 779 ongoing matters,<\/li><li>finalised 46 matters and<\/li><li>opened another 153<\/li><\/ul><p>Since the beginning of the 2024\/25 financial year, we\u2019ve <strong>won back $7,945,936.87 for our members<\/strong>.<\/p><p>Our industrial officers definitely punch above their weight.<\/p><p>As well as winning back money that\u2019s owed to workers, these are the people that<\/p><ul><li>beaver away making sure our Enterprise Agreements don\u2019t have loopholes,<\/li><li>help convert casuals to permanent employees, so they get better entitlements, and<\/li><li>write submissions to governments and the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to argue for higher wages.<\/li><\/ul><p>We listen to members about their work, wages, cost of living and work-life balance so we can highlight real-life experiences of workers to help the decision-makers understand issues from a worker\u2019s point of view, not just the employer\u2019s version.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/all-updates\/uwu-asks-for-4-5-per-cent-increase-to-minimum-and-award-wages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Our submissions for higher minimum and award wages<\/a>\u00a0every year result in real wage increases across whole industries.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fbab11 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2fbab11\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d3a23e sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0d3a23e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"494\" height=\"82\" src=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/comms-strip.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-62358\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/comms-strip.png 494w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/comms-strip-300x50.png 300w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/comms-strip-370x61.png 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 494px) 100vw, 494px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d34cc0 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5d34cc0\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2adc0d4 sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2adc0d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Stay up to date: Follow us on socials!<\/h4><p>Are you familiar with our social channels on Facebook and Instagram? We also post regularly to TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn and Bluesky.<\/p><p>We use as many channels as we can, including newsletters, emails, printed campaign materials and posts on socials to keep members up to date. And, in such a big union that covers so many industries, it\u2019s a big job to keep everybody informed.<\/p><p>Our priority is to make sure our members feel included and informed about all our campaigns across the union through our monthly newsletter, but also make sure you\u2019re aware of actions and campaigns in the industries that affect you.<\/p><p>The comms teams creates guides about workers\u2019 rights exclusively for members, so you can have all the information at your fingertips when you need it.<\/p><p>We also raise awareness with the general public about our campaigns.<\/p><p>Public awareness gets support for workers and puts pressure on employers and multinational corporations to do better for working people.<\/p><p>Our 2024 media campaign for warehouse workers at Woolworths, in collaboration with strike action on the ground, meant we were able to garner huge support for the workers, and <strong>raised $143,489 for the strike fund.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6a6c14 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e6a6c14\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8767902 sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8767902\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/woollies-strike.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-62329\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/woollies-strike.jpg 640w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/woollies-strike-600x338.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a54f63c sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a54f63c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Over 400 thousand people engaged with our social channels last year. Our communications create a sense of community and put public pressure on employers doing the wrong thing.<\/p><p><strong>You can follow us on our social channels here:<\/strong><br \/><strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/UnitedVoiceAustralia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">YouTube<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@unitedworkersunion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">TikTok<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UnitedWorkersOz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Facebook<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/unitedworkersoz\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Instagram<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/united-workers-union\/posts\/?feedView=all\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">LinkedIn<\/a> and more.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a7478c e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3a7478c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f44a05 sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5f44a05\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"489\" height=\"82\" src=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/training-strip.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-62359\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/training-strip.png 489w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/training-strip-300x50.png 300w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/training-strip-370x62.png 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 489px) 100vw, 489px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8252d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f8252d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b0fc3f sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3b0fc3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Become a leader at your workplace<\/h4>\n\nOne of our member benefits is that we also offer training and workshops so you can become a leader at your workplace. This is also a great way to get to know other members.\n\nMember training includes delegate training, occupational health and safety (OHS), and online workshop sessions on a wide range of topics that affect you at work such as <strong>Mental Health, Discrimination, Leave Entitlements<\/strong> and more. <a href=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/workshops\/\">See the full <strong>2025 program here.<\/strong><\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71238e2 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"71238e2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2fceb8 sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d2fceb8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"489\" height=\"82\" src=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/union-strength-strip.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-62361\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/union-strength-strip.png 489w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/union-strength-strip-300x50.png 300w, https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/union-strength-strip-370x62.png 370w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 489px) 100vw, 489px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-baec35b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"baec35b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b3bc7b sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2b3bc7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Unionism is a global movement<\/h4>\n\n\nWe have affiliations and make donations to peak union bodies such as the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and to broad campaigns that fight against big business, who make giant profits off workers\u2019 time, such as the Same Job Same Pay.\n\nUnionism is a global movement, so we don\u2019t just stop with Australia. UWU is proudly affiliated with\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/apheda.org.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Union Aid Abroad APHEDA<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iuf.org\/safe-workplaces-for-fast-food-workers-now\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">IUF<\/a>.<\/strong>\n\n<strong>APHEDA<\/strong> works to support workers&#8217; rights, human rights and social justice in various regions including Southeast Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Southern Africa.\n\n<strong>IUF<\/strong> is the <strong>International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers&#8217; Associations<\/strong>. It fights for workers all over the globe who work within the food chain, often in countries that are less developed than Australia.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65dfe49 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"65dfe49\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47692e4 sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"47692e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5>ALL THIS FOR THE COST OF 3 COFFEES P\/WK \u2013 and it\u2019s 100% tax deductible!<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6012622 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6012622\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb5a798 sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eb5a798\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you&#8217;re interested in learning more about what we do and how we&#8217;re doing it, join our mailing list.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-002830b sc_fly_static elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"002830b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><script charset=\"utf-8\" type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/js.hsforms.net\/forms\/embed\/v2.js\"><\/script> \n\n<script> \n\n  hbspt.forms.create({ \n\n    portalId: \"8094439\", \n\n    formId: \"44f962f4-fa43-4517-9edd-abc5fff24ad3\", \n\n    region: \"na1\" \n\n  }); \n\n<\/script> <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Find out everything we do across the whole union to support our members.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":71,"featured_media":64978,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[187,60],"tags":[197],"class_list":["post-62315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-blog","tag-explainer"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/71"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62315"}],"version-history":[{"count":88,"href":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64987,"href":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62315\/revisions\/64987"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/development.uwu.org.au\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}