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Australian unions lobby for paid maternity leave

26 March 2009

Trade unions in Australia, including transport unions, have launched a week of action to lobby for paid maternity leave.

The action week, which began on 23 March, aims to persuade the Rudd government to include a universal paid maternity leave scheme in the May federal budget; the Australian parliament is currently in the process of considering this.

In addition to petitioning members of parliament through postcards and videos, locally based "Your rights @ work" activists are organising meetings with federal members of parliament and other events to keep up the pressure for a universal paid maternity leave scheme.

The government is yet to release details of the Productivity Commission's final report on introducing a national scheme. An interim report recommended an 18-week scheme, funded primarily by government at minimum wage rates covering all working women.

Mich-Elle Myers, national women's liaison officer of the ITF-affiliated Maritime Union of Australia, which is among the unions backing the campaign, said: “Now is the perfect time for our government to protect Australian families. In these tough economic times it makes more and more sense to look after women so that we don't lose these skilled people from workplaces altogether. All the research shows that women are more likely to return to work if they have had the chance to look after their child in the early stages after birth.

"We believe that despite the global economy there is still hope of Australia finally getting a decent paid maternity leave scheme. We have waited so long and campaigned so hard. It's time!"

More information: www.rightsatwork.com.au

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