On The Job

Last week, Federal Parliament once again found itself embroiled in allegations of sexual assault. Brittany Higgins's brave and heart-breaking revelations about the abuse she suffered at work as a parliamentary staffer has again shone a light on the issue of sexual violence, abuse of power, and the lack of care and protection that so many women face in workplaces everywhere.

In today's episode, Francis and Sally tackle the issue head-on. We'll hear the real-life experiences of several women who tell their stories about sexual harassment at work. Warning - some of the details revealed may be difficult listening for some listeners.

They are joined by Professor Catharine Lumby, one of Australia's leading thinkers on the issue of gender equality, power, respectful relationships, and cultural change within communities and institutions.

Grace Dowling is an activist with the hospitality union Hospo Voice, and she will talk to Francis and Sally about their grassroots campaign to make workplaces safer for women in the industry.
If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual abuse or family violence contact:

National Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Counselling Service 24-hour helpline 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732

24-hour Emergency Accommodation helpline on 1800 800 588

Safe At Home helpline on 1800 633 937

SHE (free and confidential counseling and support) on 6278 9090

Sexual Assault Support Services on 6231 1811, or after hours 6231 1817

Family Violence Crisis and Support Service on 1800 608 122

Bravehearts – Sexual Assault Support for Children on 1800 BRAVE 1

Don't go it alone. Please reach out for help by contacting Lifeline on 13 11 14

Men who have anger, relationship, or parenting issues, should contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or the Don’t Become That Man helpline on 1300 243 413

More about On The Job podcast

Need help with working conditions?

Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466

Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How the move to work from home has changed your job, and what you need to know about what that means for you.

Patrick Turner, a senior associate at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, speaks with us about how working from home has altered the legal status of the workplace, and what you need to know about how the law deals with workplace issues in the home.

The Deputy CEO of Infrastructure Victoria, Jonathan Speer, is also on the pod. We'll chat with him about how working from home has fundamentally changed the dynamic of commuting, traffic, and activity within a busy metropolis, and what that means for future city living.

More about On The Job podcast

Need help with working conditions?

Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466

About the hosts

Sally Rugg, Executive director at Change.org Australia - @sallyrugg

Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFrankly

Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Scott Morrison finally being forced to realise Australia must have a clean energy economy?

Recently elected U.S. President Joe Biden has changed the game on progress toward a clean energy future with his recent announcements about America’s commitment to building a carbon in neutral economy.

Australia is in danger of being left behind if it doesn't follow suit. On today’s pod, we talk with Dr. Simon Bradshaw on how Australia can build a clean energy future, with good secure work and wages. 

We also meet Luciano Giangiordano, who packed in one successful career to start a solar company committed to making a difference.

More about On The Job podcast

Need help with working conditions?

Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466

About the hosts

Sally Rugg, Executive director at Change.org Australia - @sallyrugg

Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFrankly

Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We love a bit of alternative history here at On the Job.

This week, we ask the question - If legendary Labor wartime Prime Minister John Curtin was PM now, how would he have handled the COVID19 pandemic?

Curtin became Australia’s leader at the height of World War II as Australia faced the very real threat of Japanese invasion. He  not only steered the country through the war, he also laid the foundation of the post-war prosperity that saw generations of working Australians lead better lives.

Francis and Sally sit down with the ACTU’s historian and the author of the new book, “Becoming John Curtin and James Scullin”, Dr. Liam Byrne,  and ask the question - what would have been Curtin’s response to this new and very real crisis we face?

More about On The Job podcast

Need help with working conditions?

Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466

About the hosts

Sally Rugg, Executive director at Change.org Australia - @sallyrugg

Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFrankly

Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Francis introduces Sally to his favourite Working Class Hero - his mum, Ellen.

A mother of 5, who left school in grade 4 and worked her entire life whilst raising her family and battling debilitating bouts of mental illness, Ellen’s story of resilience and endurance is remarkable.

Francis thinks she’s tops. We reckon after you hear her story, you will too.

More about On The Job podcast

Need help with working conditions?

Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466

About the hosts

Sally Rugg, Executive director at Change.org Australia - @sallyrugg

Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFrankly

Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fitter by trade, Doug Cameron came to Australia at 22 years old, rose through the union ranks representing workers and gained preselection for the Australian Senate after Kevin Rudd came to power in 2007.

Someone suggested to Doug that he should be nicer to people in Parliament.

Didn't happen.

"How can I be nice to someone who's trying to destroy the lives of working people?

"Why should I be nice to someone that wants to give your tax cuts to the rich in the country, and take Social Security payments away from the poorest workers?"

Doug has now retired from Parliamentary life but is as passionate as ever about fighting for a better deal for working people.

Further reading from this episode

Wikipedia Doug Cameron

Crikey: Doug Cameron was right all along

DougCameron.com.au

Twitter

More about On The Job podcast

Need help with working conditions?

Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466

About the hosts

Sally Rugg, Executive director at Change.org Australia - @sallyrugg

Francis Leach, ACTU - @SaintFrankly

Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the pandemic hit in March 2020 Annie Butler, Federal Secretary at the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, was at a conference in the UK.

She then had to quarantine for 14 days coming home, all the while working to manage what was known at the time about the virus.

"State and federal (governments) and Australian people just really united together and went 'Right. What do we need to do? How can we do this?'

"Australia is very pragmatic, and just I think, responded really well and allowed us to just put health first and take the measures that we needed to."

Further reading from this episode

ANMF.org.au - Annie Butler, Federal Secretary for the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation

More about On The Job podcast

Need help with working conditions?

Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466

About the hosts

Sally Rugg, @sallyrugg

Francis Leach, @SaintFrankly

Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the Xmas edition of On the Job, so Francis and Sally meet the one person who is definitely happy to be working Xmas Day - Santa.

Santa Ian is Australia’s most sort after Santa, and he takes his job very seriously. He has even written a “Santa Oath” to codify what a good Santa should be.

We also look at the dirty secret of poor wages for those who pick our fruit ant veg with Ben Butler from the Guardian.

And it’s the time of year when work stress dreams full our sleep.

We share ours.

More about On The Job podcast

Need help with working conditions?

Call Australian Union Support Centre - 1300 486 466

Further reading from this episode

The Guardian: Australian Workers' Union push for fruit pickers to be guaranteed minimum pay rate

About the hosts

Sally Rugg, @sallyrugg

Francis Leach, @SaintFrankly

Support the show: https://www.onthejobpodcast.com.au/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.