As the peak union body for Australia, the ACTU participates in a range of international forums on behalf of unions and Australian workers, including the International Labour Organisation and the International Trade Union Confederation.
Australian unions are also active players in the global union movement, joining international campaigns and solidarity actions on a regular basis.
In this section, you will find statements by the ACTU on international issues, details of current international campaigns, and news from around the world.
June 4, 2021
The persecution of trade unionists and the systematic abuse of workers’ and trade union rights persist in Iran.
Two well-known workers’ rights defenders in Iran, Mahmoud Salehi and Osman Ismaili were arrested on 16 May 2021 and charged with endangering national security by disseminating information concerning the 1 May celebration.
May 25, 2021
The ACTU has called on the Australian Government to challenge the Myanmar military regime’s credentials at the upcoming International Labour Conference and other UN meetings.
May 17, 2021
The ACTU joins the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in calling for an immediate cessation of violence in Israel and Palestine, and the unjust and illegal occupation of Palestine.
May 10, 2021
The ACTU calls on the Duque government to end violence against Colombian protestors. Working people in Colombia, led by an alliance of trade unions and social groups, have taken to the streets every day since 28 April against the far-right Duque government and its planned tax reform, which would deepen inequality. The scale of the demonstrations forced the government to withdraw the bill. But in the past week, the government deployed the notorious Anti-Riot Squad (ESMAD) across the country against the protesters.
May 3, 2021
The Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade held a public hearing on Tuesday 13 April on Myanmar. Michele O’Neil, President of the ACTU, appeared with Kate Lee, Executive Officer of Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, to speak about the current situation for trade unions in Myanmar, and actions the Australian Government must take to support a return to democratic rule.
April 28, 2021
The ACTU joins the ITUC, Global Union Federations, as well as other national and international unions and organisations in calling for fundamental reform of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
April 9, 2021
Australian civil society groups have signed onto a joint letter calling for the Government to take immediate action against the military coup in Myanmar which has led to over 500 civilians being killed thus far.
Signatories include the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Australian Council for International Development, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, Publish What You Pay, International Women’s Development Agency, Human Rights Law Centre, and Australian Centre for International Justice.
March 16, 2021
The ACTU has written to Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Health Minister Greg Hunt calling for the Australian Government to do more to assist Papua New Guinea respond to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 health crisis.
The ACTU calls on the Australian Government to immediately deploy 20,000 vaccines and PPE to frontline health workers.
March 12, 2021
ACTU Executive passed a resolution at its meeting on 10th and 11th March 2021 in support of the demands of the Filipino trade union movement, and called on the Australian Government to stop funding military and police in the Philippines.
March 12, 2021
At its meeting on 10th and 11th March, ACTU Executive passed a resolution in solidarity with the people of Myanmar.
