Latest news with #unionleaders
Washington Post
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Federal workers fear Trump will fire them after court ruling: ‘We are toast'
Some federal workers cried. Some shook their heads and began updating their resumes. Others — including union leaders — vowed to fight, determined to hang on to the government jobs that many took because they wanted to serve the American public. After the Supreme Court allowed President Donald Trump on Tuesday to resume firing government workers, federal employees rushed to Signal group chats and anxious phone calls, trying to figure out what it meant for them. The court lifted a lower-court order that had temporarily blocked the administration's plans to lay off thousands of federal workers, including at the State Department and the Social Security Administration, because the administration did not first consult with Congress. But few details were immediately available.
ABC News
18-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Chalmers vows to 'dial-up' Labor's ambition for 'bold' tax reform
Jim Chalmers has promised to "dial-up" Labor's ambition to change the tax system and repair the budget, signalling determination to use the government's landslide election victory to push "bold" ideas beyond the platform pitched to voters. Tax featured prominently in the treasurer's address to the National Press Club on Wednesday, where he declared he was happy to "grasp the nettle" and propose a reform package that created both winners and losers. "What we're trying to do … is to be up-front with all of you and the country beyond about the trade-offs," he said. "This is about testing the country's reform appetite and I don't see it in personal terms but I am personally willing to grasp the nettle … I am prepared to do my bit." Mr Chalmers went further than his prime minister, who told the same forum last week that he wanted to look for "win-wins" with his main focus on boosting productivity. The treasurer also emphasised the importance of pursuing "consensus" on any changes that come out of his reform round table, which will include a small selection of business and union leaders and experts and be held in late August. But he was explicit that any changes should improve the budget or at a minimum not worsen it, and that raising taxes on some things could be considered as long as the overall reform package reduced Australia's reliance on taxing people's wages. "No sensible progress can be made on productivity, resilience or budget sustainability without proper consideration of more tax reform. I don't just accept that, I welcome that," he said. "Tax reform is bigger than just managing the difficult balance between spending and collecting … It's about encouraging investment, lowering the personal tax burden and increasing the rewards from work." Mr Chalmers declined to engage in what he called "the rule-in-rule-out game", saying this was "cancerous" for reform and refusing to close off options even if he personally disagreed with them, such as increasing the GST. "It's not a [policy] I've been attracted to historically, but I'm going to try not to get in the process of shooting ideas between now and the round table … We genuinely want to hear people's ideas." Budget repair is one of three themes to be discussed on successive days of the round table, alongside "resilience" to global uncertainty and productivity boosters. Mr Chalmers said his department had identified four reasons for disappointing productivity gains in recent years, which economists see as the only sustainable way to lift living standards. "Firstly, our economy is not dynamic or innovative enough. Secondly, private investment has picked up, but not by enough," he said. "Thirdly, skills aren't abundant enough or matched well enough to business needs. Finally … the growth in services, where productivity is harder to find." The treasurer named priorities including regulation to support artificial intelligence, faster approvals for homes and major products, and "cutting red tape without lowering standards". On housing, he said further policies would be needed to "build more homes and sooner", acknowledging the government's 1.2 million homes target was "hard [but] not impossible" and that work was underway led by Housing Minister Clare O'Neil. Mr Chalmers said he would not necessarily favour taking reform ideas to the voters at the next election before enacting them, saying he did not believe the government was assured of another term despite the size of its victory and it may not be "wise" to wait if consensus could be found at the round table. "It's difficult to pre-empty … Let's see what the nature of the changes are before we make some of those decisions around timing." The round table will begin on August 19 and be held in the cabinet room, with Anthony Albanese to provide an opening address but the main body of work to be led by Mr Chalmers. The choice of venue is meant as a signal that participants should leave aside "vested" or sectoral interests, with attendees told to prioritise "practical" ideas in the "national interest". The invitation list has not been finalised, but Mr Chalmers said he was "surprised" the opposition asked to be involved, not ruling out that possibility but suggesting they should be "constructive whether they're inside the room or not". "We don't pretend that we'll be in government forever … I don't even accept the argument that says another term of this government is assured. I think few things in politics are assured, and so the more buy-in that we can get across parliament the better." Labor sources said consideration could also be given to crossbenchers who wanted to attend, with independent MP Allegra Spender regarded as the most likely name, but that no decisions had been made.
Malay Mail
02-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Workers' rights in global free fall: 87pc of countries violate strikes, 80pc cripple collective bargaining
PARIS, June 2 — Workers' rights around the world are 'in free fall', with widespread attempts to hamstring collective bargaining and attacks on trade union representatives, the world's largest trade union organisation said Monday. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) found a 'profound deterioration' in workers' rights in its annual rights index published on Monday, based on 97 indicators laid out by the United Nations and international treaties. Workers' rights, which the report measured in 151 countries, particularly declined in Europe and the Americas — with the worst results for the two regions since the index was launched in 2014. In total, 87 per cent of countries violated the right to strike and 80 per cent violated the right to collective bargaining, the ITUC said. 'The right to collective bargaining was restricted in 80% of countries (121),' the ITUC said. In France, for example, 'nearly four in every 10 collective agreements were imposed unilaterally by employers, without union representation'. The report also said outlined 'persecution' against union leaders. 'In France, more than 1,000 union leaders and members of the Confederation generale du travail (CGT) were facing criminal charges and disciplinary measures for their roles in mass protests against pension reforms,' it said. Widespread decline The ITUC gives each country a maximum score of one and a minimum score of five for their respect for workers' rights, such as the right to strike, demonstrate and participate in negotiations. Only seven countries — including Germany, Sweden and Norway — were awarded the maximum score, compared to 18 a decade ago. Italy and Argentina saw their scores drop in 2025. 'If this pace of decline continues, in ten years there will be no country left in the world with the highest rating for its respect for workers' rights,' ITUC head Luc Triangle said in a statement. In 2025, Europe experienced the sharpest decline of any region in the world over the past 10 years. The ITUC also said trade unionists or workers were killed in five countries in 2025: South Africa, Cameroon, Colombia, Guatemala and Peru. And Nigeria joined the list of the 10 worst countries for workers' rights for the first time. Only a handful of countries saw an improvement in workers' rights. Reforms strengthened trade union rights in Australia, while in Mexico, labour law changes improved access to justice for workers. — AFP
CBS News
10-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Nippon Steel presses forward with effort to acquire U.S. Steel
Japan-based Nippon Steel is not giving up on its efforts to purchase U.S. Steel; on an earnings call, they signaled that they are doubling down. Nippon's president said that turning U.S. Steel into a wholly-owned subsidiary is the negotiation starting point, according to reporting from Nikkei Asia. What would becoming a subsidiary mean for U.S. Steel? This would mean that U.S. Steel would become part of Nippon Steel. Along with the idea of making U.S. Steel a wholly-owned subsidiary, they have also discussed various other proposals. President Trump indicated earlier this year that he would allow Nippon to invest in U.S. Steel, but said that he wants the company to remain American-owned. It has been reported by Nikkei that Nippon's president believes that they are moving closer to a deal, and it would resemble the structure of its original bid to purchase U.S. Steel. Meanwhile, the company's vice chairman is heading to Washington, D.C. next week to talk about the potential deal with U.S. Steel with the Trump Administration. After his visit to D.C., he'll head to Pennsylvania to meet with local union leaders. Braddock's mayor, Cletus Lee, said he's still optimistic that the deal gets done and said he hopes it can get hashed out behind closed doors, and then be presented to the public when the time is right. This is all happening as the deadline for the merger approaches, with both sides having until mid-June to hammer out a deal. Former President Joe Biden blocks the acquisition of U.S. Steel Prior to leaving office, former President Joe Biden blocked Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel. The $15 billion proposal was blocked after a government panel recently failed to reach a consensus on the possible national security risks of the deal. "It is my solemn responsibility as president to ensure that, now and long into the future, America has a strong domestically owned and operated steel industry that can continue to power our national sources of strength at home and abroad; and it is a fulfillment of that responsibility to block foreign ownership of this vital American company," Biden said at the time in a statement. Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel condemned the decision and said in a joint statement they would take "all appropriate action" to protect their legal rights. The companies called Mr. Biden's move "unlawful." Nippon Steel makes offer to purchase U.S. Steel Late in 2023, U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel announced they had reached a deal worth nearly $15 billion. "NSC has a proven track record of acquiring, operating, and investing in steel mill facilities globally – and we are confident that, like our strategy, this combination is truly Best for All," said David Burritt, President and CEO of U.S. Steel said in December 2023. At the time, the deal was unanimously approved by the board of directors of both companies. Despite initial excitement from both companies, the deal ran into roadblocks and remains in limbo at this time.
