The call for domestic violence leave to be incorporated into national employment standards gains momentum, with Queensland unions leading the way.
Queensland’s public sector agencies and many private industry employers now include 10 days family and domestic violence leave into their agreements, providing women the time they need to attend counselling and support service appointments, court dates, allows them to move home or take their children to new schools in order to escape the cycle of violence.
Unions held a 16-day “We Won’t Wait” action through November, demanding the federal government include this provision for its own employees, particularly in its self-proclaimed role as a “model employer”.
The issue also arose during the state election campaign, with unions and community groups calling out the family and domestic violence policies of One Nation as “bizarre and dangerous”.
Community and Public Sector Union members also met outside the federal court in Brisbane, calling on the federal government to listen to its own employees, and settle acceptable enterprise bargains with its own staff, including 10 days family and domestic violence leave!
Check out some more activities held during the 16 days of action.
