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Hunter Workers pushing for casuals’ paid sick leave

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Hunter Workers is calling on the NSW Government to provide every casual employee with paid sick leave.

The local union, which has represented the Hunter Valley workforce for more than 150 years, believes now is the time to sort out the matter once and for all, especially with the latest round of lockdowns in Greater Sydney.

Secretary Leigh Shears said a positive response by state politicians would ensure temporary workers weren’t forced to choose between staying home when they were sick or going to work in order to put food on the table.

“Areas in Sydney with higher rates of casual essential employees have been worst affected by the outbreak over the past few weeks,” he explained.

“If the government wants to ensure they stay home when they are sick, they must guarantee all workers paid sick leave.

“That way, those living from paycheque-to-paycheque will stay afloat.”

Mr Shears added a quarter of all employed Australians worked in casual positions.

“Those jobs account for 60% of all waged positions created since May 2020, as Australia saw the largest expansion of casualised employment in history,” he said.

“Unfortunately, casual workers have already borne the brunt of the pandemic and are still expected to lose out on vital income without a safety net.

“It is unacceptable this far into a health crisis that casuals in NSW are not provided paid sick leave.”

The Newcastle-based union is also asking the Australian Government to create Jobkeeper 2.0.

“Continued concerns about community transmitted COVID-19 demonstrates the emergency has yet to pass,” Mr Shears said.

“The pandemic is far from over across the country as workers in the Greater Sydney region will struggle to get by on the current meagre support payments.

“Last week, Victoria announced it will be trialling paid sick leave for casual employees in a move applauded by Australian Unions.”

Hunter Workers has campaigned to improve the lives, wages, working conditions and social services for all employees and their families throughout the region.

“And, we’ll continue to fight for the things that matter for all of them, too,” Mr Shears said.

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