Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has a history of more than 80 years of achievements made on behalf of working Australians and the community. These industrial gains include decades of wage increase through the award system and campaigns in the field, safer workplaces, equality for women, improvements in working hours, entitlements to paid holidays and better employment conditions, and the establishment of a universal superannuation system.

The ACTU has played a role in all of these achievements, but has contributed to fairness and justice in the community as well – contributing to Australia’s post-war development and immigration program, the social security system, Medicare and education - to name just a few areas of policy.

The ACTU has also represented Australian unionism in the international arena, opposing discrimination and oppression and supporting human rights. The ACTU aid agency, APHEDA – Union Aid Abroad, contributes to humanitarian projects in many countries.