<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[MYUNION]]></title><description><![CDATA[MYUNION]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:01:33 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.myunion.au/bi/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Bullying, Mobbing and Collusion: Understanding the Differences in Australian Workplaces]]></title><description><![CDATA[Workplace conflict is not always the same. Many people describe any negative behaviour as “bullying”, but some of the most damaging conduct in Australian workplaces goes well beyond ordinary bullying. Three terms that are often confused are bullying, mobbing, and collusion. While they can overlap, they describe different patterns of behaviour and may have different legal and practical consequences. Understanding the difference is critical when preparing evidence for a complaint to the Fair...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/bullying-mobbing-and-collusion-understanding-the-differences-in-australian-workplaces</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a50e41c56cd59bfd013f820</guid><pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:29:01 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[MUSTERUP!!! - Queensland Corrective Services Seeking Repayment of Alleged Overpayments? Know Your Rights Before You Respond]]></title><description><![CDATA[MUSTERUP!!! - Queensland Corrective Services Seeking Repayment of Alleged Overpayments? Know Your Rights Before You Respond]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/musterup-queensland-corrective-services-seeking-repayment-of-alleged-overpayments-know-your-ri</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4f272d38b98d875b8a6848</guid><category><![CDATA[MUSTERUP!!! - Prison Officers News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Prison Officers]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 04:49:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_a72e5558c5dd4c139c96296ebf4c5620~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Traffic Controllers: Do You Know Your Workplace Rights?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Working in traffic control is one of the most demanding jobs in Australia. Traffic controllers work long hours, often in extreme heat, rain or cold, while managing the safety of workers, motorists and pedestrians. Despite the critical role they play, many traffic controllers are unaware of their workplace rights or assume they have to "put up with" unsafe or unfair treatment. The reality is that Australian workplace laws provide significant protections for traffic controllers. Understanding...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/traffic-controllers-do-you-know-your-workplace-rights</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4f11e838b98d875b8a3a52</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 03:20:09 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_e8b8e8380e044520a47b8176a81f90a8~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[How to Prepare Effective Pleadings in Employment Law Cases]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why your pleadings matter With more than three decades of Professional Advocacy in Industrial Tribunals and Commissions, this is our observation. A Statement of Claim is the document that tells the Court: who the parties are; what legal rights were breached; what facts establish those breaches; what remedies are sought. It is not evidence. It is not an affidavit. It is not a witness statement. It is simply the framework upon which the entire case is built. Everything that follows—including...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/how-to-prepare-effective-pleadings-in-employment-law-cases</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4f01b12ccceabc75b2d7eb</guid><pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 02:15:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_5135a86f29f74fb889e17ad9e7a29463~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can Your Employer Demand Unrestricted Access to Your Medical Records?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Understanding your rights under the Fair Work Act, Human Rights legislation and Australian privacy laws It is becoming increasingly common for employers to request access to an employee’s medical information during workplace disputes, prolonged absences, workers’ compensation claims or proceedings before the Fair Work Commission. Can Your Employer Demand Unrestricted Access to Your Medical Records? While employers may, in some circumstances, have legitimate reasons to seek medical...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/can-your-employer-demand-unrestricted-access-to-your-medical-records</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4ebc715889fea7c2e566ab</guid><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:13:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_4b11a93807a445a28bb4da283b63eaa0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[General Protections vs Unfair Dismissal: What's the Difference?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Understanding Your Fair Work Rights After Losing Your Job Keywords: General Protections, Unfair Dismissal, Fair Work Commission, Fair Work Act, workplace rights, adverse action, employment law, dismissal, workplace discrimination, employment advocate, workers' rights Australia. If you've been dismissed from your job, you may have heard about Unfair Dismissal and General Protections claims. While they sound similar, they are very different under Australian workplace laws. Choosing the right...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/general-protections-vs-unfair-dismissal-what-s-the-difference</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4ce41d1855a907de56dc92</guid><pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 11:43:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_ce22ba10c5054ce5bb4bd8eb8ce24b24~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[MYUNION Basics Membership]]></title><description><![CDATA[Affordable Workplace Protection Before Problems Become Disputes No politics. Just help. For many Australian workers, the first time they seek professional assistance is after they have been dismissed, placed on a performance improvement plan, accused of misconduct, or experienced workplace bullying or discrimination. Unfortunately, by that stage valuable evidence may have been lost, important conversations have already occurred, and strict legal time limits may already be running. That is...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/myunion-basics-membership</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4b5cb5fa58f0a255d6fdf8</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 07:49:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_69faffa684d443119b6ad55800e1e547~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Is It Too Late to Bring an Unfair Termination Claim? Understanding the Fair Work Commission's Power to Extend Time for Regulated Road Transport Contractors]]></title><description><![CDATA[Published by MYUNION Workers' Rights Are Human Rights The Fair Work Commission has repeatedly emphasised that statutory time limits are important. They provide certainty for employers and principals while encouraging disputes to be raised promptly. However, Parliament has also recognised that strict time limits can sometimes produce unjust outcomes. For regulated road transport contractors, the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) contains a discretion allowing the Commission to extend the usual 21-day...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/when-is-it-too-late-to-bring-an-unfair-termination-claim-understanding-the-fair-work-commission-s-p</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4b3c04fa58f0a255d6a298</guid><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 05:30:45 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_b3d98a1989244c539592fbc19e99f38d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pregnancy, Parental Leave and Fixed-Term Contracts: Understanding Your Workplace Rights]]></title><description><![CDATA[For many employees, pregnancy and the arrival of a child should be a time of excitement rather than uncertainty about their employment. Unfortunately, disputes continue to arise where employees question whether decisions about contract renewals, promotions, flexible work arrangements or continued employment have been influenced by pregnancy or parental leave. While employers retain the right to make genuine operational and commercial decisions, Australian law provides extensive protections to...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/pregnancy-parental-leave-and-fixed-term-contracts-understanding-your-workplace-rights</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a49fd01f7b480551f11659e</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 06:48:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_2d94a1fa87fe4302a3fc45ee12cf1a71~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My Employer Has Funding for Two More Years—So Why Have I Only Been Offered a One-Year Contract?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Across Australia, thousands of employees work in roles funded by government grants, service agreements, research funding, community programs and other external funding arrangements. When funding is renewed, many employees naturally expect that their employment will continue for the same period as the funding. However, this is not always what happens. Sometimes an employer secures funding for several years but only offers employees a much shorter contract extension. This can leave workers...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/my-employer-has-funding-for-two-more-years-so-why-have-i-only-been-offered-a-one-year-contract</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a49d4410e6d46569499c73c</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 03:55:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_2261f85591624834b8f7648e68da27a2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What to Do If Your Employer Hasn't Been Paying Your Superannuation: A Step-by-Step Guide]]></title><description><![CDATA[Keywords: unpaid superannuation, unpaid super, employer not paying super, super guarantee, Australian Taxation Office, ATO super complaint, recover unpaid super, workplace rights Australia For many Australian workers, superannuation is their second-largest financial asset after their home. Yet every year, billions of dollars in compulsory superannuation contributions go unpaid, leaving workers significantly worse off in retirement. Many employees do not discover the problem until they change...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/what-to-do-if-your-employer-hasn-t-been-paying-your-superannuation-a-step-by-step-guide</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a49d2ccfa58f0a255d34d9f</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 Jul 2026 03:45:47 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_178b699af9df4215a70a20950500542e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Breastfeeding at Work: Understanding Your Rights to Express Breast Milk in the Workplace]]></title><description><![CDATA[Returning to work after having a baby should not mean having to choose between your employment and your child’s health. For many parents, expressing breast milk during working hours is an essential part of continuing to breastfeed after returning to work, whether for nutritional, medical or personal reasons. Unfortunately, workplace disputes surrounding breastfeeding and expressing breast milk continue to arise across Australia. Employees sometimes report difficulties accessing suitable...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/breastfeeding-at-work-understanding-your-rights-to-express-breast-milk-in-the-workplace</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4832ba905c9e761540a839</guid><pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2026 22:11:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_372272de7167415dac3f22bff19ffdc7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Employers Must Provide Payslips: A Fundamental Workplace Right Under the Fair Work Act]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Brian AJ Newman, LLBPrincipal Employment &#38; Human Rights Advocate – MYUNION One of the most basic obligations imposed on employers under Australia's workplace relations system is the requirement to provide employees with accurate and timely payslips. Despite being a fundamental legal obligation, MYUNION regularly assists workers whose employers fail to issue payslips, issue incomplete payslips, or deliberately withhold payroll records altogether. Often, these failures are accompanied by...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/employers-must-provide-payslips-a-fundamental-workplace-right-under-the-fair-work-act</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a450e576d90066744681130</guid><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:59:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_49146798e399452592fef035715d6a9b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Union Delegate to Founding a New Voice: Reflections on Representation, Accountability and the Birth of the Queensland Prison Officers Association]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Journey That Started on the Frontline Long before MYUNION existed, and before the Queensland Prison Officers Association (QPOA) was established, I spent many years actively involved in workplace representation within Queensland's public sector. Like many workplace delegates, my involvement began with a simple belief: "Workers deserve a strong voice, fair representation, and an organisation that places members before bureaucracy." The historical publications reproduced in this article...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/from-union-delegate-to-founding-a-new-voice-reflections-on-representation-accountability-and-the-b</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3b26ace48ba4122ae8a72c</guid><pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2026 01:04:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_fdf082c156fb48199f127c10bd69fd78~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lifelong Learning and the Future of Work: Why Continuous Skills Development Is No Longer Optional]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Future Belongs to Workers Who Never Stop Learning

For generations, the traditional pathway was simple.



A person would complete school, undertake an apprenticeship, trade qualification, university degree, or vocational training, and then spend most of their working life relying on those skills.



That world is rapidly disappearing.



Artificial intelligence, automation, digital transformation, climate transition policies, demographic change, and global economic restructuring are reshapi]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/lifelong-learning-and-the-future-of-work-why-continuous-skills-development-is-no-longer-optional</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3ac6dae48ba4122ae7816a</guid><category><![CDATA[Learning]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:53:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_d195a62d6f954e2db4f6f77cf8782649~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Employer Refuses to Pay Notice Period After Resignation? What Australian Workers Need to Know]]></title><description><![CDATA[Can an Employer Refuse to Pay Your Notice Period After You Resign? A scenario frequently raised by workers involves an employee resigning and providing the required notice period, only for the employer to suddenly decide that they should leave immediately. The situation often becomes more complicated when the employee is moving to a competitor, has accepted another role, or the employer becomes frustrated that the worker is leaving. Consider the following example: An employee resigns and...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/employer-refuses-to-pay-notice-period-after-resignation-what-australian-workers-need-to-know</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3abe278955009f72299398</guid><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:20:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_ecd4c4c276384fa6a74a3e20e513eeb2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sham Contracting in Australia: Lessons from Holmes v Torbay Constructions Pty Ltd [2026] FWC 552]]></title><description><![CDATA[When an "Independent Contractor" Is Really an Employee MYUNION's Principal Advicate Brian AJ Newman, ran the case for the worker in Holmes v Torbay Constructions Pty Ltd [2026] FWC 552 because he believed that across Australia, thousands of workers are engaged as so-called "contractors" despite performing work that appears indistinguishable from that of employees and the consequences can be significant. Workers who are incorrectly classified as contractors may lose access to: Annual leave;...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/sham-contracting-in-australia-lessons-from-holmes-v-torbay-constructions-pty-ltd-2026-fwc-552</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3ab5608955009f722977cf</guid><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:52:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_1d34f8d5454842abb23398a20f72ce5d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reverse Onus of Proof in Fair Work and Human Rights Complaints: Why the Law Favors Workers and Complainants]]></title><description><![CDATA[Understanding the Reverse Onus of Proof in Australian Workplace and Human Rights Law One of the most powerful protections available to Australian workers is the concept known as the reverse onus of proof. Unlike most legal disputes, where the person making an allegation must prove their case, many workplace rights and human rights laws deliberately shift the burden onto the employer or respondent once certain facts are established. This principle exists because discrimination, victimisation,...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/reverse-onus-of-proof-in-fair-work-and-human-rights-complaints-why-the-law-favors-workers-and-compl</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3aad6232203112da625039</guid><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:23:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_555f95b987df43088fa918f3578fbaba~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Workplace Bullying in Australia: Understanding Your Rights and Options]]></title><description><![CDATA[Workplace bullying remains one of the most significant psychosocial hazards confronting Australian workers. It affects employees across all industries and occupations, from apprentices and frontline workers to senior executives. The consequences can be devastating, resulting in psychological injury, loss of confidence, reduced productivity, absenteeism, resignation, workers' compensation claims, and, in severe cases, long-term mental health conditions. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/workplace-bullying-in-australia-understanding-your-rights-and-options</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a3a3078106e96afab6090d7</guid><pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:28:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_08e60bb7ab484dafa42c71ab20c2990b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Non-Genuine Redundancy: What Australian Workers Need to Do If Their Job Wasn't Really Redundant]]></title><description><![CDATA[Has Your Position Really Been Made Redundant? Being told that your position is "redundant" can be devastating. Many workers assume that once an employer uses the word redundancy, there is little that can be done. In reality, not every redundancy is genuine. Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), a dismissal will not be considered an unfair dismissal if it is a genuine redundancy. However, where an employer uses redundancy as a convenient excuse to remove an employee, avoid performance management...]]></description><link>https://www.myunion.au/post/non-genuine-redundancy-what-australian-workers-need-to-do-if-their-job-wasn-t-really-redundant</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a38fe762b29088fccffb22b</guid><pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:30:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/101da0_68b6abf933fd48298446cf7d5179fe72~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Brian AJ  Newman, LLB</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>