Each week we’ll be sending out stories of job agencies’ dishonesty, fraud and mistreatment in your own words. We’ll also be providing a snapshot of the current situation for unemployed workers, and a round-up of the key issues from our hotline. Please keep sharing your stories on our forum so that we can share them here! While you’re at it, help us submit to the senate enquiry into jobactive by filling out this survey.
THEY TREAT ME AS IF I’M NOT HUMAN
I have been on newstart for many many years. Im also on a reduced capacity to work.. 8-15 hours. This is due to chronic illnesses such as depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome…
I applied to do a course, was told by Matchworks to enrol and bring them the details so I paid materials fees for the free course and went back with my reciept only to be told the repayment was at their discretion and that they would only pay two thirds of the cost. I am not in a position to foot this bill and I argued but was told that AFTER my course ended and I had employment I might get the rest…
DISABILITY FINALLY RECOGNISED – THEN DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT SERVICE LIES ABOUT IT
I have fibromyalgia. Centrelink finally set up an ESAT and I was moved from the regular employment service to a disability employment service, whereupon the case manager applies for a job for me and LIES about my health…
This will be long. I have just finished a six month placement at a wftd site. It’s a charity shop/ cafe combo. When you meet the overseer she decides if she likes you or not. If she has decided that she doesn’t like you, you are told at induction that you are “given” a 10 minute break and you should think yourself lucky…
Report the Rort: Join the forum to report and discuss your stories of job agency abuse.
December Deluge: Submit your jobactive stories to the senate enquiry either as an individual or by filling out our survey. If you’d like to submit individually, this can not be done anonymously.
Dump your Demerits: Download our campaign leaflet to ensure that you and your loved ones understand your job agency’s new powers. Hand them out to other unemployed workers at your job agency.
HOTLINE REPORT:
The top issues recorded by our advocacy team on the hotline in the last week were:
Job agency bullying (28.5% of calls) and
Being forced by job agency to provide payslips (also 28.5%).
UNEMPLOYMENT SNAPSHOT:
Newstart: $355.72 per fortnight below the poverty line.
The AUWU is an entirely volunteer-run organisation – we survive off your donations. AUSTRALIAN UNEMPLOYED WORKERS’ UNION INC BSB: 633 000 ACCOUNT NUMBER: 154665681