Southern Suburbs BM; Tuesday, 7th February 2012; Gymea NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Castle Hill; Monday, 13th February 2012; 4:30-6:30 pm read more

Hunter Valley BM; Monday, 13th February 2012; New Lambton NSW; 5:00 pm. read more

Northern Suburbs BM; Monday, 13th February 2012; Cammeray NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Central Metropolitan BM; Tuesday, 14th February 2012; Burwood NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

PIP Cyber Savvy - Dee Why; Wednesday 15 February 2012; 4:30-6:30 pm read more

South Coast BM; Wednesday, 15th February 2012; Woonona NSW; 6:45 pm. read more

Penrith Blue Mountains BM; Wednesday, 15th February 2012; Penrith NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Metropolitan East BM; Wednesday, 15th February 2012; Randwick NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Central Coast BM; Thursday, 16th February 2012; Gosford NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

IEU Reps Training Day - Tamworth; Friday 17 February 2012; 9:15-3:15pm read more

Mid North Coast BM; Friday, 17th February 2012; Nambucca Heads NSW; 6:00 pm. read more

South East Branch Meeting; Friday, 17th February 2012; Griffith NSW; 6:00 pm. read more

Riverina BM; Friday, 17th February 2012; Wagga Wagga NSW; 7:30 pm. read more

North West Branch Meeting; Friday, 17th February 2012; Tamworth NSW; 5:30 pm. read more

Principals BM; Saturday, 18th February 2012; IEU Office Parramatta; 10:00 am. read more

Cumberland BM; Monday, 20th February 2012; IEU Office Parramatta; 4:30 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Sydney City; Monday 20 February 2012; 4.30 - 6.30pm read more

Ku-ring-gai BM; Thursday, 21st February 2012; Hornsby NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

IEU Reps Training Day - Orange, Friday 24 Feb 2012; 9.15 to 3.15 read more

North Coast BM; Wednesday, 22nd February 2012; IEU Office Lismore; 5:00 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Revesby Heights; Wednesday 22 February 2012; 4:30-6:30pm read more

Monaro BM; Thursday, 23rd February 2012; Barton ACT; 4:15 pm. read more

Lansdowne BM; Thursday, 23rd February 2012; Fairfield NSW; 4:30 pm. read more

Central Western BM; Friday, 24th February 2012; Orange NSW; 7:30 pm. read more

PIP Maintenance of Accreditation - Forbes; Monday 27 February 2012; 4.30-6.30 read more

Unions: 'Tougher Climate Change Regulations Needed For Business'

New laws and tougher regulations are needed to educate and encourage Australian businesses to deal with climate change and win a share of the potential one million clean energy jobs, unions say.

The ACTU is calling on federal politicians to vote for an emissions trading scheme and implement renewable energy targets, saying both initiatives would be a major boost to employment.

Speaking after a Jobs Summit in Sydney, ACTU President Sharan Burrow also called for tougher regulations on employers to provide workers with redundancy pay when they are laid off and to protect workers’ entitlements.
"If the politicians pass the carbon pollution reduction scheme and the renewable energy target then we can get on with creating the one million jobs in the clean energy economy that we know are possible," Ms Burrow said.

“It is very worrying that a new survey shows such a high level of ignorance of the climate change issue among employers.
“Instead of complaining about extra red tape, employers should be supporting action on climate change and positioning themselves to get a share of the jobs that are set to eventuate in the global market in new clean energy technologies, products and services.

Ms Burrow also urged more action to protect Australian jobs in the downturn and rejected the Liberals’ push to clawback economic stimulus funding.

"We know that investment in jobs works. The Government's stimulus and infrastructure spend to date has arrested what could have been a much worse situation.

“Further action to create more jobs as well as tougher regulation of business and greater protection of worker entitlements, including improved access to redundancy pay is required.

The ACTU also is suggesting company directors face penalties if firms go bust without sufficient provision for their employees.

Ms Burrow said 5,000 workers each week were forecast to lose their jobs over the next twelve months and it would take them longer than usual to get a new job.

"The figure today that is most heartbreaking is the growing length of time that people are out of a job.

“At the beginning of January 2009 it took six months (26 weeks) to find another job on average - that's already pretty tough," she said.

"But now the average length of time out of work is more than eight months (33 weeks) and growing rapidly,” Ms Burrow said.