Chamber of Commerce members: renounce ACCI's proposal to slash JobSeeker

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for income support to be further slashed for people who lost work after March 2020

The Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union condemns the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s heartless and divisive call for unemployment payments to be cut to $40 per day for people who lost work during the pandemic.

It’s cruel and offensive to suggest that people who have been unemployed for 3 months can somehow live more cheaply than those unemployed for 13 months. $40 per day is half the poverty line and 8 out of 10 people living on this amount report regularly skipping meals.

The AUWU calls on all ACCI member organisations to uphold their values and exert their influence to have the comments retracted. We can’t believe this needs to be said, but: employer groups, health services, “ethical” businesses and charities shouldn’t be advocating to destroy people’s lives.

We thank Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra, who has previously said “Australians without work shouldn't be sent to the poverty line” and today committed to “investigate” the ACCI comments in response to the AUWU raising our concerns.

We urge AUWU members and supporters to contact organisations affiliated with the ACCI to:

1. Inform ACCI member organisations of these comments via social media, phone and email.

2. Request a commitment from organisations to take remedial action with the ACCI and seek a reversal of the call to cut JobSeeker payments.

3. If they are a customer of the organisation and the concerns are not taken seriously, lodge a complaint or change to another service.

Below are contact details for organisations we are strongly encouraging our members and supporters to lobby in opposition to the ACCI’s reprehensible stance on unemployment payments.

For a full list of ACCI member organisations see https://www.australianchamber.com.au/membership/current-members/

Media contact: 0413 261 362 / media at auwu.org.au

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AUWU urges members and supporters to contact the following organisations

AUWU @AusUnemployment

Woolworths Group is an @AusChamber member: "A business built on integrity." Integrity means sticking up for tens of thousands of your employees and customers when we're under attack by ACCI. Contact @woolworths Group on 02 8885 0000

AUWU @AusUnemployment

Bendigo Bank is an @AusChamber member: "More than 7,200 staff helping our 1.6 million customers to achieve their financial goals." Help 1.6m ppl on unemployment payments meet the goal of paying our bills Contact @bendigobank on 1300 236 344 or at feedback@bendigoadelaide.com.au

AUWU @AusUnemployment

National Disability Services is an @AusChamber member: "The peak body for non-govt disability services. Committed to ensuring disabled ppl can lead the lives they choose." We'd like the choice to not live in poverty. Contact @NDS_Disability on 03 8341 4339 or at nds@nds.org.au

AUWU @AusUnemployment

HCF is an @AusChamber member: "Doing the right thing ... is fundamental to who we are." Do the right thing, don't support poverty payments for unemployed people. Contact @hcfaustralia on 13 13 34

AUWU @AusUnemployment

APRA AMCOS is an @AusChamber member: "We back the music community all the way. As good corporate citizens we actively support songwriters and musicians." The music community only suffers when income support is cut. Contact @APRAAMCOS on 02 9935 7900 or at apra@apra.com.au

AUWU @AusUnemployment

Life Without Barriers is an @AusChamber member: "A charitable org supporting 23,000 ppl so they can maximise their opportunities to participate as fully in society as they wish." Support us to participate in society. Contact @LWBAustralia on 1800 935 483 or at info@lwb.org.au

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