Unions ‘rolling in cash’ thanks to ‘sweetheart deals’ fostered by Labor governments

Union membership might be “falling like a stone,” but they are still rolling in cash thanks to sweetheart deals fostered by Labor governments, according to Sky News host Peta Credlin. Ms Credlin said only about 10 per cent of private sector workers are now paying the roughly $500 a year it costs to belong to a union. “There are around two million Australian workers who are casuals, mostly because they prefer the higher hourly rate and the flexibility that casual work gives them,” she said. “About a quarter of a million Australians are so-called gig workers, Uber drivers for example, again mostly because it allows them to top up their other income in their spare time. “The government wants to turn most of these workers though into permanent part-timers, not casuals, purportedly to give them more protection, but mostly to give the unions more access to the workers. “And if not, to create more funds their employers will have to pay into – again, we’re told to help the workers – but invariably, it helps the unions on the way through.”