The PM called Sally McManus a giant of the Labor movement. Now she just wants to go birding
Summary
Sally McManus is stepping down as the secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) after nearly a decade in the role. During her time, she worked to improve workers’ rights, including fair pay and protections for gig workers, while facing intense public criticism and online abuse.Key Facts
- Sally McManus served as ACTU secretary for nine and a half years and has been a union official for 33 years.
- She and ACTU president Michele O’Neil, who is also stepping down, were the first all-female leadership team in the ACTU’s 99-year history.
- McManus helped push for worker-friendly laws such as “same job, same pay,” the right to disconnect, and tougher rules against wage theft.
- Her time as leader included dealing with different Australian governments and challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and union corruption allegations.
- McManus faced strong opposition, including online hate and death threats, which she partly blamed on social media.
- She supports ideas like a four-day work week and tax reforms for fairness between generations.
- McManus warned about the political rise of Pauline Hanson and the risk to worker protections if Hanson’s party gained power.
- She sees artificial intelligence as a future challenge for workers’ rights but also an opportunity to reduce working hours without cutting pay.
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