ARTS ORGANISATIONS NEED TO SUPPORT THE WAGE SUBSIDY FOR ALL
COVID-19: RESOURCES FOR AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
The past few weeks have been unprecedented. With the WELFARE symposium postponed, we have instead collated the following resources in this working document in order to support artists and arts workers in Australia—and with the hope that this may also prove useful for our friends abroad.
We believe that what is most useful for us now is to follow what Australian unions are doing and ask the government to extend the wage subsidy for workers affected by the crisis. This will guarantee jobs and payment for those of us working and bolster the economy in addition to the increases in social welfare payments. While the Australian government did implement a wage subsidy with considerable input from the Australian Council of Trade Unions, this still keeps many casual workers in precarious financial positions. Join the ACTU and Trades Hall in asking for this subsidy to be extended.
“40% of casuals have been in their jobs for less than 12 months – that’s more than one million workers who won’t qualify for a cent of this subsidy. And there’s another one million temporary visa holders who just aren’t in the picture. What is the Morrison Government’s plan for them? Once again it is up to us, as the union movement, to stand up for working people in this uncertain time.”
— Sally McManus, ACTU
Why do artists, arts workers, and the “cultural sector” need to support the subsidy for all? Not only does this affect us as people with jobs that are often underpaid and precarious, but it also affects install teams, security guards, cleaners… it affects all the people that maintain the places that allow you to do the work that you do! Many of us also work in the service industry (i.e. hospitality, education, etc.), which will be some of the most critically hit jobs with the incoming recession and will be the ones to most benefit from the wage subsidy.
If you are able to contribute information or advice regarding JobKeeper payments, sole-trader status, or anything else relevant please contact us!
The following information was collated by a number of arts workers and unionists.
COVID-19: RESOURCES FOR AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
COVID-19: RESOURCES FOR AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
COVID-19: RESOURCES FOR AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
COVID-19: RESOURCES FOR AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
COVID-19: RESOURCES FOR AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
COVID-19: RESOURCES FOR AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
COVID-19: RESOURCES FOR AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS
COVID-19: RESOURCES FOR AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS