Job security, rights at work, and a vision for a more prosperous and equal Australia will be at the top of the agenda when hundreds of delegates meet for the ACTU’s national Congress this week. With a theme of Unions: Delivering for all working Australians, the triennial Congress in Brisbane will establish the union movement’s plan for the next three years. Beginning today (Tuesday) until Thursday, it will be the first Congress to be held under a Labor Government in 14 years, and the first since the Howard Government was defeated in the WorkChoices election of 2007. ACTU President Sharan Burrow said Congress 2009 would be held under the shadow of a global recession and deteriorating domestic economy, and job security and income protection would dominate discussion. continue reading