Ronnie Hayden 

AWU Victorian State Secretary
The Australian Workers’ Union
Australia

Originally from Ireland, Ronnie Hayden has built a distinguished career advocating for workers’ rights in Australia. After arriving in Melbourne, 1994, he worked across hospitality, high-rise construction, and major infrastructure projects, developing a deep commitment to workplace safety. 

Ronnie, as Secretary of the AWU Victoria Branch, has gained national attention for his uncompromising stance on industrial manslaughter legislation, advocating that employers should face criminal prosecution and jail when workplace negligence results in employee fatalities. 

His leadership has also been transformative in the civil construction sector, where he has successfully negotiated landmark Enterprise Agreements that have established AWU members as the highest-remunerated civil construction workers in Australia. Beyond his industrial advocacy, Ronnie has demonstrated a deep commitment to holistic worker support, championing mental health initiatives and overall worker wellbeing as fundamental priorities in workplace reform. 

Ronnie serves on multiple advisory boards, including WorkSafe Victoria’s Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee and WorkCover Advisory Committee, and is Senior Vice President of the Victorian Trades Hall Council. With decades of experience in labour advocacy, he remains dedicated to ensuring safe, fair, and sustainable workplaces for all.