The
Australian public has totally rejected ‘WorkChoices’ and the Liberal
and National parties’ attack on unions and workers’ rights. This is an
historic election result that confirms the Australian people believe in
a fair go for all and that all Australian workers are entitled to
decent rights in the workplace. The USU is proud
of the way in which our members and their families have got behind the
Your Rights @ Work community campaign. The level of activism has been
unprecedented and has revitalised the union movement right across the
country. Exit polling for the ACTU found that the issue of industrial
relations was a major factor in the defeat of the Howard Government.
I would like to congratulate all our members in achieving this wonderful result.
Re-Building Industrial Relations The
challenge now is to rebuild our state and federal industrial relations
systems. After WorkChoices many USU members working in the private
sector will continue to be covered by federal industrial relations
laws. It is most important that the coalition cooperate with the new
federal government to ensure the passage of new federal laws in the
Senate to make sure workers get a fair go.
Local Government: Re-Building the State Award During
the federal election campaign the negative impact of WorkChoices on
local government became increasingly clear. Employees who under the
State Award would be entitled to three years of award increases were
told that they would get a one year increase only. In some cases
councils even threatened a total wage freeze! Rights for unfair
dismissal and the arbitration of industrial disputes have also been in
jeopardy.
Unless urgent action is taken to release local
government from WorkChoices and the federal IR system then important
rights remain at risk.
What has Kevin Rudd Said? Just
prior to the federal election Kevin Rudd wrote to the Union’s national
body (the ASU) confirming that he will give the NSW State Government
the power to bring local government back under the State Award system:
It
is not the intention of Federal Labor to take over the industrial
regulation of local government employees. Indeed Labor’s industrial
relations policy contains an express commitment that State Governments,
working with their employees, will be free to determine the appropriate
approach to regulating the industrial relations arrangements of their
own employees and local government employees.
Now it is up to Morris Iemma The
ball is squarely in the State Government’s court. The USU is calling on
Morris Iemma to take urgent action to co-operate with the newly
elected federal government to reconfirm state industrial coverage for
local government employees. Importantly, this must also include related
entities such as county councils, boards and local government
corporations.
State Owned Corporations The
WorkChoices cloud still hangs over the heads of our members employed by
state owned corporations in the energy industry. The USU believes that
the amending legislation should also protect these workers and return
them to the State system.
Petition Campaign The
USU is holding meetings at key workplaces to discuss this issue. Please
take the opportunity to discuss the USU petition with employees in your
workplace.
