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Ben Kruse

From the Secretary's
Desk
General Secretary
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PROTECT 08: LOCAL GOVERNMENT WAGES CAMPAIGN

By Ben Kruse
USU General Secretary
Aug 14, 2008
The USU commenced a Protect 08 Campaign for councils to sign a council agreement guaranteeing all employees rightful access to a general wage increase in 2008.

Commitments made by both the NSW and Federal Governments to pass new industrial laws replacing WorkChoices have been slow to come to fruition.

Negotiations between the State and Commonwealth continue to be bogged down in intergovernmental wrangling and with a general increase due to take effect in Local Government from 1 November 2008 councils need to sign a Protect 08 Council Agreement shielding both councils and employees from legal and financial uncertainty.

The State Award Increase
The USU has consistently argued that federal industrial laws do not apply to local government and that the 3.2% Local Government (State) Award increase due in November this year must be paid as a legal right for all employees. While opinions differ about the relevance of federal industrial laws to local councils one thing is certain – employees who stood to suffer under John Howard’s WorkChoices still have no guarantee to a percentage general increase under the interim federal Forward with Fairness legislation.

Indeed it looks as if Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard’s planned federal legislation may not be ready until some time in 2010!

Even then, while legal problems associated with the “constitutional corporations” issue remain unresolved councils will have to continue to respect their State Award obligations.

Read more about this campaign here.

Campaigns: United We Win
Members in the energy sector have maintained their fight against power privatisation. The union believes that jobs and services must be protected in this vital sector. Members also continue their fight to protect local services, in particular water and roads.

The union is also preparing to fight Qantas following their recent announcement that they would cut 1500 jobs, abandoning the hard working families who have worked so hard to deliver the company outstanding profits.

On a final note the USU will be commencing a recruitment drive to ensure that members are in the strongest possible position when negotiating wages and conditions. I would like to thank our USU network of dedicated contacts and delegates who work together to deliver positive results.

When we are united we can win.

Contact:
USU Support centre
1300 136 604


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Last Updated: Nov 14th, 2008 - 16:28:13

© 2008 United Services Union • • All material on the website is authorised by USU General Secretary Ben Kruse, Level 7, 321 Pitt St Sydney, 2000 • Phone: +61 2 9265 8211 • Fax: +61 2 9261 2265 • All union services and benefits are subject to Terms & Conditions. This site was designed and is maintained by Southland Media on behalf of the United Services Union. Please report any website problems .