Jeff Lawrence comes to the ACTU having represented members of the LHMU for many years.

New ACTU Secretary ready to intensify IR campaign

ACTU's new Secretary Jeff Lawrence has taken up the office vowing to stand up for working Australians and to intensify the campaign against the Howard Government's industrial relations WorkChoices laws.

"I am absolutely committed to standing up for working Australians," he said.

"I want to do everything I can to make sure that all Australians have proper rights in their workplace and that employees are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

"I am determined to stand up for the rights of working Australians that have been taken away by the Howard Government.

"I want to see people protected from unfair dismissal.

"I want to see workers' take home pay protected against cuts to penalty rates, overtime pay, shift allowances, redundancy pay, rest breaks and other award conditions under the Government's unfair WorkChoices IR laws.

"The way we can achieve this is by making sure the Liberal and National parties and their IR laws are thrown out at the next election," Mr Lawrence said.

He comes to the ACTU after 17 years as National Secretary of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union, one of Australia's largest unions representing more than 130,000 workers in hospitality, property services, health, manufacturing and community services. He was elected unopposed to replace Greg Combet.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow welcomed Mr Lawrence's appointment.

"I look forward to working with Jeff Lawrence to lead the 'rights at work' campaign against the Howard Government's unfair WorkChoices IR laws," Ms Burrow said.

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