Workers and their families showed their support for the campaign for workers' rights by attending the Rockin' for Rights concert at the SCG.
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Politicians reminded to protect workers’ rights
As the federal election approaches, events like the April 22 rally and concert remind all sides of politics workers want their industrial rights protected, writes MAREE O'HALLORAN.
April 22
Congratulations and thank you to all members who were able to attend the Your Rights at Work event on Sunday April 22.
Media reports estimated the crowd at "tens of thousands" while Unions NSW reported that 40,000 people went through the turnstiles at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the Rockin' for Rights concert.
Federation members travelled from within Sydney and from across NSW to join the march, rally and concert. Unions NSW, with the support of its affiliates, proposed and organised this event to highlight workplace injustice one year after the Federal Government's extreme industrial relations legislation became operative.
The timing of the event also allowed the union movement to highlight to the ALP in the lead up to its national conference that "rights at work" must be protected.
Federal Labor
Federal Labor has announced a new industrial relations policy in the lead up to the federal election. That policy is a significant improvement on the federal Coalition Government's WorkChoices legislation (see page 3). However, Federation has concerns and reservations about aspects of Labor's policy. In particular, Labor seems to be proposing unacceptable legal and bureaucratic restrictions on the taking of industrial action. The role of the new body to be called Fair Work Australia also needs to be examined closely to ensure that the workers' rights will be protected.
If elected, federal Labor will need Senate support to repeal WorkChoices and implement new legislation. Any new federal legislation will not directly affect Federation members as State Government employees. NSW Industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca has stated that NSW will not refer its industrial relations powers to the Commonwealth. Instead NSW will consider "harmonising" the two sets of legislation.
"Performance" pay
Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop and state and territory education ministers met in Darwin on April 12 and 13.
Julie Bishop's so-called "performance" pay was effectively hamstrung because federal Cabinet refused to allocate funding for the proposals. Ms Bishop was reduced to proposing pilot schemes for 2008 and these were scuttled by the states and territories. Thus, the immediate threat has been reduced. In the words of Hugh Mackay: "This proposal is corporatisation gone mad; economic rationalism carried to absurdity." (The Age, April 14).
Maree O'Halloran is the President.
Labor outlines new industrial relations policy
Federal election result crucial for Australia's future
Make sure students don't miss out
Mobilise and celebrate on May 17
Musicians add their voices to IR campaign
Shame file
For further information
May 2007 contents
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