Shame file

ILO asks for report

The Australian Government is continuing to flout international standards on key labour rights including the Right to Collective Bargaining and Protection of the Right to Organise, says ACTU President Sharan Burrow. Ms Burrow said the International Labour Organisation Committee of Experts found there were serious concerns regarding the impact that the new industrial relations laws would have on the application of the provision of key international conventions (Nos 87 and 98), and in particular the effect the laws would have on the right to collective bargaining.

"The Committee requested the Australian Government provide a detailed report to the ILO Committee of Experts for examination this year on the impact of the new WorkChoices Act in terms of the obligation to ensure respect for freedom from association and, in particular, the promotion of the right to collective bargaining in Australia."

"In the eyes of the ILO the Australian Government is now a serial offender of the very principles that sit at the heart of decent rights for working people," Ms Burrow said.

She said Employment Minister Kevin Andrews attended the ILO "but failed to respond to any of the very serious criticisms made against the Australian Government in this peak international forum for workplace rights".

"The Minister's speech to a plenary session of the ILO repeated the Howard Government's mantra that any job is better than no job, implying that 'workforce flexibility' is more important than basic rights for workers and adherence to international human rights conventions," Ms Burrow said.

"This view is morally wrong -- a job without rights or a job at any cost can bring substantial abuse or exploitation.

"It is also economically short-sighted given that jobs are created when workers and their families enjoy a fair wage with some discretionary income," Ms Burrow said.

"Australian workers and their families will see through the Howard Government's prescription for a low-wage, low-protection future where people can be sacked unfairly and have their take home pay cut and basic employment conditions stripped away," said Ms Burrow.

Grandmother sacked

AMWU Victorian Secretary Dave Oliver said the company allegedly sacked 60-year-old grandmother Karen Palmer without warning, after returning from four months off with a workplace shoulder injury.

Greer Industries has under 100 employees and is therefore exempt from unfair dismissal laws.

Esselte workers questioned

The union says the Australia Workplace Agreement on offer severely cuts back on the conditions, allowances and penalties of Esselte workers. Under the proposed AWA rostered days off, union picnic days, meal allowances and paid meal breaks are gone. Workers would be required to work 38 hours per week averaged over 12 months (which would end any overtime) and a productivity "incentive" scheme would be introduced. A six-month probation period would apply from commencement of the individual contract. Supervisory staff would not be paid for working any additional hours. No afternoon or evening penalty allowances would be paid. If workers were sick they would have to call in the nature of their illness, and estimate, before seeing a doctor, how long they would be off work. Added to this are even more reductions of conditions and wages, including a four-hour docking of pay should union members participate in report-back meetings.

National Union of Workers NSW branch media officer Mark Ptolemy alleges workers, many of whom are from non English speaking backgrounds were told if they didn't answer questions they could be subpoenaed to appear in court.

He said the workers' statements say the union is not using any coercion and duress and that the union is supporting them and that they don't want the AWA.

He said at least one worker had been interviewed for five hours.

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Last Modified: 23 Jun 2006