CPSU launches TV ads

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has launched a groundbreaking TV advertising campaign aimed at promoting the many benefits of union membership to public sector workers.

Watch the CPSU ad on YouTube here.

CPSU National Secretary Stephen Jones said: "The CPSU has decided to launch these TV advertisements to portray a more realistic face of modern unionism. "At a time when the Howard Government and militant employers are attempting to narrowly stereotype all unionists as overweight men in braces, the ad reinforces that the typical union member these days is a semi-professional, white collar worker looking for practical advice and support at work.
"This unusual step also reflects the fact that in the current industrial climate, union representatives find it extremely difficult to get into workplaces to talk with employees about their issues and the benefits of union membership. "This is an historic initiative. It's the first time unions have marketed the benefits of membership in the mass media via a TV campaign. "It's a positive campaign that links the individual 'value' in joining a union with the collective 'values' of working together.
"The ads are based on extensive research that shows that most workers are not opposed to the idea of union, but unions really need to do a better job of communicating to potential members the benefits of membership.
"These benefits include support at the workplace level if things go wrong, assistance in bargaining wages and conditions as well discounts on travel and home loans.

Take Cover! CPSU to provide free journey cover insurance for union members

In April 2007, the Howard Government used its Senate majority to drastically reduce workers' compensation arrangements for public sector workers.

Among many other changes, the Government removed workers' compensation cover for public servants who are injured while travelling to or from home to work.

As this part of the CPSU's campaign against the Howard Government's changes, the CPSU has decided to introduce its own 'income maintenance insurance' for union members. The idea is to provide a 'safety net' while the campaign for a better deal continues.

To read more, click here.

What do you think about CPSU providing journey cover insurance to its members? Have your say below?

Changing the channel

SBS news anchor and founding board member, Mary Kostakidis, is reportedly suing SBS for breach of contract after long standing disagreements with management about the future and direction of the public broadcaster.

The walkout by the ‘face of SBS’ has shed some public light on what SBS staff say is a significant and worrying shift in the culture of the multicultural broadcaster.

What do you think?
Have you noticed changes at SBS? Have your say below.

Workers’ compensation – ALP responds to members’ concern

Many CPSU members are concerned about the federal government's changes to workers’ compensation laws and have asked about the Labor Party’s views on these changes.

In response to questions from CPSU members, Labor leader Kevin Rudd replied:

Thank you for your letter regarding changes to the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act. As you may be aware these were debated in the Parliament last year and this year and make significant changes to:

• the definition of disease, so that employment must now make a “significant”, rather than “material”, contribution to a disease for it to be compensable;

• the definition of “injury” so as to exclude injuries arising from “reasonable administrative action taken in a reasonable manner” and expand the exclusionary provisions for stress claims to include performance appraisals and counselling in relation to performance; and

• the scope of work-related journeys so that claims for non work-related journeys and recess breaks are no longer covered, representing a significant cost shift on to state governments’ compulsory third party claims.

In all these cases, the changes have had the effect of narrowing the circumstances in which employees may claim compensation. In fact the Government’s Explanatory Memorandum to the Bill stated this was an explicit objective of the changes – noting: “the Government is seeking to significantly amend the legislation to reflect its desire to decrease the number of injuries covered by the Scheme”.

Labor opposed these changes in the Parliament because they are not in the interests of working Australians. Just like the Howard Government’s WorkChoices laws, these changes strip away the terms and conditions of our public sector work force.

These changes also come at a time when private sector firms operating in blue collar areas such as transport and construction such are being encouraged to migrate to the traditionally white collar Comcare scheme. Labor is concerned that the Howard Government is sacrificing protections for workers in order to cut its costs.

Strong protection of occupational health and safety should not be compromised. Labor believes that appropriate compensation and implementing a non-adversarial approach to injury prevention and workplace safety is essential.

Further to Labor’s commitment at National Conference, Labor will be developing its workplace health and safety policy and will be making announcements on this issue in the future.

Kind regards,

Kevin Rudd

Federal Labor Leader

Member for Griffith

A very public servant

Unless you've been living under a rock in the Pilbara for the last few weeks, you would have seen, heard or read one of the Howard Government's new 'Know Where You Stand' advertisements, fronted by Barbara Bennett from the Workplace Authority.
Are you concerned at the use of a public servant in such a political marketing campaign?
Does this sort of advertising damage the independence and integrity of the public service?
Tell us what you think about the Government's ads.

The kids aren't all right

Recent polling has shown significant numbers of young voters are drifting away from the Government because of its controversial workplace laws.

Internal Coalition research shows that more than 10% of 25-34 year-old voters have shifted their support away from the Government and towards Kevin Rudd.

The report identified the Government's poor handling of workplace relations and climate change as the two key vote-changers among younger people.

"It's no surprise that WorkChoices is unpopular with young people," says CPSU National Secretary Stephen Jones. "Young workers are already vulnerable and have only limited bargaining power. Under WorkChoices they can be left completely exposed."

Stephen Jones points to recent examples of young workers getting the short end of the WorkChoices stick, such as:

* teenage staff on AWAs at Chili's restaurant chain who were required to use their own money to cover customers who skipped out without paying the bill
* hospitality staff at the Mean Fiddler Hotel losing public holiday penalty rates on Anzac Day, while their employer continued to impose a 10% surcharge on patrons
* call centre operator Excellior using WorkChoices to reduce pay rates and conditions of its young workforce in Bendigo and the Gold Coast.

"Parents with kids entering the workforce are deeply concerned that the current workplace laws offers them little protection from unscrupulous employers. How would you feel if your kids were treated this way,?" said Mr Jones..

"We are encouraging workers of all ages to ensure they are correctly enrolled to vote at the coming election. The outcome of this election will not only determine what sort of workplaces current employees have, but the shape of employment conditions for generations of future workers.

"At the last election no-one got to vote on WorkChoices. This time we do," said Mr Jones.

Have your say - post your comments below.

Is John Howard awake or asleep on climate change?

Rarely has someone been converted from self-professed "climate change sceptic" to eco warrior so quickly as John Howard. Or has he? You be the judge on YouTube. Have a look and let us know what you think.

John Howard asleep on climate change?

John Howard awake on climate change?