Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard fleshed out the ALP's proposed industrial relations policies at Labor's National Conference over the last few days.
Click here for Kevin Rudd's "Forward with Fairness" speech to ALP National Conference on 28th April 2007
Click here for Julia Gillard's "Forward with Fairness" speech to ALP National Conference on 28th April 2007
Click here for Kevin Rudd's and Julia Gillard's "Federal Labor's Fair And Balanced Industrial Relations Policy" joint statement released on 28th April 2007
Tell us what you think
What do you think about the ALP's proposed changes to industrial relations laws? Post your comments below.
8 comments:
As long as Rudd comes up with a sensible fix for people already on AWA's - like me - then I reckon it's a winner. If he doesn't then plenty of public servants could get the hump, big time.
The media hysteria (particularly the Australian) about AWA's is over the top.
We are talking about less than 5% of the workforce.
Is the economy really going to crumble if WA's mine-workers and Canberra's senior public servants have to sign a differnt kind of agreement?
Thought not. A bit of perspective please.
Rudd and Gillard are pathetic. They have sold us out. No right to strike leaves us with no power and now they are back peddling as fast as possible in the face of big business anger.
No help from the unions either with Combet about to sell out for a safe seat. Join the ranks of wonderful Union leaders like George and Fergusson who have done nothing in Parliament except stick there noses in the trough. I bet we hear nothing from Combet and Shorten as they sell us down the drain.
From what I have seen to date, I certainly think Rudd's proposed IR laws are a step in the right direction. As stated, there are certanily some areas where more detail is required. And I suspect that there will be a need for fine tuning once the laws are introduced. I think there is also the danger that Mr Rudd is thinking essentially in terms of both employers and unions acting in (more or less) good faith. We've already seen with work choices that employers will behave as badly as they think the law allows: and so Mr Rudd's proposed laws will have to take the fact that some people would screw their own mothers to save 5c/because they can/because they enjoy it into account.
I strongly disagree with the opinions expressed by some employer groups and right wing organisations that Lavor's proposed IR laws simply pander to the unions.
Erika
I am concerned about the very severe limitations on the right to strike under the ALP's policy. This right is what distinguishes a worker from a slave. Workers need to be able to take quick action around safety, victimisation of delegates, etc, as well as political protest action.
Chris Slee
Why don't you mention strikes? I thought this was a no nonsense account but you're clearly putting a curtain over an attack from the ALP on worker's most fundamental power, to withhold labour.
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Benjamin Solah
Horror Writer and Marxist Revolutionary
Dear CPSU
I think you are going to see many problems with the process whereby [Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has said that the policy will "ensure that anyone who's currently on an AWA will be no worse off when it comes to their take home pay and conditions." ]
In the area of Telstra where I work, staff who went onto AWA’s were offered a minimum of $5000 pa increase in pay to sign up.
So when the AWA’s are removed those who signed up for AWA’s will be rewarded by receiving considerably more pay than the workers who refused AWA’s??
It appears that this will be the case because either the AWA electors pay will be cut by a minimum of $5000 pa OR they will not have the benefits they sold off reinstated.
Be prepared, I think this will turn out to be a pandora’s box of problems
Terry
Work hours have been extended to 7pm in call centres. Those workers who have children in childcare have to pay $1.00 for every minute late for pick up after 6.00pm. In country areas there are no childcare centres open til 8.00pm. Can Sol influence the child care industry to stay open for his business purposes?? Telstra family values...what a joke. Who in their right mind signs a five year contract?? New recruits in our centre are told no AWA no job.
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