Flashy ads for Join2Win

As part of our new Your Rights at Work campaign initiative - Join2Win - we have created 2 'flash' promos designed to highlight the benefits of CPSU membership. Join2Win is about encouraging CPSU members to talk with their workmates about joining the union, and voting for their rights at work.

Find out more about the Join2Win campaign by clicking here.
Watch the Flash ads clicking here and here.
What do you think of the ads? Post your comments below.

Behind the Bastard Boys

The 1998 waterfront dispute was brought vividly to life this week in the ABC's Bastard Boys telemovie. Nine years ago a stevedoring company tried to sack its 1,400 employees and the ensuing battle between Patrick Stevedores and the Maritime Union of Australia has gone down in history as one of Australia's most important industrial and political events.

To read an opinion piece by Josh Bornstein (a lawyer who played a key role in winning the dispute) click here.

What did you think of the ABC's portrayal of the dispute? Post your comments below.

Will Labor fix the compo crisis?

With resentment growing over the Government's removal of PS compensation rights including 'journey' coverage, the ALP has announced it would - if elected - reintroduce some form of income protection for public sector employees who are injured travelling to and from work.

There is growing resentment in the public sector about new Government legislation which removes the right to claim workers' compensation for injuries sustained travelling to and from work; during lunch and other breaks. The new laws also make it much harder for workers with stress-related injuries to get the support they need.

However at ALP National Conference last weekend, a motion was passed to reintroduce income protection for public sector employees who are injured travelling to and from work or during breaks. "...Labor will reintroduce income protection by amending the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act for the purposes of employees who are injured travelling to and from work and during breaks in working hours..."

The ALP announcement is a step in the right direction, but we need push the Opposition harder on the fine details. This is a very complex matter and the devil will be in the detail. We are urging members to send an online message of encouragement to the ALP.

Keeping the Pressure on the Govt too! As well as encouraging the ALP to do the right thing, CPSU members are also urged to contact the Liberal and National MPs and Senators who supported the unfair changes to let them know how you feel. Follow this link to find contact details for your local Liberal / National MPs and Senators.

Read a passionate letter from a Defence worker to his local member.

Howard's new fairness test falls well short

The Government is just tinkering around the edges of WorkChoices with the announcement of a 'fairness test' for AWAs. What's needed is a meaningful, legislated guarantee that would ensure no workers would be worse off by signing an AWA, compared to their Award or Collective Agreement.

If the Government is fair-dinkum about a 'fairness test' they should legislate for a meaningful test, rather than the half-measures announced today.

The new fairness test only applies to the nine 'protected' award conditions. This means important employment conditions outside the nine - such as redundancy entitlements / family friendly arrangments - will still be under threat from AWAs.

Download Government media release and full document.

Read media reports: Hockey denies public pressure led to WorkChoices scale back ABC online IR backflip is 'desperate', says Labor The Age online

What do you think? Please leave a comment.

ALP's IR policy revealed

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.

Join2Win campaign kicks off

More than 500 activists have signed up to CPSU’s Join2Win initiative - a key part of the union’s Rights at Work campaign in this election year.

Thirty-second radio ads promoting the value of union membership are currently running in Canberra as part of the CPSU's Join2Win initiative. You can listen to the radio ads here and here (mp3 format)

Join2Win aims to give activists the skills and support they need to get the message out in their communities; and to build support for the union in their workplaces.

In coming months these 500+ people will be talking with members and potential members about the urgent need to join the union and vote for fair workplace rights.

For more information or to join the campaign online click here

Already signed up to Join2Win?

Share your Join2Win experiences by posting a comment below.

Rudd reveals part of his IR agenda

In a major speech at the National Press Club yesterday, ALP Leader Kevin Rudd outlined some of his alternative workplaces relations plan.

It includes introducing a national IR system for the private sector, abolishing AWA's, outlawing strikes without secret ballots, and re-introducing streamlined unfair dismissal laws.

The ACTU says its "a good start". Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey called it a "donkey", while business groups remain "luke-warm".

But what do you think? Please post a comment.