
Issue No 108		24 August 2001

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News

Young Casuals Not Paid Overtime

One third of young casual workers are forced to work overtime without pay, according to a national survey of 1400 employees.

The survey of casual workers, mostly aged between 15 and 25, found more than 60% worked while sick, most did not know if they were being paid the legal minimum wage and 47% were never informed of their rights as employees.

The survey was conducted by the Young Christian Workers Association.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the survey confirmed union concerns that employers were increasingly using casual employment to fill long-term positions to avoid obligations including sick leave, holiday pay and job security entitlements.

"Our young people deserve better than the false choice between sub-standard conditions or no job at all. Employers are adults and should take responsibility for making sure their young employees at least know their rights.

"This is the harsh reality of workplace change under John Howard and it will only get worse under the Government's latest plan to exempt small business from existing limits on casual employment," Ms Burrow said.

"Employers should be offering permanent employment to casuals after six months successful service. Treating employees well also helps the business through increased loyalty, productivity and lower turnover and retraining costs."

The ACTU was particularly concerned by the increased casualisation of the labour market over recent months. More than 150,000 full time jobs disappeared in the last four months, with the only jobs growth in part time employment, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

A leaked Federal Cabinet document earlier this month revealed Government plans to make it easier for small business employers to hire more casuals. The Cabinet document said the proposal would be criticised "as exacerbating the so-called trend towards casualisation of the workforce at the expense of permanent positions."

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  Issue 108 contents

Interview: The Man from Manusafe
Manusafe chief Andrew Whiley explains why employers have nothing to fear from the entitlements trust fund.

E-Change: 2.4 The Skeptic’s Response
In this round-table discussion, Noel Hester leads the charge against the argument that globalisation and change are inevitable.

Politics: No Hand Idle
Whitlam Institute director Peter Botsman finds much to agree with in John Howard's social coalition for welfare delivery.

Unions: Slavery and Struggle
A battle with all the elements of the infamous waterfront dispute is being played out in Charleston, South Carolina:

International: Postcard from Santiago
The CFMEU's Phil Davey meets up with Communist Party cadres in Chile who led the underground resistance to Pinochet.

History: Race and Australian Labour.
Australian unionists have long been questioning notions of a “White Australia”, even before the colonies united with it as the central feature.

Economics: Global Regulation
Public sector unions from around the globe are taking the first steps to work internationally against the deregulation agenda.

Satire: Niche Identified in Left-Wing Publications Market
A marxist-feminist activist has discovered a gaping hole in the lucrative left-wing publications market.

Review: The Fight for Equal Pay
In this extract from her new book, Zelda D'Aprano looks at the contribution Kath Williams made to the struggle for equality.

» Entitlements Just Tip of the Iceberg

» State-Wide Push for Entitlement Protection

» Support Builds for Industrial Manslaughter Laws

» Organiser Assaulted – Police Called In

» Young Casuals Not Paid Overtime

» Commonwealth Hit With Criminal Conviction

» Back Door Bob Does Wollongong

» ABC IR Memo Draws More Fire

» Unions Warn of More Deaths in Construction

» Big Brother Hits Rail Workers

» Libs Dodge Public Education Forum

» Westfield Squeezes The Extra Dollar

» MP's Staffers Fume Over Pay Deal

» Mat Leave Win for Country Energy

» No Wonder Wonderland Workers Unhappy

» Qld's First Major Review of Awards

» Unions Buck Online Ambush

» Bras Burned for Burma

» Two Capps To Cancel Debt

» Australians Work Too Much, Too Long

» Activists Notebook