
Issue No 108		24 August 2001

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News

Mat Leave Win for Country Energy

In a significant victory for female rural workers and their families, Country Energy this week agreed to paid maternity leave for the first time.

Country energy responded to the Municipal Employees Union claim for an Award provision of Paid Maternity Leave announcing to the Award Negotiating Committee this week that employees will receive 12 weeks Paid Maternity Leave.

The MEU, which represents workers in the energy industry, made a claim for the inclusion of Paid Maternity Leave provisions while negotiating a new Award for Country Energy members. According to MEU General Secretary Brian Harris this is a progressive step forward for rural workers. "There has been no provision for Paid Maternity Leave for these workers before so this is a fantastic result which puts rural workers ahead of their city counterparts."

MEU Energy Organiser Susan Page who led the negotiations for Paid Maternity Leave believes that this decision proves that Country Energy values the work done by their female employees. "Country Energy obviously knows that it is important to keep skilled employees in the workforce," said Ms Page who applauds Country Energy on their co-operative approach on this issue.

The new Award provisions include 12 weeks paid maternity leave or 24 weeks on half pay and will commence when the Award is ratified.

The MEU is also campaigning for Paid Maternity Leave provisions for local government workers. Brian Harris has urged the Local Government and Shires Association to follow the lead of Country Energy in ensuring that female workers have access to Paid Maternity Leave.

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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