
Issue No 117		26 October 2001

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News

New Compo Showdown Looms

A fresh outbreak in hostilities over workers compensation reform in NSW looms after Industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca told unions he would not negotiate on contentious new thresholds to restrict injured workers' access to the courts.

Reporting to the Labor Council this week, secretary john Robertson said he'd been informed by the Minister that he would not be prepared to negotiate on key areas of union concern.

These include:

- the imposition of a 20 per cent whole of body threshold for access to the courts to sue negligent employers.

- the removal of the 'second gateway' for access to the courts

- the introduction of a scientifically untested formula for gauging the seriousness of psychiatric and psychological injuries.

But Robertson says, the Minister has left open the offer to negotiate on the introduction date for proposed increased to the statutory benefit scheme and the cap of 65 years on the calculation of non-economic loss.

With the Government still determined to have new laws operational by January 1, 2002, the pre-Christmas sitting of Parliament will provide the next battleground, with unions planning to lobby Opposition and cross-bench members to amend the Della Bosca package.

Rats, Mice and Guinea Pigs

Anger is growing over the government's handling of the issues of psychological damage, with Della Bosca rejecting the Labor Council's proposal that a proper assessment system by developed by medical experts.

This is independent despite advice from the Medical Review Tribunal that the Government's proposed PIRS scale is not scientifically tested.

Public Service Association general secretary Maurie O'Sullivan says the idea of putting in untested guidelines and 'waiting and see how things pan out' is an insult to injured workers.

"It is really to close one's eyes to the injuries being sustained and to treat those who are injured and make this sort of claim as rats, mice and experimental guinea pigs," O'Sullivan says.

Spread the Pain

Robertson has renewed his call for the Carr Government to lift its cap on employer premiums and 'spread the pain' in dealing with the current WorkCover scheme difficulties/

"This government has capped employer premiums at 2.8 per cent which is not meeting the costs of the scheme," he says.

"It's not acceptable to simply take away benefits, the government has to make the hard decision and actually raise premiums to an accurate level."

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  Issue 117 contents

Interview: Brothers In Arms
Labour historian Marilyn Dodkin explains how she exposed ASIO ties with Labor Council's Cold War leadership.

Politics: Defending the Faith
Launching 'Brothers', Premier Bob Carr gave his own take on the allegations that union leaders worked with security agencies during the Cold War.

History: Surviving the Split
In this extract from 'Brothers' Marilyn Dodkin, looks at the manouverings around the establishment of the DLP.

International: Viral Attack
Postal unions in the USA are mobilizing to protect their members from the widening repercussions of an apparent bio-terrorist attack.

Unions: A Living Wage
The ACTU this week unveiled its claim for the 2002 Living Wage Case. Here's what they'll be arguing.

Campaign Diary: Week Three: Wave Them Goodbye
In a week when our boys and girls went off to war, Labor fought a desperate battle to fight the election on the home front.

Human Rights: Colombia's 'Dirty War' Against Unions
It might be tough being an organiser in Australia under the Howard Government, but spare a thought for Colombian trade unionists.

Review: Red Rag Unfurls
Ian Syson is an upfront, knockabout bloke. He heads up a new, small, independent publishing outfit called Red Rag Publications.

Satire: New Hope for Labor: Mackerras Tips Liberal Win
The electoral hopes of the Labor party have revived dramatically, after the perennially unreliable analyst Malcolm Mackerras forecast a huge victory for the Liberals.

» Unions Call for Air Price Floor

» With Friends Like the Banks, Who Needs Kiwis?

» Living Wage Claim For GST Rises

» New Compo Showdown Looms

» NIDA Tax Rorts Embarrass Howard

» First Case Under NSW�s New Pay Equity Principle

» Veil of Silence on Public Sector Outsourcing

» False Start for Race Day

» Union Proxy Campaign Gets A Boost

» Nauru Guards Claim Back-Pay

» Unions Await Final Triumph

» PM Claims No Aged Care Nursing Home Crisis!

» Eighty Woolies Cleaners About To Lose Jobs

» CFMEU Gets Disabled Athlete A Start

» Malaysian Solidarity Action in Sydney

» Activists Notebook