Workers Online
Workers Online
Workers Online
  Issue No 121 Official Organ of LaborNet 30 November 2001  

 --

 --

 --

.  LaborNET

.  Ask Neale

.  Tool of the Week


News

Monk's Mad Power Grab from States


Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott's plans to wipe out unfair dismissal rights for a large section of the workforce include an audacious attempt to over-ride state industrial laws.

New Labor IR spokesman Robert McClelland says the proposal to use corporations power to override state industrial laws is in the small-print of the Coalition election policy.

Abbott has signalled the assault on unfair dismissal rights for employees in small businesses will be a cornerstone of his next wave of IR deregulation.

The Labor Opposition has signalled it will oppose the bill, despite the Howard Government's latest attempt to use the issue to drive a wedge between Labor and the unions.

SDA state secretary Greg Donnelly is leading the charge against the laws amongst unions and wants new Opposition leader Simon Crean to state he will oppose the changes outright.

"The underlying principle is clear and I would have thought generally accepted in our society," Donnelly says, "Asn injustice is and injustice no matter how large or small the employer."

NSW Labor Council secretary John Robertson says the attempt to override state law is the sting in the tail to the proposal.

"We have always worked to protect the integrity of the state industrial system and it will take more than a constitutional swiftie for Abbott to get his hands on NSW," Robertson says.


------

*   View entire issue - print all of the articles!

*   Issue 121 contents

In this issue
Features
*  Interview: Back to the Battle
Federal Labor's new industrial relations spokesman Robert McClelland outlines the challenges for the next three years.
*
*  Politics: The Baby and the Bath Water
ACTU secretary Greg Combet gives his take on the debate over the ALP's relations with the union movement.
*
*  Unions: We're Solid
Bradon Ellem charts the history of the Pilbara dispute, and finds a revitalised grass-roots unionism challenging BHP's individual contracts bulldozer
*
*  Organising: Benidgo Pioneer Comes Up Trumps
ACTU Delegate of the Year, Leonie Saunders, is living proof of the way unions are adapting to life under the strictures of a hostile Government.
*
*  Technology: India: Cricket, Computers and Corruption
Russell Lansbury cuts through the hype to look out the so-called hi-tech revolution on the sub-continent.
*
*  International: Soul Searching
The party of labour in Canada � the NDP - is right now undergoing a massive struggle for its heart and soul.
*
*  History: A Timeless Debate
The ALP and unions - it's a debate that's raged for years as this extract from a 1947 Lloyd Ross pamplet shows.
*
*  Review: In Fear of Security
Launching his new book, Anthony Burke argues that the cry of "security" is the last refuge of the political scoundrel
*

News
»  Union Journo on Death List
*
»  First 'Lab Rats' in Bank Hold-Up
*
»  Monk's Mad Power Grab from States
*
»  Big Print Merger Threatens Jobs
*
»  Anger as Labor Staffers Shun Unions
*
»  Unions Are Well Advanced In Change Unions Tell ALP
*
»  Unions Step Up Organising Drive
*
»  Education, Call Centre Unions Sweep Awards
*
»  Bank AGMs Focus of Worker Anger
*
»  Gender Balance in Transport Concessions
*
»  Concern As Sydney Collapses
*
»  Bakers Seek More Bread
*
»  CFMEU Forces Re-Think On Asbestos
*
»  Call Goes Out for Union Summer
*
»  Twelve Weeks Parental Leave For Kiwis
*
»  Organiser of the Year Nominations Open
*
»  Activists Notebook
*

Columns
»  The Soapbox
*
»  Sport
*
»  Labour Review
*
»  Tool Shed
*

Letters to the editor
»  What's Wrong With Labor
*
»  Why I'm Quitting the ALP
*
»  Compo Flak
*
»  Union Democracy
*
»  Multi-Skilling Corrigan Style
*

What you can do

Notice Board
- Check out the latest events

Latest Issue

View entire latest issue
- print all of the articles!

Previous Issues

Subject index

Search all issues

Enter keyword(s):
  


Workers Online - 2nd place Labourstart website of the year


BossWatch


Wobbly Radio



[ Home ][ Notice Board ][ Search ][ Previous Issues ][ Latest Issue ]

© 1999-2000 Labor Council of NSW

LaborNET is a resource for the labour movement provided by the Labor Council of NSW

URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/121/news2_abbott.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005

[ Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Credits ]

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW

 *LaborNET*

 Labor Council of NSW

[Workers Online]

[Social Change Online]