
Issue No 13		14 May 1999

News

LHMU Demands Y2K Protection for Workers

By Mikhael Kjaerbye

The LHMU is demanding that employers provide written confirmation of worker entitlements in case these records are lost by the millennium computer bug.

The Union will ask the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to insert into its awards a provision for workers to get a written confirmation of their accrued annual leave, sick leave and long service leave entitlements.

The written confirmation will state the number of weeks, days or hours accumulated by the employee.

LHMU Assistant National Secretary Tim Ferrari said the Union was worried that a recent survey from the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that more than 40% of businesses did not intend to take action to avoid Y2K compliance problems.

The Y2K bug is predicted to cause havoc in old computers because they may read the two-digit '00' date as 1900 instead of 2000. This could cause the computers to crash and erase files from the computer system.

"It is prudent and reasonable that workers get a copy of their accrued entitlements in the immediate period before 31 December 1999." Tim said.

Tim said that inserting the Y2K safeguard provision into awards were the best way to deal with this problem rather than doing it site by site.

"Workplace Minister Peter Reith's stripping back of awards have left workers and employers confused about their rights and obligations. This is a disgrace as we approach the new millennium," Tim said.

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  Issue 13 contents

Interview: Really Caring
Sam Moait will be sending a message from the 48,000 nurses who she represents when she takes her seat at the Drug Summit

Unions: Kicking the Habit
The architect of a trade union drug and alcohol program has revealed his own battle with drugs motivated him to help other workers kick the habit.

History: Remembering BHP: Memory and Industrial Heritage
The announcement of the intended closure of BHP�s Newcastle steelworks heightened the awareness that industrial heritage is more than derelict sites of production.

Review: Ten Songs to Revolution
We ask Labor Council's resident music critic to name the ten songs that define the nineties.

International: Union Lifts Lid on Rio Tinto Shame File
The global campaign against mining giant Rio Tinto has been stepped up with a new report alleging abuses of human rights, environmental and safety standards.

» Unions Warn Carr: Bosses Can�t Veto Second Wave

» Labor Council Backs Harm Minimisation

» Aquilina Urged to Talk as Students Offered Teaching Jobs

» Cutting Through the Budget Crap

» LHMU Demands Y2K Protection for Workers

» Cops Eye Airport Beat

» Spanish Workers Warned on Tax Agents

» Unions to March on Journey of Healing on May 26

» NSW Young Labor Turns 50!