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Issue No. 161 | 15 November 2002 |
From New Labor to True Labor
Interview: Life After Keating Industrial: That Friday Feeling Bad Boss: Begging to Work Organising: Project Pilbara Unions: Off the Rails International: Brazil Turns Left Environment: Brown Wash History Special: Learning from the Past Corporate: Will the Bullying Backfire? Technology: Danger Lurks For The Passive History: In Labour�s Image Politics: Without Power Or Glory History Special: A 'Cosy Relationship' Culture: Blood Stains the Wattle Satire: Iraq Pre-empts Pre-emptive Strike Poetry: The Executive Pay Cut Review: Time Out
Worker Rights Battle Goes Local Suncorp Feels Heat Over Candid Camera African Chefs Claim Visa Abuse Bushfire Volunteers Pay Heavy Price Win in Battle For Tea Break Rights Reith Adviser Plots New Era of Lawlessness Kinko�s Workers Win Copybook Campaign Sparks Fly as Build A Life Rolls On Win For Aboriginal Health Workers Safety Crisis in Detention Centres Miners Take Up Westfund Cudgels Wine Workers Go the Full Bottle Performers Close to National Deal Blair Caught in Industrial Fire Storm Nurses Call Public Into The Pink On Aged Care Environmental Research Washed Away P&O�s Shame as Inspector Banned WTO Must Incorporate Labor Rights
Month In Review The Soapbox The Locker Room Indigenous Postcard Bosswatch
Bravo Costa! Deck Chairs on the Titanic
Labor Council of NSW |
News Worker Rights Battle Goes Local
Holroyd City Council has become the first local government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the NSW Labor Council guaranteeing ethical practices by their contractors. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, Holroyd Council will insist that contractors they engage recognise employees have a right to join and be active members of a trade union. The MOU also commits contractors to comply with other employment-related obligations including superannuation, payroll tax and workers comp Councils signing the MOU agree to supply the NSW Labour Council with a list of upcoming tenders and to survey contractors on a range of industrial relations issues Where contractors breach MOU standards, Councils agree to take actions, which can include cancellation of the contract. The MOU would have an immediate impact on council contracts for cleaning, security, road maintenance, water services and clothing supply. True Labor Councils Labor Council secretary John Robertson says the Memorandum of Understanding will become a centrepiece of a new campaign to ensure that local government - and ALP-controlled councils in particular - support union values. "We want Labor councils to reflect true Labor values," Robertson says. "We have seen an explosion of contracting in the past decade, often at the expense of workers' conditions. "It's bad for workers, it's bad for legitimate business who can't compete and its bad for ratepayers as these contractors are invariably as cavalier in their work as they are in their employment practices "This is a way to monitor the contractors and, where they don't pass basic tests, hold them to account." The Labor Council is currently pursuing the MOU with other councils including Strathfield, Parramatta and South Sydney. Sydney Lord Mayor Frank Sartor has also been invited to endorse the Memorandum. Challenge for All Councils Signing the Memorandum of Understanding, Holroyd Mayor Mal Tulloch said that the agreement set the bar for all other councils controlled by Labor. Tulloch, who is also an organiser with the CFMEU, said Holroyd had already been working on ensuring contractors complied with their legal obligations when approached by the Labor Council. "We had recognised that any savings from some contractors could be undermined if the providers ignored OHS, workers compensation and other obligations," Tulloch said. "Local Government must be compelled not to do business with these people."
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