|
Issue No. 174 | 11 April 2003 |
Might Does Not Mean Right
Interview: Picking Up The Peaces Unions: The Royal Con National Focus: Around the Grounds Economics: The Secret War on Trade International: United Front History: Confessions of a Badge Collector Politics: Stalin�s Legacy Review: Such Was Not Ned�s Life Poetry: Osama's Top Recruiter Satire: Woolworths CEO Denied Bonus After Company Posts Profit
Judge Puts �Predator� Before Workers Mexican Chain Gangs Win NSW Work STOP PRESS - Brewery Goes Flat Cameron: Feds More Interested in Iraq Working Hours Benefit Millions Journos Urge War Crimes Prosecutions Unions Support Displaced in Iraq
The Soapbox The Locker Room Culture Postcard
Unfair Dismissals More Angry Trots Tom's Tirade
Labor Council of NSW |
News Della Muscles Up to Abbott
The re-elected NSW Government will stand-up to federal attempts to use hospitals, schools and roads to �blackmail� it into signing up to the code and key recommendations from the controversial Cole Royal Commission. Della Bosca's pledge ensures work, worth of billions of dollars, on the Western Sydney orbital and Liverpool-Parramatta Bus Link will not be subject to Abbott's rules. "Mr Abbott is attempting to blackmail the states and this will be resisted by the NSW Government at every step," Della Bosca said. Della Bosca endorsed union criticisms of the Abbott agenda as political hard-ball that could threaten the viability of a multi-billion industry. "This is an ideological obsession to the detriment of employers and workers," he said. "Mr Abbott is putting at risk thousands of building projects." Abbott has threatened to withdraw billions of dollars in federal funding from schools, hospitals and roading projects if states don't subjucate their industrial rules to a Canberra-driven regime that would make it extremely difficult for unions to recruit, organise or pursue improved wages or conditions. He wants harsh penalties on individuals and organisations, including prison terms and six figure fines, to replace state systems that have conciliation and arbitration through the Industrial Relations Commission at their core. "I advise Mr Abbott to refresh himself with his own submission to the Cole Royal Commission which stated that the cost of construction in NSW was 20-30 percent less than Victoria, due to a superior industrial relations climate," Della Bosca said. Victoria is the one state that has signed up for the unitary system that Canberra is demanding. By contrast, Della Bosca pointed out, billions of dollars worth of Olympic Games infrastructure had been built in NSW "on time and on budget by a fully unionised workforce".
|
Search All Issues | Latest Issue | Previous Issues | Print Latest Issue |
© 1999-2002 Workers Online |
|