******
The hopelessly conflicted Professor David Flint took time off from his Canute like effort to stop Australia becoming a republic to offer what laughably passes as a defence of his actions as head of the Australian Broadcasting Authority.
Despite what it may seem the ABA is not, in fact, a Liberal Party retirement home.
Flinty does well when he manages to keep a straight face while describing the ABA as a regulator. Who or what it regulates is not immediately clear; it certainly isn't the media.
When shock jocks around the country showed all the principle of a Deloittes marketing consultant and touted their beliefs to the highest bidder in what became known as the 'cash-for-comment' scandal, the ABA promised a severe lashing with a wet lettuce to anyone who continued the practice.
Then it emerged that the Parrot, Alan Jones, had a rather interesting arrangement with his employer, the Macquarie Network, in which it appears Jones, in a Damascus like conversion, finds Telstra is even better than sliced bread.
This happens around the time that Telstra comes to an arrangement with the Macquarie Network worth the GDP of a small African country.
The ABA reasoned that the telecommunications giant was not paying the money to Alan Jones, but to the Macquarie Network, where Alan Jones holds a significant financial interest.
So, according to the ship that the good Professor Flint runs, Telstra wasn't buying Alan Jones' opinion at all.
It remains unclear as to whether Flint also maintains equally credible belief in the Tooth Fairy.
Flint believes that this "is the normal sort of arrangement where somebody, an advertiser, decides to sponsor a program by paying the station".
The fact that the public may become misinformed about the activities of a corporation that has no qualms about running our telecommunications infrastructure into the ground, shipping jobs offshore and trying to ditch it's majority shareholders - the Australian Public - appears to sail sweetly over the head of good Professor Flint.
But this is hardly surprising from this stiff lipped son of Empire.
Flint is on the record as saying that the market is the best way to regulate media and that media owners do not dictate editorial policy - as we saw recently at the Murdoch shindig in Cancun, Mexico. That was where Rupert's editors got the line direct from Condaleeza Rice on the need to keep saving Iraqis by bombing them to bits.
No, Murdoch doesn't tell his editors what the line is, not at all. Well, not in Dave Flint's happy world.
Just because Flint is the sort of congenital moron who populates the conservative end of Australia's political spectrum doesn't mean that he can't have an opinion on the media.
It gets a bit more than dodgy though when he's left as the regulator - a bit like letting Dracula regulate the Red Cross. Luckily though, he's decided not to regulate anything.
Which is hardly surprising given that he doesn't even appear to be able to regulate his own brain. This is the inbred pseudo-aristocrat who was born with an entire silver service shoved in his mouth, who then has the temerity to write a book called The Twilight Of the Elites, where he does a pitiful job trying to savage those he calls The Elite.
The Elite, in Flint's world, appear to have only one thing in common; they disagree with one, David Flint. He would have been better off calling it The Twilight Of David Flint's Credibility.
Our Tool Of The Week would do us all a service if he not only resigned from public life, but from Australia as well.
Declaration of interest: The Tool Shed is not sponsored by any private corporations and it's only financial arrangement is with the Hurlstone Park TAB
The boilermakes, pipe fitters and welders � earning as little as $11.45 an hour at Pt Hedland, Perth and Kalgoorlie � rallied in the WA capital, demanding Australian rates and relief from oppressive conditions tagged to their four-year immigration visas.
One Pt Hedland boilermaker was earning $13.40 an hour, after deductions, alongside workmates on $44 an hour.
The undercutting of Australian rates and conditions reignites last year's furore in which Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock threatened a South African diplomat after she accused employers of using "slave labour" from her homeland.
AMWU state secretary, Jock Ferguson, says the 25 imported workers who joined his union are the tip of a "bloody big iceberg".
Labor hire cum immigration agency, Freespirit, claimed it had 1000 South Africans employed across Australia.
Unions say Freespirit and the powerful WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry are behind the undercutting of Australian rates.
One worker, a boilermaker who left his wife and children in Johannesburg under the impression he had a family visa, went public about his predicament last Wednesday. On Thursday he was sacked from Perth engineering shop, RCR.
Members of the group said they had answered advertisements in Johannesburg newspapers placed by a company called Australian Business Associates. They said the ads spruiked "hundreds" of skilled positions available in Australia.
They went to a meeting with a woman, claiming to represent both Freespirit and the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She told them four-year visas would be arranged and they would earn around $25 an hour.
When they arrived in Australia they were farmed out to a range of sites where all-in rates were quickly eaten away by a $1 an hour health care levy; nine percent super deductions; and 12.5% labour hire charges.
On top of that, they face $5000 slugs to cover airfares and administration costs on visas arranged through Australia's Immigration Department.
The majority said they signed to pay 144 percent interest on that figure after being told that, on arrival, they could transfer to more manageable rates on visa or bank cards. Without credit ratings, they didn't qualify for Australian cards and remain saddled with the initial rate.
They said they had been told, in South Africa and on arrival in Australia, that they must not join a trade union.
Workers said they were supplied with visas and told to find jobs. If employment finished, despite being sponsored by Freespirit, they had to find alternative work and report back to the labour hire company so it could shave its margin off whatever rate they had negotiated.
Ferguson labels the arrangement "pyramid labour hire".
"We have nothing against these people, they are workers looking to better themselves and their families," Ferguson says "but they are being used to undermine every agreement and every worker in Australia."
Organiser, Steven McCartney, said the South Africans had been so harshly treated they had risked dismissal to involve the union.
"They've stood up to be counted on this. They don't know anyone in this country but they do know they are being shafted by Freespirit, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federal Government."
Sweden-based Electrolux dumped 200 workers, last week, two years after it promised a controversial out-sourcing program would protect jobs in the central west town.
AMWU president, Tim Ayres, said it was no accident that the work had been relocated to China where Federal Minister Mark Vaile is trying to negotiate a free trade agreement.
"Vaile has arrived with 200 jobs in his backpack and a promise of many more to come," Ayres said. "Australian representatives were comprehensively dudded in free trade negotiations with the US and we are fearful of what they will serve up with a country that doesn't abide by core labour standards."
Ayres said Vaile's policies were a threat to the viability of rural Australia.
AWU president, Mick Madden, said there had been a change of culture since Electrolux took over fridge and freezer manufacturing at Orange from local operator, Email.
"These workers were given assurances that a decision to outsource some of their jobs overseas would eventually result in a net jobs gain due to increased volume," Madden said.
"Four years ago the NSW Government gave $6 million worth of subsidies to keep the plant operating, but that has barely rated a mention since.
"Now whole families are being told their jobs are finished leaving people gobsmacked."
The Orange region is still recovering from last year's abbatoir closure which cost hundreds of jobs.
Electrolux still employs nearly 800 production workers at its site, more than 25 percent of Orange's blue collar workforce.
The Supreme Court in Sydney last week ordered the motoring organisation to hold a special general meeting to consider resolutions forwarded by AMWU assistant state secretary, John Parkin, and more than 4000 others.
Hard Right NRMA CEO, Tony Stewart, had been resisting a vote on his plan to contract out jobs and move patrol officers' from state to federal employment jurisdiction, although only 100 member signatures were required to force a special meeting showdown.
Parkin said 4200 paid-up NRMA members had signed the patrol officers' meeting demand in less than a fortnight.
Stewart has been playing hard ball since the officers' enterprise bargaining agreement expired more than a year ago.
Workers were recently warned of his intention to bring the matter to a head with an eight week lockout. That plan, too, was foiled last week when Federal IRC Commissioner Munro ruled ruled the NRMA play for federal status was outside his jurisdiction.
Stewart, fresh from corporatising Sydney Airport, had earlier launched a grab for officers' superannuation entitlements. Workers knocked that on the head with a four-day stoppage.
His regime then went public with its plan to contract out at least 100 of the 412 existing patrol officer jobs. To achieve that, however, Stewart had to move officers out of the reach of a state agreement that contains a clause forbidding outsourcing. Hence last week's IRC manoeuvering.
The NRMA was accused, in the NSW Parliament, of planning service cutbacks shortly after announcing fee increases to members.
The Supreme Court ruling will see NRMA members vote on the following resolutions ...
- that the wages and conditions of staff not be undermined
- that there be an end to the "discriminatory" situation of applying different wages and working conditions to patrolmen doing the same jobs
Following last week's court and IRC rulings, the NRMA asked the AMWU to resume discussions about the enterprise bargaining agreement.
Parkin said it was about time.
"If they want to talk we will be there," he said. "All these officers want to do is get this matter fixed up and get on with helping NRMA members."
He said officers were relieved the court had upheld their right to appeal to members because they didn't want to have to disrupt services to motorists.
The about-face came in Treasurer Michael Egan�s mini-budget, sparking angry communities to book a "protest train" that will arrive in Sydney on Thursday morning.
At least three Shire mayors booked seats after hundreds of angry residents packed out protest meetings around the South Coast. Organisers say400 people turned up to the Mittagong RSL, while Picton (120), Moss Vale (108) and Bowral (96) also sent strong messages to Sydney.
Passengers from the protest train will march through Sydney to a rally outside Governor Macquarie Towers.
"The problem is that Bob Carr came out and told these people there would be no cutbacks in XPT country services for at least 12 months," RTBU secretary, Nick Lewocki said.
"But the mini-budget changed all that. These towns will lose services and, very likely, jobs as well."
Rail services between Casino and Murwillumbah will be replaced by buses later in the year, while Southern Highlands and South Coast services will be significantly pruned.
Lewocki estimates people from the Southern Highlands, who will lose all direct services, will be able to add 30-40 minutes to each leg of their journey, courtesy of waits at Campbelltown and the fact that connections will not be express.
That, he warns, would be on a good day. If their trains aren't in synch with connections they will be forced to spend an additional hour on the platform.
Lewocki said RTBU members supported the communities who were protesting over the cutbacks.
Unions NSW official, Chris Christodoulou, said the number of witnesses notified by employers meant there was "no way" the ground-breaking Secure Employment Test Case would be heard this year.
"It looks like a giant filibuster," Christodoulou said. "Unfortunately, many of the statements are being provided by state government departments.
"That is disappointing because the growth of casualisation is creating a two-tiered society. Only recently a Senate Inquiry Report found casual employees disproportionately represented amongst Australians living in poverty."
Many NSW departments have indicated their intention to put on statements opposing the Test Case in apparent contradiction of Minister of State, John Della Bosca, who called casualisation a "concern" and said the IRC should bring down guidelines.
Public Service Association (PSA) assistant secretary, Steve Turner, said the public service had hired three different barristers to run three different angles before the IRC. He called that a "waste of public funds".
Turner said if state government had taken a "sensible approach" to the issue, most public sector issues could already have been settled.
"Legislative provision for the public service is that, wherever possible, employment should be permanent, ongoing work," he said.
Unions are putting the finishing touches to their case against the background of new research, released by the Whitlam Institute this week, that reveals ...
- there are 2.2 million Australians employed on casual terms that deny access to basic entitlements
- 60 percent of them - more than 1.3 million people - are deemed casual although they have worked with their current employer for more than a year
- nearly half a million have been with the same employer for more than five years
- declining skills development, associated with casualisation, is a risk to productivity and the economy
The Test Case will argue specific awards should contain a clause, or clauses, that ...
- entitle regular casuals to opt for permanent employment after six months service with the same employer
- entitle labour hire employees to employment with the host employer after six months doing the same job for the same employer
commit employers to full consultation with employees and relevant unions prior to contracting out, and to guarantee existing jobs, wages and conditions.
Wesfarmers Premier Coal has taken its attack into "worker�s kitchens and bedrooms" by sending letters to their families stating its intention to "rip the heart out of conditions", according to unions.
Wesfarmers Premier Coal plans to extend working hours beyond 12 per shift, bring in contractors without consultation, and reduce holiday entitlements.
More than 300 of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) voted unanimously to shut down the industry for 36 hours this week.
"To impose conditions on employees within the industry by default is unAustralian and unacceptable," says CFMEU state secretary Gary Wood. "The dispute will have an effect on customers, but we do not expect any disruptions to power supplies unless there is an escalation of the dispute. Any such escalation will only result if Wesfarmers Premier Coal continues to refuse to bargain in good faith."
If the Wesfarmers Premier agreement is accepted unions warn it would lead to job losses in the industry, and place competitor Griffin Coal at a disadvantage.
Illawarra workers are up-in-arms after the recent death of a concrete worker; serious road accidents and boating mishaps highlighted the fact that Wollongong-based rescue services are not assigned a specialist retrieval doctor.
A meeting of combined unions delegates in Wollongong, this week, put industrial action on the agenda if state government does not "progress" the situation within 14 days.
The South Coast wants its own medical retrieval unit, similar to those operating out of Sydney, Newcastle, Tamworth and Lismore.
"We have thousands of workers in this region employed in heavy industry," South Coast Labor Council secretary, Arthur Rorris, said. "The least the government can do is provide adequate emergency services should they be needed.
"Delegates and their workmates have had enough, they are not prepared to sit around and wait for the next death so they can wonder if it could have been prevented by a faster medical response."
Combined unions delegates also backed Upper House moves by the NSW Greens, Opposition and cross bench members for a parliamentary inquiry into medical retrieval services in the Illawarra.
Rorris says Maurice Iemma's resistance to the claim could be costing South Coast lives.
"We found it an interesting argument given it's a zoo we're talking about," says Australian Workers Union (AWU) industrial officer Richard Tripodi. "It's absurd to distinguish between types of faeces."
Taronga Zoo management were appealing an earlier decision of the Industrial Relation's Commission which upheld the payment of the Fouled Equipment Allowance to zoo staff that had to deal with animal waste in the course of their work.
The AWU viewed the allowance as applying to workers who had to deal with other unpleasant substances such as condoms and syringes, according to Tripodi.
More State Jobs On the Line
Elsewhere in the state's public sector, workers have slammed recommendations from consultants at Deloitte's to privatise the state's internal courier system, CM Solutions, which is part of the Department of Commerce.
Workers fear that, apart from job cuts, security for state documents will be compromised in the hands of a private operator.
CM Solutions, which currently runs at a profit - making money for the state government, handles sensitive documents such as HSC exam papers and NSW Police evidence and exhibits.
The news comes as almost 300 jobs, or 10%of the workforce, are set to disappear from the NSW Dept of Environment & Conservation (DEC) after the department saw it's budget cut.
"Which 10% of the state's national parks don't they want to look after any more," says NSW Public Service Association (PSA) assistant secretary Steven Jones.
The PSA and other unions will meet shortly to consider industrial action, which has also been slammed by environmentalists, who claim that the NSW government's green credentials are now "in jeopardy".
The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies warns that lax security and widespread fraud mean that the al Qaeda network could infiltrate the ranks of the world's 1.2 million seafarers.
"It will be relatively easy for al Qaeda to have their agents pose as seafarers and at some point take command of a ship," Institute spokesperson Michael Richardson told participants at a maritime seminar.
The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) demonstrated how easily fake papers for crew members can be bought when it bought a First Officer's certificate from Panama in 2001 for its General Secretary David Cockroft, who has no shipboard training or experience.
"The flag of convenience (FOC) system allows potential terrorists into our waters," says the International Transport Federation's Dean Summers. "I think its generally accepted everywhere in the world now, that al Qaeda, Bin Laden and a whole range of other terrorist organizations around the world get a lot of money from piracy and from running ships."
Summers says that, according to the international security community, around 20 vessels are run by al Qaeda.
"They cannot identify the beneficial owners," says Summers. "Why? Because one of the key features of the FOC system is that it provides owners with absolute anonymity."
"There could be vessels in our ports right now that are beneficially owned by terrorist organisations."
Richardson said modern ships are highly automated and can be operated by crews of fewer than 20. This means it would take a small number of well-trained terrorists to seize command of a big ship and turn it into a floating bomb.
Singapore has warned that recent piracy attacks in the narrow Malacca Straits have been conducted with almost military precision and fears links have already been developed between pirates and terrorists operating in the region.
Mundey, who led the NSW Builders Labourers Federation during the historic Green Bans, will open an exhibition 'When Workers Unite - Foundations Of Tomorrow' in the Blue Mountains at the Braemar Gallery, 104 Macquarie Rd, Springwood
The exhibition celebrates our industrial heritage, including the Green Bans and other trade union protests with a selection of rare posters and badges and is on from the1st May to the 16th of May on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
The week also includes the international Workers' Memorial Day on Wednesday April 28, which commemorates the memory of the many workers killed on the job each year.
In Sydney a memorial sculpture is being unveiled at 11am at Little Pier Street Park (between the Entertainment Centre and the Novotel in Darling Harbour).
The memorial, by acclaimed Sydney artist Ingrid Skirka, is the only one of it's type in Australia. It represents all workers who have never returned home from work, and all those whose lives have been tragically cut short in the pursuit of earning a living.
Victorian OHS Reps are holding a memorial event at 'the Rock', at the Victorian Trades Hall Council from 10:30-11:15am, with a one minute silence being held at 11:00am.
The traditional Mayday marches and rallies will also be held around the world this Saturday.
In Sydney workers will be gathering at Hyde Park North at 11am for a march to John Howard's office in Phillip Street where CFMEU secretary Andrew Ferguson and Federal Opposition Health spokesperson Julia Gillard will be speakers.
The march will then move on to the Town Hall where there will be further speakers.
This years themes of job security and a safe workplace will also be celebrated at the annual May Day Toast, to be held at South Sydney Leagues Club on Thursday April 29 from 6.45pm.
As well as speakers from the MUA and the Cuban Communist Party, there will be comedy from The Chaser team, food and drinks. Tickets are $20. Call 9265 8438 for more information.
Stop work meetings are calling on the Education Department to stiffen "weak" policies on student behaviour that threaten the safety of frontline teaching staff.
Teachers at Sarina State High School stopped work on April 21 and Maleny State High School on the Sunshine Coast on April 22 as part of the statewide campaign.
Teachers at Alexandra Hills State High School held a stop work meeting last month over teacher safety and student behaviour issues after an incident at the school.
According to the Queensland Teachers Union (QTU) sustained swearing and an assault on a female teacher attempting to prevent a fight between two students was euphemistically described by the Department as "bad language and inappropriate behaviour". The union has labelled this as an attempt to defuse growing teacher concern about such incidents.
Teachers at Alexandra Hills passed a motion saying that the Department's response has grave implications for teacher safety statewide.
QTU Vice-President Steve Ryan said Sarina State High School teachers shared the concerns of their colleagues throughout Queensland about the Department's "weak" approach to student behaviour.
"All too often the Department refuses to support schools when it comes to serious occurrences of student misbehaviour," says Ryan. "If a school excludes a student after a serious incident then the Department should back this action rather than overturning it."
"The Department must urgently overhaul its policies on student behaviour as well as provide schools with improved resources to deal with the issue."
Mr Ryan said the Government had to fund more alternative educational sites for students not suited to mainstream schooling, and had to establish a non-negotiable policy where any student who assaulted a teacher was automatically excluded and forced to enrol at another school.
Other schools may consider campaign action in coming weeks if the Department and State Government don't deliver improved funding and more practical policies.
The news comes after the Federal Government brushed TAFE teacher representatives in Canberra recently.
The Federal Minister for Education Science and Training, Dr. Nelson, could not accept an invitation to attend the recent Vocational Education and Training Round Table involving teachers, industry representatives and politicians. He agreed instead to attend the National TAFE Council set down for later in the week, but pulled out at the last minute.
"I find it truly frightening for the Australian workforce that that there is no thought through concept [from Government]," says Linda Simon, Secretary of the TAFE Teachers Association and Federal TAFE President. "How can people have a career? How can we develop industry? How will Australia be able to compete in the world market?"
Simon has slammed Nelson, claiming he "doesn't care" about education, and that his policies will lead to "half-trained" workers.
Teachers estimate that, despite the looming skills shortage, unmet demand for TAFE is around 50,000 places nationally, and that funding this demand would go a along way towards meeting the skills shortages.
"The Minister appears to see the answer as shorter apprenticeships and specialised apprenticeship pathways," says Simon. "Translated this means less education and training, and less multi skilling. The Government has come up with a short term solution that will disadvantage Australian workers and industry in the long term."
Workers' Memorial Day
Wednesday, 28 April 2004
Melbourne events
Victorian OHS Reps are invited to the Memorial Event at 'the Rock', VTHC 10:30-11:15am
(1 minute silence at 11:00am)
Morning Tea, 'Horti Hall' 11:15-12:00
OHS Act Review, with Chris Maxwell, QC, author of the Review, at VTHC
Council Chambers 12:00-1:30pm
Pig On a Spit - Safari Picket
The CFMEU is conducting a picket of the Safari restaurant to get the owners to pay entitlements owed to workers (the owners are also builders). The Safari restaurant is in King Street Newtown. Picket is this Friday (and every Friday until they pay up!). From 6pm. All welcome.
May Day Toast
Souths Leagues Club, Thursday 29 April. 6.45pm
May Day March
Saturday May 1
11am Hyde Park North
WHEN WORKERS UNITE - FOUNDATIONS OF TOMORROW
An exhibition of banners, badges and posters produced by trade unions, and original artworks by Jeff Rigby highlighting the strong historical role unions have played in the creation and conservation of our built environment, whilst May Day materials emphasise the workers' achievements in gaining and maintaining the rights and conditions of those who built it.
From: 1st May to 16th May 2003 at Braemar Gallery, 104 Macquarie Rd, Springwood
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm
"Every Step Counts" - Landmine Action Week
- 14th to 23rd May 2004
NSW Launch of Landmine Action Week
Where: Martin Place Sydney
Date: May 14th
When 11.15am
Show your support by
* placing a shoe on the shoe pyramid
* sign the postcard petition
* learn how we can eliminate landmines
* see a landmine detection demonstration
* listen to music
Lets eliminate Landmines - every step counts
Visit the website www.landmine-action-week.org
contact the campaigner [email protected]
phone 0407 463 779
Labor for Refugees meeting with Carmen Lawrence
Date: Friday 4 June 2004
Time: 5.30 - 7pm.
Place: Meredith Burgmann's Office
President's Dining Room
Parliament House
Sydney
Aim: Debriefing after ALP National Conference
Please advise [email protected] if you wish to attend so that we can organise numbers for the alcohol and nibbles which will be supplied.
Dear comrades,
I am writing from a rural village of India, Kerala.
I am very much thankful to you, I got your March and April issue. I always anxiously wait its arrival every month. I and my colleagues read the articles and attached files.
I am very much happy because some like minded fellows are working for a common aim like me and my organisation, that kind of thought will gave me a thrilling emotion.
We could not hear anything before I subscribe to your organ. We heard only about the Australian cricket team but when heard about your organ and Australian Communist Party, which is very thrilling.
I think political theatre groups are well developed in your country. I know one of the theatre activists from your country, Dave Rile. If you know him my kind regards to him.
Long live proletarian Internationalism.
Long live the Unity of the Oppressed.
Comradely
Murukesh.K
India
Mark Textor is the man who masterminded three federal election victories, the author of the mandatory detention strategy that kept the CLP in power in the Northern Territory for so many years and, infamously, the Tampa election.
Textor's job is not just to chart voter preferences, but also to understand the values driving those opinions. And his message is that many of the accepted wisdoms that drive union campaigns are becoming out-moded.
Most notably, Textor argues that the public has moved on from anger at globalisation to something more complex: as consumers they benefit, as citizens they feel disenfranchised; on the one hand they benefit from DVDs and cheap sneekers, on the other they have a vote worth less and less.
The issues that resonate are those that speak to this lack of civic control - the USA's decision to place import restrictions on Australian lamb, the chase of the illegal Patagonian tooth fish thieves and, the Tampa.
But they recognise that anger is no longer enough - the outrage with excessive corporate pay, for example, has subsided in the past year; replaced by a demand that these corporate giants earn their money by building sustainable industries and providing shareholders with real democracy
For unions, the message is that anger is no longer enough - campaigns need to include realistic solutions - be they leveraging shareholder power through super funds or lobbying government for achievable work and family measures.
Another of Textor's messages is that in the post-September 11 environment, the very notion of 'security' has changed - and has almost become a term devoid of meaning. How can we, after all, equate the desire for a sustainable job with the fear of being blown away by terrorists. It may be time for a rethink on our language here.
But most potent was this Liberal guru's spin on atttitudes to unions.
First the double-egded sword. People see unions as a big brother - who will be there to help them at work; but might act in their own interests - or worse bully them - in their down time. The idea that members are the union has just not got through to the punters.
The good news is that in this age of Terror, Textor sees people taking comfort in established institutions - the rule of law, government regulation, the family, the community. And unions are there too.
The challenge is that hand in hand with the desire for institutional stability is an equal desire for individuals to take control of their own destiny. For unions, this means taking on a role as supporter, advocate and work coach, rather than presuming to speak for members in all their diversity
What makes Textor's analysis fascinating is that it comes from an observer on the opposite side of the political divide - a man who has made an administration that sees itself as the union movement's mortal enemy.
But, if even from this perspective, there is a place for unions, then the future can not be all gloom and doom.
Peter Lewis
Editor
Unions NSW official, Chris Christodoulou, said the number of witnesses notified by employers meant there was "no way" the ground-breaking Secure Employment Test Case would be heard this year.
"It looks like a giant filibuster," Christodoulou said. "Unfortunately, many of the statements are being provided by state government departments.
"That is disappointing because the growth of casualisation is creating a two-tiered society. Only recently a Senate Inquiry Report found casual employees disproportionately represented amongst Australians living in poverty."
Many NSW departments have indicated their intention to put on statements opposing the Test Case in apparent contradiction of Minister of State, John Della Bosca, who called casualisation a "concern" and said the IRC should bring down guidelines.
Public Service Association (PSA) assistant secretary, Steve Turner, said the public service had hired three different barristers to run three different angles before the IRC. He called that a "waste of public funds".
Turner said if state government had taken a "sensible approach" to the issue, most public sector issues could already have been settled.
"Legislative provision for the public service is that, wherever possible, employment should be permanent, ongoing work," he said.
Unions are putting the finishing touches to their case against the background of new research, released by the Whitlam Institute this week, that reveals ...
- there are 2.2 million Australians employed on casual terms that deny access to basic entitlements
- 60 percent of them - more than 1.3 million people - are deemed casual although they have worked with their current employer for more than a year
- nearly half a million have been with the same employer for more than five years
- declining skills development, associated with casualisation, is a risk to productivity and the economy
The Test Case will argue specific awards should contain a clause, or clauses, that ...
- entitle regular casuals to opt for permanent employment after six months service with the same employer
- entitle labour hire employees to employment with the host employer after six months doing the same job for the same employer
commit employers to full consultation with employees and relevant unions prior to contracting out, and to guarantee existing jobs, wages and conditions.
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