*****
Sam Chisholm, finds himself in the digital Tool Shed this week after a spectacular week of riding roughshod over his fellow Australians.
Chisholm is a director of Telstra as well as being chair of Alan Jones employer, Macquarie Radio Network. No doubt Macquarie carry fearless coverage of Telstra despite the many hats crazy Sam likes to wear.
Chisholm's commitment to freedom of expression was illustrated when his company ran off to court in an attempt to silence the ABC's Media Watch, who were making some interesting allegations about how business was done at Macquarie flagship, 2GB.
On top of his comfortable sits at Telstra and Macquarie, Chissy is also the chair of Foxtel, so the old coot doesn't mind spreading himself a bit thin.
Foxtel, of course, are famous for the digital revolution that isn't, and their effort to pay their installation subcontractors peanuts to do the pay-TV operator's dirty work.
Their latest no-brainer is to refuse to talk to the subcontractors union and instead try the DIY approach and get their subscribers to install their new digital set up themselves, or better still try and pay couriers $30 to install it.
Maybe Sam has been watching too many of those flaky TV home renovation shows.
Sam joined his Foxtel CEO Kim Williams, Nepotee Lachlan Murdoch and Telstra chief Ziggy Switkowski at the launch of the digital "revolution" at Foxtel, where no mention was made of the months many ordinary punters will have to wait before they can connect.
Just what a loser Sam is was revealed a few weeks back when he was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame (Yes, we all had a laugh too) - no doubt for services to mediocrity.
He took the opportunity to continue his lifetime of crawling by thanking the two social diseases, Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch.
Chisholm has a great social conscience. He was on the board of Farmhand, the charity set up by Rupert Murdoch so that ordinary people could help sell the remaining public stake in Telstra.
Chisholm obviously opposed Telstra's bizarre move to buy Fairfax, but was that because he believed the telco shouldn't be in the media? Or was it because he wanted to keep the reputable news provider on the market for his mates Kerry or Rupert, so that they could run it into the ground instead?
He obviously has no problems with our largest telco being heavily involved in the media - being more than happy for it to jump into bed with pay television. Besides, no doubt Telstra's close relationship with the media saves it from close scrutiny. A handy thing if you're trying to use the Howard government's Not Nailed Down Act to pinch Telstra from the Australian public, against their wishes.
Yes, it appears the man who brought us the high quality garbage that is the Nine Network is more than happy to use his role to continue the evisceration of what remains of public debate in this country.
After all, why does the big end of town need an informed Australian public? How about another gameshow instead Sam?
Sam Chisholm! Come on down! You're our Tool Of The Week!
Workers Online and the AMWU, last week lifted the lid on the abuse of dozens of tradesmen, imported from South Africa and paid as little as one-third of going rates.
The AMWU fingered three companies - labour hire outfit Freespirit, the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Pretoria-based Australian Business Associates - as ringleaders of a scheme that pays qualified boilermakers, pipe fitter and welders as little $11.45 an hour, after expenses.
In the wake of the revelations, Freespirit hired a PR company, Australian Business Associates rushed its South African representative to Perth, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry made noises about extricating itself from the scheme. But, according to AMWU representatives on the ground, none of them would talk to affected workers.
"They are all pointing the finger at one another," state secretary Jock Ferguson told Workers Online. "But nobody will take responsibility for what has happened.
"Freespirit has hired a legal firm and a PR agency. We have made numerous requests for meetings to try and sort this out but, so far, nothing.
"We want these workers paid the appropriate rates that apply in the industry and we want an end to unfair conditions that are being applied. At the end of the day, we want a fair go for these people because they are working in our country.
"Someone, eventually, is going to have to face up to that."
The union is also concerned by allegations from the South Africans that they were instructed not to join trade unions on pain of deportation.
When a boilermaker from Johannesburg went public about his situation, two weeks ago, he was sacked from Perth engineering shop, RCR, the following day.
The scheme was revealed when 25 South African tradesmen walked off jobs in Perth, Port Hedland and Kalgoorlie, in protest at their treatment. They all signed up with the AMWU.
One boilermaker revealed he was earning $13.40 an hour, after expenses, alongside Australians at Port Hedland on $44 an hour union-negotiated agreements.
Members of the 25-strong group said they had answered advertisements in Johannesburg newspapers placed by Australian Business Associates.
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 eaten away by a $1 an hour health care levy; nine percent super deductions; and 12.5% kickbacks to the labour hire company.
On top of that, they faced $5000 slugs to cover airfares and administration costs on visas arranged through Australia's Immigration Department. Most said they were being charged 144 percent interest on that figure.
Unions say the scheme is being facilitated by a Federal Government prepared to use immigration to undermine the earnings of Australian families.
AMWU organiser Steve McCartney said the South Africans deserved praise for blowing the whistle on the practice.
"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," he said.
The Pay-TV operator has been offering "self-installation" for subscribers, and even investigated paying couriers to perform the "migration" of existing connections to digital in order to bypass subbies.
"I can't see self installation working," says Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) organiser Shane Murphy, who pointed out problems created by self-installation were already causing delays in having service connected.
Subcontractors are so incensed they have flagged expanding industrial action to include cable internet connection and even Telstra phone line maintenance.
Foxtel CEO Kim Williams refused to attend a forum designed to address the subcontractors concerns over inadequate rates.
Instead Foxtel has been supporting connection contractor BSA's attempts to avoid dealing with unions representing installation subcontractors.
"BSA will have to start to open the door for CEPU recognition or face increasing industrial turmoil in their business," says Murphy.
Subcontractors and their representatives have claimed Foxtel has shown favouritism to BSA as a result of its hardline stand by participating in BSA meetings with subcontractors that encourage an anti-union position.
This is in contrast with other contractors who are dealing with the subcontractors' representatives at the CEPU.
Recent industrial action by subcontractors secured increased rates in the order of 10% to 20% in some areas, although for some jobs, including satellite installation, there has been no increase in rates at all.
The CEPU is calling for future pay increases of "at least CPI or better" for subcontractors.
Subcontractors will be meeting again in May to consider their options, including further industrial action.
AMWU national secretary, Doug Cameron, announced worker representatives would fly to Japan to argue for the South Australian community, just 24 hours after Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, said its future was beyond government control.
Cameron and fellow AMWU officials, Ian Jones and John Camillo, held talks with Mitsubishi Australia chief, Tom Phillips, in Adelaide as the crisis swirling around the multi-national manufacturer deepened.
Cameron said those discussion had left union officials "cautiously optimistic" about Mitsubishi's future in Adelaide where it directly employs 3500 workers. A university study, released this week, estimated the plant's closure would annihilate another 20,000 jobs around Australia.
After a subsequent meeting with plant delegates, Cameron said the feeling against Costello and the Federal Government was strong.
"Our people thought Peter Costello's position was reprehensible," Cameron said.
"Essentially, he's admitted the Government is powerless in the face of multi-nationals. Why do we elect these politicians if they can't do anything when workers and communities who put them there are in trouble?
The AMWU has written to Prime Minister, John Howard, asking him to establish a working party to promote Adelaide's survival as a manufacturing base. Cameron said, as of last Thursday, there had been no response from Canberra.
Doubts over Mitsubishi's future sharpened when its international CEO quit after major shareholder, Daimler Benz, pulled out of a rescue package for the Japanese-based business. Mitsubishi dropped a billion dollars, last year, on its international operations.
Latest news from Tokyo suggests a rescue package is being negotiated with bankers who will expect the vehicle manufacturing arm of the conglomerate to make sweeping changes to its operation.
The Tele is campaigning actively to protect the former Australian Defence Industries site at St Mary�s threatened by a Federal Government selloff.
Union activists have been involved in the campaign through the ADI Residents Action Group.
Co-convenor of the group and Finance Sector Union organiser Tim Vollmer was excited about Tele support as outer western Sydney struggles for media coverage.
'I was especially delighted a Tele journalist and photographer was willing to break into the site with me so I could show them the many beautiful hidden areas of natural beauty.
'Other media outlets weren't willing to break-in', Vollmer said.
Tele support for the fight to save the former ADI site is in stark contrast to the media's historic opposition to Green Bans, especially the bitter campaign against Jack Mundey and the BLF's fight to save The Rocks and Woolloomoolo.
'I think the Tele's support shows the changing sentiments of the community and that green issues are becoming mainstream.
'It's an indication the labor movement is 20 years ahead of its time and drags public opinion to a more progressive stance."
James Hardie, who made millions out of asbestos over decades as an Australian building materials giant, has refused to guarantee any future compensation claims.
"We have to take this right up to the inquiry," says Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) safety officer Dick Whitehead, who labelled asbestos an "evil" that was known to be dangerous since the 1930s.
Exposure to asbestos, now banned across Australia, causes debilitating respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Whitehead recalled from his days in the power industry, how wives and family members of workers also contracted diseases after coming into contact with the deadly fibres.
Whitehead will join other workers at a rally outside the inquiry this week to demand justice for the victims of asbestos diseases in NSW.
The exact time and date of MacDonald's appearance is not yet known but Whitehead says it will be publicised through union networks and media when it is revealed.
Workers allege that James Hardie Industries has turned its back on tens of thousands of dying Australians after setting up a trust to cover the company's compensation liabilities.
The trust, known as the Medical Research & Compensation Foundation, was established in 2001 to provide money to separate funds, AMABA and AMACA, to which James Hardie transferred liabilities to many of the 40,000 Australians expected to by killed by asbestosis or mesothelioma by 2020.
Shortly afterwards, James Hardie relocated, for legal purposes, to the Netherlands.
The NSW Labor Council, the AMWU, MUA, ETU and CFMEU campaigned strongly for the NSW government to establish an inquiry once the $800 million shortfall became known.
Analysts estimate the total bill for compensation from asbestos related claims against James Hardie will top $6 billion.
The move comes a month after a Western Australian Psychiatric Nurse was severely bashed by a patient.
70 psychiatric nurses and mental health professionals walked off the job last week to consider escalating their industrial action as part of their ongoing campaign for a new agreement with the Bracks government.
Workers believe that their safety, and the safety of people suffering from mental illness, is being jeopardised by a lack of adequate training in the sector.
As well as safety the Psychiatric Nurses and Mental Health Professionals are asking for specialist training, manageable community caseloads and decent career opportunities as well as a wage increase of up to 8%.
Rolling stoppages are expected to affect all of Victoria's mental health services. A range of admission bans, as well as bans on picking up excessive community caseloads, has also been implemented.
Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) members have joined other community groups to lobby the state's politicians to put "Mental Health First" in an effort to win better outcomes for mental health services in Victoria.
"It's time the Bracks government honoured its commitment to Victorians, in particular those suffering from mental illness and their families," says HACSU State Secretary, Lloyd Williams. "I call on Premier Bracks and Health Minister Pike to intervene and show some leadership for one of Victoria's most vulnerable groups. With one in five Victorians experiencing a mental illness, all Victorians deserve peace of mind."
"Our members are asking for no more than the promises the Bracks government gave to Victorians at the last state election. The Bracks government is not delivering on those promises."
"This stoppage is part of a statewide campaign to force the Bracks government to sit up and take notice of the crisis in Victoria's mental health services,"
A statewide stop work meeting for members of the (HACSU) has been called for the 6th of May.
Image by Patrick Neu. |
The monument, a 4.5 metre sculpture called 'Memory Lines' commemorates the hundreds who die every year form workplace accidents and illnesses.
The unveiling was attended by relatives of Sydneysiders who had died at work.
Amongst mourners to lay white Arum lilies at the memorial were family and friends of 16-year-old Joel Exner who died last year in his first week on the job.
Exner fell 15 metres from the roof of a western Sydney building site.
Designed by Sydney artist Ingrid Skirka, the sculpture was unveiled by NSW Industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca in a ceremony marking the International Day of Mourning for Deaths in the Workplace.
It will stand in Sydney's Darling Harbour and become a rallying point for workers campaigning for health and safety.
CFMEU national secretary John Sutton said, internationally, 1.3 million workers were killed on the job last year - 3,300 per day and nearly double the number of deaths caused by war.
Newcastle Save Our Rail spokesman Les Hutchinson says Australians are 100 times more likely to die on the road than rail.
'In the last 15 years 20,000 people have died on the roads, that compares with 200 on rail', Hutchinson told a rally in Sydney.
'If the big bus companies can get one XPT off the line they can get 5 buses on the road.'
Newcastle residents fear 4 km of harbourside railway land will be flogged off to private developers if services are axed between Broadmeadow and Newcastle. Currently, 7200 people ride that stretch every day.
Newcastle is not the only region to face rail service cuts.
Services between Casino and Murwillumbah will be replaced by buses next month and Southern Highlands and South Coast services are to be heavily pruned.
Thousands of angry residents recently packed out meetings around the South and North Coasts after cutbacks were announced.
Hundreds more traveled to Sydney aboard a protest train to register their anger at last week's rally held outside Premier Carr's offices.
Community groups from the North Coast made the 14-hour trek by rail.
Full time workers on minimum wages such as factory hands, shop assistants, cleaners, bar attendants, and childcare workers are amongst those facing the tax hike.
The ACTU modelling shows that up to 716,000 people on minimum wages, earning around $500 a week, are paying up to $646 more tax than in 1996.
"Our analysis shows that almost three quarters of a million low paid workers have been slugged with higher income tax under the Howard Government," says ACTU President Sharan Burrow. "This result shows the unfairness of the Howard Government's tax policy."
The ACTU modelling is based on the effect of bracket creep, offset against the GST tax cuts of 2000 and last year's so-called 'milk shake' tax cuts.
"People on low wages without children are the worst affected by the rise in tax because they missed out on family benefit payments," says Burrow. "Low paid people are paying up to $160 more in income tax and up to $515 more in GST; overall they are losing over $10 a week in extra tax."
"Single people on the minimum wage are the forgotten people of the Howard Government. They are paying more for their education and more for their health care under this Government and this new data shows they are also paying much more tax."
"The Federal Government keeps giving big tax cuts to the wealthy, what this analysis shows is that the priority must be low income working Australians."
The ACTU secretary called for next month's Federal Budget to provide greater public investment in health, education and social services and for financial relief to be targeted to people struggling on lower incomes.
APHEDA become the first organisation in Vietnam to be awarded the Vietnam Women's Union Medal when APHEDA Chairperson Sandra Moait was presented the medal by Ha Thi Khiet, Chair of the Vietnam Women's Union at a ceremony in Hanoi last month.
The Vietnam Women's Union is an organisation of over 11 million members that seeks to represent and develop the rights of women and children in Vietnam.
APHEDA is one of many non-government organisations working to advance women in Vietnam, but is the only one to have received this award.
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has been supporting projects in Vietnam since 1985 and with the omen's Union since 1989 on a range of programs including micro-credit, health care and promotion, HIV, vocational training and income generation.
In 2004 APHEDA launched a pilot project with the Vietnam Women's Union in gender and public speaking training for women candidates in local government elections from two districts.
Sandra Moait is also president of the NSW Labor Council.
The OEA claimed Australian workers have never felt so free about their choices to join or not join unions.
The finding contradicts an earlier survey of NSW workers that found that nearly a third who are not in trade unions would join if they were free to choose.
The NSW survey, conducted earlier this year by Essential Research, found that 29 per cent of all non-union members said they would be in a trade union if they were free to choose. This highlighted the problem that coercion by employers for workers not to join unions was a greater problem that coercion by unions for people to join their ranks.
"What this shows is that the big issue in modern workplaces is not union coercion but employer intimidation of union members," says NSW Labor Council secretary John Robertson. "Given these findings we call on the federal government to make victimisation of union members and the intimidation of prospective members as a priority area for the Employment Advocate in the coming months.
The OEA report claimed that "a small minority" of employees still experience significant pressure about this choice.
Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union National Secretary John Sutton doubted the objectivity of the OEA.
"The CFMEU is immensely proud of the pay, conditions and standards we have been able to win for Australian construction workers," says Sutton. "Any weakening of trade unions on construction jobs will only lead to an increase in serious injuries and deaths of construction workers."
"Aussie construction workers don't sponge off their mates: the stronger the Union, the more we achieve together."
The day is a celebration of Australian Television and aims to highlight the impact of the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement will have on Australian culture.
Popular Playschool presenter Simon Burke will host the day, which is set to run from 11am to 2pm.
Activities on the day will include storytelling, three legged races, tug of war, rides, face painting, clowns and a sausage sizzle sponsored by Members Equity.
"The day is geared specifically towards young children and teenagers because it is there lives that will be most severely affected by the changes in future Australian culture," says Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) secretary Jonathan Mill.
The Free Trade Agreement is set to slash local content quotas, which the MEA claims will create a flood of US produced content on Australian televisions and in new entertainment technologies.
Pig On a Spit - Safari Picket
The famous CFMEU safari restaurant picket is now a nightly picket!
The CFMEU are 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 nightly (and every night until they pay up!). From 6pm. All welcome.
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
Industrial Manslaughter Photographic exhibition
Thanks to the help of unionists throughout Australia, I have now got 20 framed and enlarged photographs of workplace accidents that educate the general public about the dangers of going to work.
The backdrop to this exhibition is my Criminal Code Amendment (Workplace Death and Serious Injury) Private Member's Bill- legislation that provides for custodial sentences of up to 25 years and fines of $50 Million in circumstances where bosses negligently kill workers.
An injured Illawarra worker; Mr Gary Corbett will be speaking on the day, in addition to some other speakers. The exhibition will stay at my office for two weeks before going to the NSW Parliament, then the other States and finishing up in Canberra when my Private Member's Bill will be introduced to the Federal Parliament
Michael Organ Federal member for Cunningham Launch is at 1pm 3 May 2004 Globe Lane electorate office. Wollongong www.michaelorgan.org.au
THE FASHION WEEK HANGOVER
Dear Fair Wear supporters,
Over the last 6 weeks Fair Wear has been educating FashionWeek designers on the benefits of accreditation to the Homeworker's Code of Practice in order to get them to sign the code.
We are now into Fashion Week and only one designer, Allanah Hill, is in the process of getting accredited. Two others have expressed an interest. However the overwhelming response from the fashion design world has been: "Go away, we don't care."
Typical responses to our approaches are:
"This has nothing to do with me, I contract with a manufacturer to make the garments and they provide to me under contract. I have nothing to do with what your talking about."
The Australian public don�t care how the clothes are made so long as they can get them at the right price and they don�t care so long as it makes them look or feel good.
Fair Wear is combating this "ignorance is bliss" attitude by taking outworkers messages direct to the designers themselves, to the heart of the rag trade in Surry Hills. We will be gathering outside Akira Isogawa HQ at 2-12 Fouveux St Surry Hills on Wednesday the 12th May lunchtime, at 12.30.
Please bring a friend, your enthusiasm and a good strong singing voice and together we'll make this one Fashion Week Hangover the designers will not forget!
See you there!
Integrate Health and Safety or Perish ACTU Seminar, 12 and 13 May 2004 Carlton Crest Hotel, Haymarket, Sydney
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OHS? GOVERNMENTS, EMPLOYERS OR WORKERS? IS THE LABOUR MOVEMENT ADDRESSING OHS? WHO DECIDES WHO IS FIT FOR WORK? WHY WORK LONGER AND MORE INTENSE HOURS?
"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.
Popular Education Activism & Organising
Education is a key to developing activists and active members of organisations. The new activist educator is an organiser, teacher, consultant and theorist. What methods are being used today to equip activists to build social movements? Does activist education reflect a democratic agenda or is it largely instrumental? How do we know if educational practices are working? Are new theories of learning be utilised? This is the second of a three forum series looking at different education, organising and activist strategies being used by movements and organizations pursuing social justice and change agendas. Union activists, environmental campaigners, community advocates, educators and grassroots campaigners are participating in the forums. The forum will actively engage participants in discussing and analysing different experiences. Case Studies Date: Friday, 18 June 2004 Time: 9am - 1.30pm Location: Centre for Popular Education University of Technology, Sydney Jones St, Broadway (Old Fairfax Building) FEES - $30 for one forum; $50 for two forums For further details contact Lee Malone (02) 9514 3861, Daniel Ng (02) 9514 3843 or Tony Brown (02) 9514 3866 email: [email protected] For updates go the Centre for Popular Education website
The decisions of United Nations Security Council never cease to amaze me.
The most recent decision clearly reeks of self-interest, which is, for member states to either put a halt to Child Recruitment, or suffer harsh penalties.
Two areas of conflict have been conveniently be reinterpreted to satisfy two powerful member states, those being Russia and the UK.
To satisfy British demands, a correction to Annan�s report was issued on February 20 stating that the situation in Northern Ireland �is not an armed conflict within the meaning of the Geneva Conventions�. The same correction as to Chechnya was issued on Monday April 19, at Russia�s insistence.
This is clearly in conflict with the notation in that report on Northern Ireland noted, however, that despite UN attempts to get armed groups in the. North of Ireland to stop using children, �continuing competitive recruitment of young people by all paramilitary groups has been reported in the context of various feuds and the emergence of dissident groups.
So it would appear that combatant groups in Afghanistan, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Congo, Liberia and Somalia � must prepare specific plans within three months in cooperation with UN experts to halt the recruitment and use of child soldiers.
Is there some specific pay off to the United Nations by these two powerful world powers, or is it just another example as to the dangerous incompetence of the United Nations as it is currently structured?
The resolution makes no general call for an end to the use of child soldiers and the US military allows enlistment at age 17.
Tom Collins
P.O.Box 304
Emu Plains
NSW 2750
Ph: 0411534719
I invite you to the national launch of my Industrial Manslaughter Photographic exhibition in Wollongong at 1pm 3 May 2004 at my Globe Lane electorate office.
Thanks to the help of unionists throughout Australia, I have now got 20 framed and enlarged photographs of workplace accidents that educate the general public about the dangers of going to work.
This exhibition also promotes the need for effective industrial manslaughter legislation at a critical time- both in the context of the upcoming Federal election and at the same time as the Federal Government introduces legislation that seeks to override the ACT's ground breaking industrial manslaughter laws.
The backdrop to this exhibition is my Criminal Code Amendment (Workplace Death and Serious Injury) Private Member's Bill- legislation that provides for custodial sentences of up to 25 years and fines of $50 Million in circumstances where bosses negligently kill workers.
An injured Illawarra worker; Mr Gary Corbett will be speaking on the day, in addition to some other speakers. The exhibition will stay at my office for two weeks before going to the NSW Parliament, then the other States and finishing up in Canberra when my Private Member's Bill will be introduced to the Federal Parliament
I look forward to meeting you on the day and would appreciate it if you would publish this invitation far and wide.
The Launch is at 1pm 3 May 2004 at my Globe Lane electorate office, shop 501 Globe lane, Wollongong NSW.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Organ
Federal member for Cunningham
In many ways the growth in casual work has been the high water mark of this process - the creation of a class of workers without security of employment and its related basket of rights.
It is true that the 'flexibility' of the modern labour market has been positive for some - for students and working mums juggling varying commitments, the expansion in jobs that do not require a life long commitment works.
But for every foot loose worker there are many others trapped in the cycle of tenuous employment, working multiple casual gigs to make ends meet; without access to holidays, to sick leave or regular hours of work.
Many also find it hard to get loans for cars and homes: although some banks have recognised the sham for what it is - lending to casuals who have can show regular income for 12 months - notwithstanding the threat of instant dismissal!
So what is the union movement seeking? Three simple principles that we believe will give casuals some basic rights while recognising the need for labour market flexibility:
(i) the right for casual workers to be offered permanent employment when they have worked regularly for more than six months.
(ii) the right for labour hire workers to be paid the same rates of pay as workers employed by the host employer.
(iii) employers contracting work out must offer existing workers alternative employment with the contractor - at the same rate of pay.
The aim of all these measures is to ensure that shifts from permanent jobs are for genuine productivity reasons and not crude cost-cutting measures.
And the response of the bosses? Rather than argue the merits they have attempted to filibuster the case - 200 plus affidavits designed to give the Test Case the sort of permanency they won't give their workers.
The employers strategy of snowing the case shows their fear of this it and is a tacit admission of their reliance on casuals and contracting out to reduce wages costs.
They know that a decision that delivers some form of security to workers will effect their bottom line - proving the union argument that casual work is no longer about peaks and troughs in the labour market but about profit maximisation.
The fact the Carr Government is siding with employers on some of the key arguments is disappointing, but shows that it too has been seduced by crude economics that puts budgets ahead of the lives of workers.
What should give all casual workers some comfort is that the strident opposition shows just how effective - and ground-breaking - the measures the union movement is seeking are.
Yes, Federal Labor has promised a similar plan to allow casuals to convert to permanency nationally, but only through giving unions the power to negotiate such arrangements through the award system.
This case goes further - it will endeavour to establish some firm principles around employees rights to permanence and build some rigour into the process of contracting out.
As such it will be an important statement of our preparedness to put money ahead of people's lives or whether we have, in the NSW IRC, an institution that has the vision to build a more humane workplace for the 21st century.
Peter Lewis
Editor
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