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Issue No. 223 | 04 June 2004 |
Last Year�s Model
Interview: The New Democrat Bad Boss: The Ugly Australian Unions: Free Spirits and Slaves Industrial: National Focus History: A Class Act International: Across the Ditch Economics: Home Truths Review: No Time Like Tomorrow Poetry: Silent Note
Ground Staff Spread Fashion Wings Ghan Raises Trans-Continental Stink Rail Workers Cop �Beer Nannies� Big Business Plan to Cripple Compo Safety Defects Plague Adelaide Police Investigate Assault Claim
The Soapbox The Soapbox The Locker Room Politics
Labor Council of NSW |
News Union Busters Bank on Labor
Unions are asking how Suncorp-Metway, accused of running a "US-style" union busting operation in NSW, can meet terms of a ground-breaking procurement policy struck last year.
Under the deal thrashed out between Labor Council and the Carr Government, state contracts should only be awarded to companies that meet basic labour standards, including the right to organise collectively. "The Memorandum of Understanding between the Labor Council and the government is quite clear on what the Treasurer should be looking at," says Geoff Derrick from the Financial Sector Union (FSU). "That includes their attitude to unions, whether they have a cooperative attitude to their workers through their union and whether they negotiate in good faith." The state government has called for tenders to manage the state's finances and actuarial services, contracts that have been labelled amongst "the largest in Australia". Suncorp-Metway currently holds the existing tender. "Suncorp-Metway has a pathetic industrial record," says Derrick. "It's in-house 'pretend' union was so clearly in the pocket of the boss that they were refused recognition even under Reith's industrial relations laws." "They have a pathetic record on OHS consultation, which is ironic given the number of workers compensation contracts they hold." The company has also been accused of holding compulsory staff meetings were management pushes an anti-union agenda and also one on one meetings that send a "clear message that union membership is discouraged", according to the FSU. The union also points to the last round of redundancies at the financial institution where a disproportionate number of union delegates were dismissed. "We're not saying that Suncorp-Metway shouldn't get the contract," says Derrick. "We're just saying they should improve their behaviour."
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