E D I T O R I A L

Lord of the Lobster Legs
It was probably only shame that prompted the Prime Minister to drag himself away from a $250 per head fundraiser to meet with a group of emergency workers in Wollongong this week. But, this in itself may be a development.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Under Fire
Michael Crosby outlines his agenda to save the movement – and explains why Australians have nothing to fear from the SEIU.

Politics: And the Winners Are ...
Wal King, Allan Moss, Roger Corbett, Chip Goodyear, Michael Chaney and David Murray have lots in common, writes Jim Marr.

Industrial: Un-Australian
Labour lawyer Clive Thompson argues the changes to IR are fundamentally at odds with the national tradition of consesensus.

Economics: The Common Wealth
As the policy wonks debate the future of our cities, Neale Towart mounts a simple argument: It’s the real people in a society, stupid

History: Walking for Justice
The Eight Hour Day, a very Australian celebration, had its origins in New Zealand it seems, writes Neale Towart.

International: Deja Vu
A group of trade unions have walked away from America's peak council, again. Labourstart's Eric Lee was there.

Legal: The Rights Stuff
Terror laws have sparked a fresh debate on a Bill of Rights - and workers have a bigger stake than ever before, writes Rachael Osman-Chin.

Review: That Cinderella Fella
Russell trades the phone for mitts in an inspiring cinematic slug-fest. Nathan Brown is ringside

Poetry: Is Howard Kidding?
Mel Cheal asks who Howard thinks he is kidding to the tune of the ‘Dad’s Army’ theme song.

N E W S

Family Grieves an Enterprise Worker

All Quiet in Dandenong

Hotline Gets Wires Crossed

High Flyer Crashes Families

Bolt Strikes Lecturer

Good Heavens - Della Plays Santa

Maori Take Challenge to Canberra

Drips Fail Water Test

Hardie Shuts the Door

Hadgkiss Threatens Protesters

Army Fires Salvo

The Munro Doctrine

IR Sparks Emergency Call

Tassie Jobs Hit By Truck

Canberra Coy on Promised Statements

Inquiry to Speak No Evil

Activist's What's On!

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
No Place For A Woman!
Doreen Borrow spoke to the Public Service Association’s women’s conference in September about her experiences of working life that span seven decades.

Postcard
North By Northwest
Phil Doyle returns from up north, where he survived on nothing but goodwill, good people and a great big orange bus.

The Locker Room
Disaster
In which Whatsisname slams the recent poor form of Thingummyjig.

Parliament
The Westie Wing
Our favourite MP, Ian West MLC, gets all casual in his latest missive from the Bear Pit.

L E T T E R S

WHAT YOU CAN DO

	About Workers Online
	Latest Issue
	Print Latest Issue
	Previous Issues
	Advanced Search

other LaborNET sites

Labor Council of NSW
Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation

Hotline Gets Wires Crossed

In response to an inquiry to the hotline, an operator told Workers Online an employer could not make signing an AWA a condition of employment under the Government's proposed changes.

This contradicts the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations' own policy of employing all new staff on the condition of signing AWAs.

It also contradicts the Government's WorkChoices booklet, which gives the example of jobseeker "Billy" whose new job is "contingent on signing an AWA".

Instead, the WorkChoices operator said if an employer was trying to make accepting a job conditional on signing an AWA, they should be reported immediately to the Office of the Employment Advocate (OEA).

The ability of bosses to force new employees onto AWAs under existing laws was confirmed after a South Australian Industrial Relations Commission ruling in August.

"I accept it is lawful to require a new employee to sign an AWA as a pre-condition of employment irrespective of the fact it this is hardly a matter of real choice from the employee's point of view," Commission Judge JP McCusker said.

There is no indication in the WorkChoices documentation the Federal Government intends to change this arrangement.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations' "No AWA No Start" policy was highlighted earlier this year when it was revealed new employees were provided with forms with a 'yes' box already ticked next to the statement, "I acknowledge my commitment to sign an Australian Workplace Agreement".

Unions NSW Secretary John Robertson said it was clear the government was putting its own spin ahead of giving people the facts.

"The fact is these changes are about removing choice - a fact that has already been demonstrated by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations," Robertson said.

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 286 contents

© 1999-2002 Workers Online
Workers Online is a resource for the Labour movement
provided by the Labor Council of NSW
URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/286/news3_crossed.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005

Workers Online is proudly designed, engineered
and created by Social Change Online