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Issue No. 305 | 05 May 2006 |
Contract With Australia
Interview: Out of the Bedroom Industrial: Cloak and Dagger Unions: Lockout! Legal: The Fantasy of Choice Politics: Labor Pains Economics: Economics and the Public Purpose Corporate: House of Horrors History: Clash Of Cultures International: Childs Play Culture: Folk You Mate! Review: Last Holeproof Hero
Plant Fission for Cost Savings Aussie Bushman Pronounced Dead Unmask the Puppeteers, Union Demands King of Onkaparinga Cries Poor
The Soapbox The Locker Room Parliament
Labor Council of NSW |
News Spotless Bosses Blame Howard
Spotless Services has become the first company to invoke Australian Business Limited's advice to blame the Prime Minister for conditions being whittled away, with a letter to the LHMU (Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union) saying its hands were clean on the paycut. The letter said the company - which almost tripled its last financial year from $23 million to $56 million - had no choice but to cut rates to stay competitive. "Spotless' competitors (including future competitors who are new entrants to the defence contracting industry) will have significantly increased flexibility and decreased costs due to the new options under the new Work Choices system," the letter states. The LHMU is in enterprise agreement negotiations with Spotless for cleaners at army bases in Melbourne and Puckapunyal. The company offered a four per cent increase each year over three years on the condition work hours be extended and casual and part-time loading be decreased. LHMU Victorian Secretary Brian Daley said the current base rate of $468.45 was already below the Defence Award rate of $484.40. "Spotless is the first cab off the rank and their action could lead to widespread undercutting in the industry," Daley said. The company is also embroiled in a dispute at The Alfred Hospital with the HSU (Health Services Union). The HSU claims Spotless is planning to cut jobs and pay conditions of 320 workers. Spotless employs more than 27,000 people worldwide and services 20,000 clients throughout Australia and New Zealand, according to the company website.
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