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Issue No. 306 | 12 May 2006 |
Good Times
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
Workplace Cop Shrugs Shoulders Gerry Built Apartments Fall Behind Killer Bosses Swoop on Croweaters US: Thousands Fired For Joining Unions
The Soapbox The Locker Room Parliament
Budget Dividend The Real Truth About Independent Contractors
Labor Council of NSW |
Letters to the Editor The Real Truth About Independent Contractors
The telecommuncations industry for a number of years now has been forcing telecommunications linesworkers to become independent contractors to apply for jobs. The requirements include the "contractor" registering as a business with an ABN etc, purchase their own late model toyota hiace van ie $25K, own tools ($5K) and take out own workers compensation and other insurances ($5K) per annumn. Yet these same "contractors" are expected to sign contracts that they will work only exclusively for that company yet with no guarantee of work from that company. Excuse me, if these workers are forced to set up as their own business then don't they have the same rights as other businesses to market their services to as many telecommunications companies, other businesses and Australian households and undertake work for whom they please. And if some of these workers should have such superior marketing, resource and other skills to pursuade a number of other businesses and households to purchase telecommunications services off them rather than an existing company and can provide that service satisfactorily then shouldn't these workers be allowed to undertake that work. Wouldn't to prevent or restrict these "contractors" from accepting work for their "business" be a breach of the NSW Trade Practices Act!!! These practices are very much like me purchasing a service from an electrician or plumber stating to that electrician or plumber I would only use their service if they only worked exclusively for me even though I've probably only needed and paid for electrical or plumbing services 2 or 3 times in the past 10 years!!!! It just wouldn't wash and would be extremely unfair on those people involved.
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