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  Issue No 40 Official Organ of LaborNet 19 November 1999  

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News

Reith Calls on States to Split Entitlement Costs


Workplace relations minister Peter Reith has told the States they will have to split the costs of any entitlement protection scheme on a 50-50 basis.

Reith told today's meeting of state and federal labour ministers that he would not need State financial support to convinvce Treasurer Peter Costello and the Cabinet to approve the protection package, sparked by the plight of the Oakdale miners.

Sources at the meeting say Reith put up two proposals, both costed at $100 million to set up, for either a compulsory insurance scheme or a government-funded scheme.

But he conceded neither scheme would fully reimburse workers for lost entitlements and no details were offered as to where the thresholds should lie.

Queensland indicated in principle support, NSW said it would have to go to Cabinet, although NSW industrial relations minister said he wanted the matter dealt with urgently.

It is also understood that Financial Services Minister Joe Hockey is moving forward with changes to corporations law propsed by Shaw at the height of the Oakdale criss.

These include holding comany directors and employers personally liable for unpaid entitlements.

New Balance on Council

Enjoying a majority for the first time in a decade, the Labor States have used a meeting of state and federal industrial relations ministers to promote a common agenda.

From being in a minority of one just two years ago, Shaw was this week joined by Paul Braddy (Queensland), Monica Gould (Victoria) and Peter Patmore (Tasmania) at the regular meeting..

In joint statement after the meeting the Labor ministers:

- condemned the federal government for dragging its feet on the protection of employee entitlements.

- called for a national approach to halt the exploitation of clothing outworkers.

- called for a national safety code to stem the fatality rate in the truck industry.

- and rejected the federal government's attempts to dismantle minium working conditions.

"Labor will turn the tide on the Reith wave and restore the balance in industrial relations to one of an independent umpire, equitable work conditions with minium standards and a spirit of co-operation between employers and employees which will encourage investment," they said.

It is the first time in 44 years that ALP Governments have held power along the eastern seaboard.

Focus on Truck Deaths

The Labor Ministers accused conservatives states, led by federal workplace relations minister Peter Reith of running down national safety standards, cutting projects in the National Safety Standard program by two-thirds.

"It is a national disgrace that the Federal Government has played fast and loose with workers' safety," they said.

Changes to industrial relations have also increased driver danger, with drivers forced to work longer and harder - meaning excessive speeds and fatigue on the road.

They said one agreement, approved under Reith's laws required drivers to travel at an average of 90kmh, regardless of safety conditions.

"One hundred and seventy nine people were killed in accidents involving articulated trucks on Australian roads in 1998," they said.

"The only way to stem this toll is to ensure drivers have reasonable working conditions and stringent and enforceable safety requirements in place."


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*   View entire issue - print all of the articles!

*   Issue 40 contents

In this issue
Features
*  Interview: No Quick Fix
Online pioneer Marc Belanger explains why the Internet, on its own, will not save the union movement.
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*  Unions: Organising With A Mission
Entries are beginning to trickle in for the Labor Council Organiser of the Year. With just two weeks to deadline, we look at the TWU's nominee.
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*  History: Rhyme and Reason
Poems written by workers provide us with an insight into their experiences and also how they felt about their work and working conditions.
*
*  Health: The Food Police
Three times a day you take your life in your hands. How? When you sit down to eat a meal.
*
*  Politics: East Timor: Defeat or Victory for the Left?
John Passant's "Requiem for the Left" advances some rather extravagant charges regarding the left and East Timor.
*
*  International: Kiwi Unions Rebuild from Ground Up
After fifteen years as a right wing laboratory New Zealand is about to change tack. New NZCTU chief Paul Goulter outlines the challenge ahead.
*
*  Satire: Australian Democrats Revealed as Student Hoax
The Chaser has obtained an exclusive background report on the extraordinary story which reveals how and why Cheryl Kernot defected from the Democrats.
*
*  Review: The Best of the Best
Once again Channel Nine has out done itself with it�s new Ray Martin program �Simply the Best�.
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*  Labour Review: What's New at the Information Centre
View the latest issue of Labour review, our resource for officials and students.
*
*  Deface a Face: 25,000 Teachers Can�t Be Wrong!
Angry teachers yesterday voted overwhelmingly for Education minister John Aquilina to take the mantle of this week�s face to deface.
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News
»  Contracts Fear as Teachers Sidelined
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»  Reith Calls on States to Split Entitlement Costs
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»  Burrow's Plea: Net-Heads Must Take Leadership Role
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»  Ozemail Downloading Leave Entitlements
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»  Geeks Claim 400 Per Cent for Millennium Bug Patrol
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»  Hospital Crisis Looms as Nurses Set Deadline
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»  Pre-Fab Shelter Wins UN Support in East Timor
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»  Rail Authorities Back Down on Surveillance.
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»  Rio Tinto Black List Exposed at Blair Athol
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»  Needle Stick Fears Spark Industrial Action
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»  Round One to the Cleaners
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»  Telstra's Greed Puts Service at Risk
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»  Tragic Death Leads to Lift in Contractor Safety Standards
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»  Oldfield in the Pub
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Columns
»  Guest Report
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»  Sport
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»  Trades Hall
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»  Piers Watch
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Letters to the editor
»  Letter of the Week
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»  Republican Post Mortem
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»  Aquilina's Horror Award
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»  CCT - Destroying Rural Communities
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»  Timor Pride Not Cause for Requiem
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