News

Reith Second Wave Not Beached Yet

Unions are bracing for another assault on the industrial relations system in the new year, after the Australian Democrats blocked 13 of the 18 planks to the Howard Government's second wave reform package.

Workplace relations minister Peter Reith has announced that he intends to continue with this legislation next year and also he is currently working on his plan to use the corporations power of the Australian Constitution to attack workers' conditions.

Meanwhile, the Australian Democrats are in discussion with the Government concerning the five schedules of the Bill that they are not opposing totally.

While Reith promoted the Bill as merely a few minor adjustments to the 1996 legislation, in reality the Bill was a concerted attack on workers and unions.

The ACTU coordinated an intensive campaign at both State and National levels by the union movement seeking to have the legislation withdrawn. In conjunction with this campaign the Australian Labor Party opposed the Bill in the Parliament on the grounds that it was regressive and, on top of the major changes made in 1996, would continue to have serious and far reaching negative social impacts particularly on the most disadvantaged Australian workers.

Ultimately a Senate inquiry was held into both the effects of the 1996 legislation and the proposed Bill. More than 550 written submissions were made to the inquiry and public hearings were held around the country. Individual workers, unions as well as many community organisations made submissions opposing Peter Reith's legislation. The overwhelming evidence produced during the Senate inquiry proves beyond doubt that Peter Reith's second wave legislation was unbalanced, unnecessary and fundamentally flawed.

In addition the evidence presented relating to Peter Reith's 1996 first wave made a mockery of John Howard's promise 'that no worker will be worse off'. There was evidence that incomes have been reduced as well as a feeling of less job security now than at any time for Australian workers and their families.

Following the tabling of the report and the announcement by the Australian Democrats that they would oppose 13 of the 18 parts of the Bill the Government effectively withdrew the Bill for this year

This however is not the end of the debate -- next year may prove to be an even more critical year for workers as Reith is likely to press even harder in his attack on workers basic terms and conditions.

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 42 contents

»	What Price Aussie Jobs as Olympics Loom
»	TWU Activist Named Organiser of the Year
»	Unions Lock in New Years Eve Deals
»	'Scrooge' Destroys Staff Christmas
»	Rule Changes to Restructure Council
»	The Great Salary Rip-Off
»	George to Kick Start NSW IR Reforms?
»	Shaw Loses Key Advisers
»	More New Faces at the New ACTU
»	Reith Second Wave Not Beached Yet
»	Peace in the Gong
»	Workers Support Register Gathers Steam
»	Pay Equity Enters Campaign Mode
»	Union Aid Agency to Establish Dili Office
»	Job Vacancies at the LHMU

»	Guest Report
»	Sport
»	Trades Hall
»	Piers Watch

»	Aquilina's Insult
»	Well Done 1999
»	US Union Site Worth a Look

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