
Issue No 54		19 May 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Exit Visas for Child Care Workers

You can tell that child care workers are among Australia's working poor when a credit card company gives a thumbs down to an application for a new card.


	Childcare Workers Take a Stand

After all credit card companies are out there pushing and pushing their products.

This week Meaghan Jones had to confront the reality of her status when she was told she couldn't get a Visa card.

Meaghan - who didn't want us to use her real name 'cause she was embarrassed that the credit card company had given her a big raspberry - rang the Child Care Union after that and wished them well in their current campaign to improve child care pay and defend their conditions.

The case goes back to the Industrial Relations Commission again next Tuesday (May 23).

Meaghan Jones told the LHMU: " Visa told me there were three conditions I had to meet to get a credit card:

� I had to be over eighteen (that was well and truly OK);

� I had to pass a credit check (I got a tick on that); and

� I had to show I would earn over $25,000 this year (I fluffed out here)"

Commissioner Redman will hear the submission of the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU), who represent child care workers. The Union has called eight witnesses, one of whom told of the stress of being left in a room with 12 two year olds.

The Union is opposing an Employer's Federation claim that would

� allow open slather temporary contracts

� virtually wipe out RDO's from the industry and

� cut back meal break entitlements

Earlier this week Child Care workers held a boisterous rally in front of the Commission to back their opposition to the employer claims and support the Union push for a $41 per week wage increase.

The LHMU submission argue strongly against the child care employers demand to provide temporary contracts in the industry and is supported by the Labor Council of NSW.

Already between 13 per cent to 20 per cent of the industry - which employs more than 15,000 workers - involves a casual workforce.

" If the employers win this demand to employ child care workers on a temporary basis for part of a year it would significantly reduce wages," Sonia Minutillo, Executive Vice-President of the Child Care Union in NSW said..

For example an employee taken on for a nine month term - and then there is a period of 3 months before their next engagement - would effectively earn 75 per cent of what a permanent employee would earn.

" The commitment to a career in child care would be undermined by the temporary contracts, experienced workers would drift away into alternative jobs where they wouldn't have to worry about the insecurity of temporary work... and low pay," Ms Minutillo said.

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  Issue 54 contents

Interview: South of the Border
Victorian Trades Hall chief Leigh Hubbard on life under Bracks, militant unionism and why more people march in Melbourne.

Politics: Jeff Shaw's Second Wave
The full text of the NSW Industrial Relations Minister's speech to Labor Council announcing the Carr Government's IR reform agenda.

Unions: Reith's Laws: Just Say NO
The ACTU has called on Labor and the Democrats to reject Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith's anti-industry bargaining Workplace Relations 2000 Bill out right.

History: A Breed Of Their Own
Labour historian Greg Patmore explains what makes his fraternity tick - and why they're still going strong and making history.

International: Sony's Asian Showdown
The Japanese electronic giant Sony is threatening to shutdown production facilities in Indonesia - where a prolonged strike has cost it US$200milliom - and move to next door Malaysia where electronic workers are banned from forming a union.

Human Rights: Good Guys, Bad Guys
Everywhere we look -in our newspapers, on the television, in reports by business leaders, academics and politicians - advocacy of human rights seems to be on a collision course with governmental and business interests.

Review: New Workers, New Challenges
A new wave of thought is arguing that working life is changing - but this doesn't necessarily deal unions out the action.

Satire: Rain Man Withdraws Endorsement of Qantas
After the third major safety incident in the space of a year, Qantas has lost the confidence of the most famous public supporter of its once unblemished safety record, the autistic star of Rain Man, Raymond.

» Carr Moves on Casuals

» Democrats Wavering on Reith Bill

» Exit Visas for Child Care Workers

» GST Pay Claims to Target Allowances

» Tide Turns On Competitive Tendering

» Joy Takes Message To The World

» Mines Out as Rio Tinto Torps Talks

» Political Economy for Activists, 2000

» Unions March for Reconciliation

» STOP PRESS: AK-47s used in coup against union-aligned Fiji Labour Government