
Issue No 56		02 June 2000

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News

Major Blow to Government Outsourcing

Government agencies would not be able to award contracts to firms that do not comply with the spirit of Labor industrial relations principles, under guidelines being developed by NSW Transport Minister Carl Scully.

The guidelines come in response to growing concern about the impact of competitive tendering on rural communities and heads off a looming ALP State Conference showdown on the issue.

Unions have argued through the State Labor Consultative Committee that competitive tendering and contracting out were unfair to public sector workers, whose conditions were not matched by the competing firms.

And with many firms bussing in workers for rail maintenance and road works, rural towns were being devastated when contracts were lost.

While Scully announced a halt to track maintenance competitive tenders last months, the guidelines represent a comprehensive approach across all his transport-related portfolios/

Under the guidelines, all enterprises tendering for projects greater than $5 million in value would have to produce an industrial relations strategy, including award or enterprise agreement, which would be referred to the Labor council.

Successful tenderers would have an obligation to evidence they were complying with all their legal and employment obligations. These would be included as performance measure sin contracts.

Labor Council secretary Michael Costa says the guidelines are an important step to restoring sanity to government enterprises.

"The process allows unions to have a say in what conditions ought to apply to work that is contracted out," he says.

Costa says the next step is to stop competitive tendering altogether and replace with it with a process of benchmarking that would give public sector workers a clear indication of requirements and then provide the opportunity, training and resources to meet them.

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Issue 56 contents

Interview: When the War is Over
Teachers Federation chief Sue Simpson has just come through the industrial dispute of a lifetime. But where to now for her members?

Politics: The Beazley Manifesto
Read the full transcript of Kim Beazley's Fraser Lecture develiered this week, where he unveiled Labor's new industrial relations platform.

Unions: Dudded on the Dock of the Bay
Until a few weeks ago Allan and Beverley Crelley had never ever heard of SERCO the big London multinational that specialises in winning contracts from governments committed to outsourcing their workers.

History: The Long March for Justice
Against the backdrop of the Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge that took place last Sunday, it is worthwhile recognising that trade unionists were actively promoting the issue decades ago.

International: UK Unions Turn the Corner
Union membership is on the rise for the first time in 20 years, indicating an early response to union recognition legislation set to come into effect next month.

Work/Time/Life: Flexible Clerks Save Hours
The Australian Services Union has successfully blocked an attempt by wholesaler Davids Limited to force clerical staff at the company's Blacktown office from flexible working hours to a standard 38 hour week.

Review: Who Really Won the War?
It might be being pulped for a reference to serial-suitor Peter Costello, but 'Waterfront' has sparked some lively debate about our recent industrial history.

Satire: Gosper's New Torch Role
A week after he was excluded from the Olympic torch relay as a result of public criticism, Kevan Gosper has been reinstated by SOCOG President Michael Knight for a special project.

» Long Service Leave Push for Short-Term Workers

» Carr Asked to Act on Fiji Crisis

» Major Blow to Government Outsourcing

» Beazley Blocks Contracts as Reith Hits New Wall

» Carr Makes Formal Offer on Olympics Pay

» Surfing Carnivals Highlights Beach Threat

» Mail Stopped Over Junk Deal

» CBA Staff To Strike Over Queues and Abuse

» Women's Bureau to Stay in DIR

» Joy's Winter of Discontent

» Advocate Pushes Pattern Bargaining

» Nike Versus The Workers

» New Safety Laws A First in Australia

» Workers March for Reconciliation

» Labour Movement Mourns Loss of Neil Marshall (11th June 1943 - 31st May 2000)