
Issue No 56		02 June 2000

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News

Beazley Blocks Contracts as Reith Hits New Wall

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley has vowed to scrap Australian Workplace Agreements, as the rank and file campaign against Peter Reith's latest assault on industrial relations gathers steam.

Thousands of Sydney workers will rally outside the Australian Democrat offices on Monday to encourage the minor party to help Labor block new changes that would outlaw industry wide bargaining.

While the Howard Government claims the changes are designed to stop action by militant building unions, the rally will be addressed from workers from the finance, retail and entertainment sectors to show how the laws will hurt all workers.

The broad campaign to pressure the Democrats appears to be working, with Demorcrats IR spokesman Andrew Murray indicating this week that the legislation was more flawed than he firs thought.

Pressure can be maintained on the Dems by going to the ACTU's webpage and signing the online picket. This can be found at: http://www.actu.asn.au

Labor Winds Back tide

Meanwhile, Beazley this week delivered the inaugural Fraser Lecture, where he outlined the industrial relations policy he would take to the next election.

Central to the policy will be three clear principles, as he outlined this week:

"Firstly, we will restore the powers of the independent umpire, the Industrial Relations Commission, so that it can bring back fairness in the workplace, act in the public interest, and keep the industrial peace.

"Secondly, it is essential, especially as arbitration gives way to bargaining, that the law require all parties to negotiate in good faith. Our law will support the primacy of -- and we will give precedence to -- collective forms of bargaining. But it will insist on good faith bargaining, whatever bargaining options are preferred.

"Thirdly, our law will recognise that the right of employees to act, organise and protect themselves collectively is a fundamental element of justice in the workplace."

Beazley says while he had been prepared to consider maintaining AWAs in a revised form, the evidence suggested they were beyond sal

He described them as "an expensive and complicated process with a $45 million bureaucracy to run it but which applies to less than 1% of the workforce."

"We have costed these AWAs at about $500 each, taking into account work hours in their handling. This compares with around $22 for each worker covered under the collective agreements covered by the Industrial Relations Commission,"

Amongst other promises was a restating of Labor's vow to abolish the Office of the Employment Advocate.

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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)