
Issue No 59		23 June 2000

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News

Union Rat Sinks Industrial Laws

The intervention of a former union leader has prompted cross-bench MPs to block a key aspect of the Carr Government's industrial relations reform package.

The key Upper House members, who hold the balance of power, advised the Carr Government they would defer the entire package over concerns about the regulation independent contractors after being lobbied by former FIME national secretary Steve Harrison.

Harrison had approached the minor party representatives and independents under the guise of the Australian Independent Contractors Association.

Labor Council assistant secretary John Roberston says some of the crossbenchers may have been under the false impression that Harrison was representing a peak group, rather than his own private company.

The key concerns voiced by many of the crossbenchers was the implications of regulating independent contractors in area such as housing, forestry and retail.

Robertson says the government has now deferred consideration of the independent contractor provisions until the next session of Parliament in an attempt to get the rest of the Bill through now.

"What this means is that people compelled to work as independent contractors must wait another six months before they receive any justice," he says.

George to Chair Inquiry

Meanwhile, former ACTU president Jennie George has been appointed to chair the taskforce into the labor hire industry for the Carr Government to commence next week.

The inaugural meeting of the Taskforce will be held at the Department of Industrial Relations next Monday.

The taskforce will examine:

� the employment relationship between workers, labour hire companies and host employers in different Australian jurisdictions and whether NSW legislation should be clarified or varied

� consider OHS obligations and whether legislation should be clarified or varied

Unions will be represented on the Taskforce by Michael Costa, Russ Collison (AWU), Bernie Roirdan (ETU), Annie Owens (LHMU) and Andrew Ferguson (CFME).

New Holiday laws

More success for the Carr Government in passing the Industrial Relations Amendment (Leave) Bill 2000 currently before the Upper House is designed to replace two Acts nearly 60 years old and 45 years old respectively.

"The new laws are clearly written in plain English and provide more flexible arrangements appropriate to the modern workforce making it easier for employers and employees alike," NSW Industrial Relations minister Jeff Shaw says.

The new legislation:

� allows for at least five days of annual leave in single days instead of minimum blocks of several days

� extends the period within which annual leave must be taken from six months to within one year

� removes the discriminatory requirement that an employee must be over 21 years before he or she can accumulate pro rata long service leave where the services are terminated for reasons beyond the control of the employee

� requires that annual leave for part-time employees will be based on the number of weekly hours being worked at the date of commencing leave or the average weekly number of hours worked over the previous 12 months, whichever is the greater

� removes the requirement that annual leave be paid in advance where employers and employees agree that payment continue in accordance with the normal pay cycle.

"These reforms replace antiquated legislation based on prescribing to the workforce how and when they should take leave. The new laws give both employers and employees far greater flexibility to organise their own arrangements within reasonable guidelines."

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Issue 59 contents

Interview: Holding the Line
Diwan Shankar, Assistant National Secretary of the Fiji TUC, is in Australia to consolidate support for his members and plead for ongoing bans.

Technology: D-Day for VC?
NSW Labor Council secretary Michael Costa explains the motivations behind the new Get on Board computer-internet venture.

Legal: Knock, Knock - Who's There?
When the nine year old son of CFMEU construction division state secretary Andrew Ferguson recently responded to a Saturday door knock, it was neither a friend nor a Jehovah's Witness.

Unions: Are You a Good Listener ?
Mark Hearn goes inside the Energy Australia call centre to find a workplace where there is a code for evrything - even trips to the toilet.

International: Union Observers Barred from Zimbabwe Poll
Five observers from the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) and 19 other South Africans aligned to Zimbabwe's Catholic Commission for Peace and Justice are among 233 observers barred by the Zimbabwean government from monitoring the parliamentary elections.

History: Community, Class, and Comparison
Despite its occasional romantic tendencies, new labour scholarship is mapping collective action within working class communities.

Satire: Rural Poor Return to Labor
Thrilled by the great new branding, the new Country Labor party has caused scenes of great rejoicing in the country.

Review: The Wicked Webs We Weave
LaborNet web-meastro Paul Howes trawls the web for some hot sites for all you political junkies.

» STOP PRESS: Get on Board Moves Virtual

» Orange at Risk - Call for City's Help

» Unions to Get Equity in New Computer Deal

» Aussie Competition Laws Protect Fijian Terrorists

» Union Rat Sinks Industrial Laws

» Olympic Rail Deal Struck for Games Period

» GST Fears for Union Delegates

» No Cigars for Casino High Rollers

» Frustration Boils Over Olympics Blowout

» Support for Campaign Against TAFE Cuts

» Private Sector Health Workers Seek Pay Equity

» Bosses Hoist on Own Petard

» Construction Industry Assists East Timor Training

» AFL-CIO Leader to Address Congress

» Full ACTU Congress Coverage on LaborNet