Issue No 74 | 20 October 2000 | |
NewsEmployers Reject Individual Contracts
An Australian Business Limited survey has found that only 1% of Australian workers in less than 3% of Australian workplaces are covered by Peter Reith's AWAs.
Responding to the report ACTU Secretary Greg Combet has labelled Peter Reith's Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) individual contracts an abject failure. "We have known for some time that Australian workers don't like Peter Reith's secretive and divisive individual contracts. What these figures show is that Australian employers are also turning their backs on Mr Reith's AWA's," said Mr Combet. 'The Working it out? Why employers choose the agreements they do' report was prepared by the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations, Research and Training based on the results of a comprehensive survey of Australian Business Limited members. Mr Combet said the report reinforced the need for Governments to ensure that the Award system remained strong and relevant. The report found that Awards are the most common form of arrangement governing wages and conditions for more than 37% of workers in 40% of workplaces. "Awards remain the most important mechanism we have for ensuring that Australian working people, especially the low paid, are able to maintain a decent standard of living," said Mr Combet. Next month, the ACTU will launch its Living Wage 2000 campaign. The campaign will aim to have Award rates of pay increased to maintain and improve living standards for low paid workers. "Many working families are doing it tough. They are really struggling in the face of huge increases in petrol prices, interest rates and GST price rises. There needs to be a significant increase in Award rates of pay to ensure that the low paid are not left behind," said Mr Combet.
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Interview: Politics Italian Style Italian journalist's union official Rodolfo Falvo talks to Peter Lewis about Italy's Rupert Murdoch and why Italian politics is so crazy. Unions: A Partnership That Works Students at Williamstown High in Victoria are benefiting from a creative partnership with TAFE and the Electrical Trades Union. Kevin Peoples reports. International: Fiji Paymasters Fill Their Own Pockets The Interim Administration imposed on the people of Fiji, as a result of the coup-makers, have voted themselves a hefty pay increase at the same time as they demand public sector workers take a twelve per cent pay cut. Politics: USA Campaign 2000 - On the Road Michael Gadiel reports on the thrills, spills, highs and lows of the US Presidential Election. Women: Party Girl 'You can take the girl out of the Port, but you can't take the Port out of the girl' - Stephanie Key recounts her life as a feminist in a male bastion, the Transport Workers Union. Satire: Telstra to issue $50,000 Reith Phonecard CANBERRA, Monday: Telstra have announced Peter Reith-themed phonecard. The phonecard allows friends and family to make $50,000 worth of phone calls on it before you receive a bill. Plus, you only have to pay the bill in total if there is sufficient public outrage, otherwise the card costs just $950. Review: Health, Wealth and Mutual Obligations Mutual obligation for the poor only, increasing income inequality and a widening health gap. Welcome to the 21st century -or is it the 19th?
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