
Issue No 76		03 November 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Senate Slams State Sector AWAs

THE CPSU is hailing yesterday's Senate committee's unanimous report on AWAs in the public service as a "complete vindication" of its strong stance opposing individual contracts.

National secretary Wendy Caird urged the Government to adopt a string of recommendations from the multi-party Finance and Public Administration References Committee, which was openly critical of the way individual agreements have been applied in the public sector.

"People have been forced to take AWAs when a collective agreement, open to public scrutiny, is more appropriate," she said.

"Individual, undisclosed performance bonuses don't sit well in an environment based on teamwork and public accountability. They open the door to favouritism and a loss of independence.

"The Australian Public Service has a proud record of community service, based on openness and accountability.

"When you trample those principles you threaten the credibility of the organisation."

Senators from all major parties, including Liberals and Nationals, signed up for the unanimous report which recommends against performance bonuses and expresses concern about the affects of AWAs on public service integrity.

Amongst senate committee recommendations to Government are...

that public service agencies make AWAs available on request
that a service-wide system of reporting on agreement-making and remuneration be instituted
that, ideally, individual performance bonuses be discontinued but, if they are to continue, they be capped and disclosed in annual reports.

Ms Caird described the 77-page report as "excellent".

"It exposes Government duplicity in dealing with its own employees," she said. "They talk openness but practise secrecy and obstruction.

"The committee describes the way AWAs are used in some agencies as being 'in conflict with community values and expectations of an accountable public service' and they are right on the money."

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  Issue 76 contents

Interview: Withering On The Vine
Cooking shows and 'Bugs fucking to Mozart' may become the staple diet on our ABC as news and current affairs face a war of attrition. Quentin Dempster gives Workers Online an insider's view of our endangered national broadcaster .

US Election: Sugar Candy Politics
Like in everything else, Americans like their politics sugar coated. A Nation in denial, they are happier maintaining the fantasy that the world is a fine and dandy place says Michael Gadiel.

US Election: George W. Bushwhacked by Texas Truth Squad
The Texas Truth Squad are a group of Texan union members travelling the US on a crusade to expose the Republican presidential nominee as a corporate rogue who in his time as Governer proved himself as an enemy of the worker.

History: Federation and the Labour Movement
National celebrations will mark the Centenary of Federation next year. The labour movement's opposition to Federation at the referenda held around the Australian colonies in 1899 will attract less commemoration, although the republicans of 1999 might have benefited from reflection on the causes of working class discontent one hundred years earlier says Stuart Macintyre.

International: Unions Mac Their Day
McDonald's - the biggest employer of young people around the world - is increasingly becoming the target of union recognition campaigns, backed by human rights groups concerned about the fast food chains practices in countries such as Indonesia, China, Russia, Canada and Germany.

Satire: Wiranto�s charity album inspires genocidal maniacs everywhere
Indonesia�s favourite former strongman, General Wiranto, has recently decided to record an album of love songs. Entitled To You My Indonesia, Wiranto�s album has already sold 8,000 copies and is raising money for refugees.

Review: What About the Workers?
A big, gruff bloke in a blue singlet, on strike or just not working, and generally being difficult. That's the trade unionist for you. Barry Cohen's new book What About the Workers? shows this image may have a bit of truth about it, but he would be telling a few good yarns while he was standing about.

» Unions Seek Community Backing For $28 Pay Rise

» Retailers Renege On Fairwear Code

» Senate Slams State Sector AWAs

» TAB Bosses' Gamble Threatens Cup Day

» Fijian Workers Fear Economic Meltdown

» Outsource or Perish Says Government

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» Union Women Set The Pace

» Toxic Foreign Flag Ship Threatens Reef

» Push For 'Casuals' Parental Leave

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» White Boys Talk About Black History

» Senate Asks ANU To 'Please Explain' Archive Cuts