
Issue No 93		27 April 2001

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News

Queenslanders Call for End to Employer Theft

The Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) has called on employers to stop stealing overtime entitlements from employees.

This week the Working Hours Conference in Brisbane heard that more and more employees are working excessive hours in overtime and according to The Working Time Arrangements in Queensland report by the Australian Centre for Industrial Relations Research and Training the majority of this overtime is unpaid.

QCU General Secretary Grace Grace said it was about time employers did the right thing and start paying workers for their overtime.

"A lot of workers are working reasonable and required overtime which they are not being paid for," she said.

"The QCU accusation is that by not paying this entitlement, employers are essentially taking bread out of the mouths of workers and their families," Ms Grace said.

"All Awards and Agreements have an overtime provision so there is no excuse" she said.

"Employers need to start meeting their responsibility to workers and start paying their workers overtime entitlements or let them go home to their families," Ms Grace said.

"This is an issue that affects not only workers but their families," she said.

"Workers are often unwilling to raise this issue with their employers for fear of losing their jobs or at the least, face intimidation and victimisation in the workplace," Ms Grace said.

"These circumstances are totally unacceptable," she said.

"The QCU calls on employers to pay their responsibility to workers or hire more staff who would be more than willing to do the work," she said.

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  Issue 93 contents

Corporate: The Jobs Myth
Access Economics' Chris Richardson debunks employer claims that increased workers compensation premiums have a dramatic impact on jobs.

Interview: The Workers� Voice
When trade union stalwart Ian West took a seat in the NSW Upper House he was determined to be more than a bench-warmer. Then the Workers Comp legislation hit.

Unions: Postcard from the Pilbara
In the face of unprecedented pressure, BHP workers in the Pilbara are standing together and refusing to sign individual cotnracts.

Economics: Currency Unification: Dollarize or Die?
Dick Bryan asks what happens to an economy when it gives up its domestic currency.

History: Instant History
In his address to the Australian Labour History Conference, the SMH's Brad Norington asks whether there is still time for history.

International: The End of an Era?
The post-Cold War era is over. Something different is developing to take its place. John Passant writes.

Media: The Battle for Aunty
The CPSU's Graeme Thompson ouitlines the campaign to save the ABC and this week's emergency share-holders' meeting.

Review: Share-Holder Nation
A legacy of government-backed privatisations, demutualisations and stockmarket hype over the past decade is the creation of a nation of shareholders.

Satire: SOS: Save the Investment Banker!
Spare a thought for those less fortunate With redundancies at investment banks around the globe looming, now is the time for us to show the world just how much we care. It's just not right.

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» Queenslanders Call for End to Employer Theft

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» Activists Notebook: Workers of the World Unite

» ANZAC Special : Hundred Not Out