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| Issue No 95 |  |
11 May 2001 |
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NewsCarr Government Avoids Own Safety Laws
A NSW Government Department has argued in court that it is not covered by the State's workplace safety laws, in a bid to avoid a prosecution by the WorkCover Authority. The Department of Public Works and Services has mounted the argument while facing a WorkCover prosecution for breach of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Public Service Association general secretary Maurie O'Sullivan says that no Government body in New South Wales up to now has claimed to be above the law. "That DPW&S now claims such privilege is a sad day for fair play and even a sad day for the law in New South Wales," O'Sullivan says. "It is a much sadder day for the people who may have a very just and legitimate grievance with that government employer. "Across New South Wales the Government is the biggest of all employers and there is something rotten in the state if it now claims to be able to legally abrogate its responsibility to its employees. Referring the matter to a meeting of all Labor Council affiliates, secretary Michael Costa said it was an "outrageous argument for the Government to be mounting, particularly in the context of the current workers compensation debate." "If this is the law, we'll be asking the Minister for Industrial Relations to legislate to change the law to ensure all government departments are subject to safety laws," he says. Costa says this should be included in the workers compensation reform package currently before the State Parliament. Unions-Della Seeks 'Mutual Satisfaction' Meanwhile, Monday is the deadline for an escalation of industrial action over the Della Bosca reform package. Unions have put the government on notice that action will be reactivated if agreement is not reached on amendments to ensure injured workers are not left worse off under the package. The Labor Council's negotiating committee voted last week for a seven day extension to their moratorium after Della Bosca gave a written undertaking that: "The reform package will not proceed until consultation is concluded to our mutual satisfaction While the respective interpretations of this letter led to some confusion, both Costa and Della Bosca publicly stated their confidence that an agreement could be reached. That faith will be put to the test at Monday's report back. Workers across the state remain on alert for statewide action on May 29 - this alert will remain in place until a suitable package is agreed to. 10,000 More Reasons to Look After injured Workers The formal petition against the WorkCover changes has passed 10,000 signatures. This includes more than 300 petitions that have been delivered over the website The Labor Council's campaign committee will this week consider when this will be handed over to the Parliament.
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   Interview: Geek GuysTwo of the union movement�s pioneers in new technology, Peter Ross and Mark McGrath, chew the fat about wired unionism and virtual politics. Compo: Costa�s Angels Behind the spotlight of the workers comp campaign four women trade union officials have been burning the midnight oil to protect injured workers. Legal: View from the BenchCompensation Court judge and former Attorney-General, Frank Walker, argues the Della Bosca workers comp reforms are a threat to judicial independence. International: Timor: Time for the TruthHT Lee was in Dili when the militas ran rampage. Now he wants the truth to come out. History: True BelieversFrank Bongiorno looks at the origins of the Australian Labor Party, which celebrated its centenary of Caucus this week. Corporate: Trust Me, I�m a Multi-National!BHP unions have united across the factions to urge �No� vote on the planned Billiton merger. Unions: AWAs � A Doomed Future?ACTU Assistant Secretary Richard Marles plays clairvoyant and predicts a dismal future for AWAs. Satire: Bush Defends One China Policy - Then Another China Policy, Then Another ....President Bush today announced a major change to the United States� policy of �strategic ambiguity� towards the status of Taiwan and its One China policy. Review: Surviving SurvivorWorkers Online's Reality TV correspondent Mark Morey rakes over the coals of the Survivor II result.
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