
Issue No 97		25 May 2001

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News

Natasha’s Democrats Face Senate IR Test

The Australian Democrats industrial relations credentials will be put on the line before the federal election, after the Howard government moved to push through laws banning service fees for non-unionists.

Workplace relations minister Tony Abbott introduced a Bill into Parliament this week that purports to outlaw service fees being written into enterprise agreements.

The service fee approach as emerged as one way of ensuring non-union members pay their way. A majority of workers can vote to place a clause in an enterprise agreement - a principle upheld by the Australian Industrial relations Commission earlier this year.

Under the Abbott Bill, any form of bargaining fee would be banned unless a person agreed to the fee in writing. In his explanatory notes to the Bill, Abbott claims syuch clauses breach freedom of association principles.

The Democrats have previously indicated their support for principles of 'freedom of choice' but with a new leadership team, trade unions will be arguing they should block the legislation in the Senate.

Labor Council secretary Michael Costa says the Democrats' position will be a good test of their new leadership direction.

"While Andrew Murray has indicated he would support this sort of legislation in the past on 'freedom of choice' grounds, we would be hoping that the new leadership team has a better understanding of the issue," Costa says.

"As we have argued in the past - the 'freedom' to benefit form the work of trade unions in negotiating wage increases, is akin to the 'freedom' not to pay taxes or council rates.

"It is a service all benefit from and the loyal members of the trade union movement are sick of footing the bill for those who don't feel they need to be part of the collective."

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Issue 97 contents

Interview: The Big Bribe
ACTU president Sharan Burrow emerges from the Federal Budget lock-up to ask where is the Howard Government’s vision for the future?

Compo: Where To Now?
As the dust settles in the WorkCover war, we look at what's been achieved and what still needs to be resolved.

Unions: The Real Big Brother
Have you ever got the feeling someone is watching you? If you work in one of the 4000 Call Centres in Australia then you’re probably right.

International: The Not-So Shakey Isles
NZ Council of Trade Union secretary Paul Goulter looks at life for the workers under a Labour Government.

Corporate: BHP: The Bit Australian
The BHP Billiton merger was an act of corporate tyranny. And, as Zoe Reynolds report, humanity does not figure on a corporate balance sheet.

History: A Proud Tradition of Mediocrity
Budgets always generate hype and a media circus, especially in the lead up to elections. This one is no exception and the Coalition consistency in panic and lack of ideas is reassuring in its lack of ideas.

Review: Ideologically Sound
Mark Hebblewhite trawls through the CD rack to dispel the notion that there's no politics left in pop.

Satire: HIH Recovers Own Losses
The collapsed insurance company HIH has lodged a claim with another insurer to be reimbursed for its $4 billion loss.

» Spotlight on HIH’s WorkCover Link

» Construction Industry Faces Safety Crisis

» Statewide Strike Off But Della on Notice

» David and Goliath Battle at IBM

» Natasha’s Democrats Face Senate IR Test

» Howard Abandons Working Families

» City Councils Recognise Birth – Now for the Bush

» BHP Forced to Back Off Kembla AWAs

» Impulse Bores Workers Into Submission

» Coach Drivers Win Permanency

» Boss Pockets Compo Payment

» Union Wins Battle in AWA War

» Publicans Want to Reduce Bar Pay

» Abbott Agrees to Ban Asbestos

» Union Acts to Save Leichhardt Refuge

» Trade Union Choir Turns Ten

» Activists' Notebook