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4 October, 1999Help support the trade union campaign against a second wave of anti-union legislation in Australia.
AUSTRALIA: A major trade union campaign is underway following the introduction into Federal Parliament of the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment Bill 1999, or the so-called "second wave" of industrial relations changes, by Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith. The intention of these proposals is to "attack workers' rights in an even more vicious form," says the IMF-affiliated Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.
The reference to a "second wave" is used because of the extensive changes which were already carried out three years ago in the Workplace Relations Act 1996 by the now well-known anti-union government. And it is feared that these legislative proposals are only positioning the government for still a "third wave".
According to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the case for the present amendments has no economic, industrial or social grounds. The Bill is being mainly directed at:
- reducing the wages and conditions of employment of the lowest paid and most vulnerable employees by removing and reducing award entitlements and facilitating increased use of exploitative individual agreements, and
- restricting the ability of employees to bargain collectively with their employers and to be represented by their unions.
The campaign by the ACTU to counter the proposed amendments of the second wave is in full swing. Click on their website to get excellent background information on the entire issue, as well as on their campaign.
Any lobbying efforts you can make in opposing this unfair legislation being passed can be directed to Senator Andrew Murray, who is the Australian Democrats spokesperson on industrial relations. He may be contacted c/o Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia, Fax: (61/2) 62773767, or by e-mail: [email protected]
The reference to a "second wave" is used because of the extensive changes which were already carried out three years ago in the Workplace Relations Act 1996 by the now well-known anti-union government. And it is feared that these legislative proposals are only positioning the government for still a "third wave".
According to the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the case for the present amendments has no economic, industrial or social grounds. The Bill is being mainly directed at:
- reducing the wages and conditions of employment of the lowest paid and most vulnerable employees by removing and reducing award entitlements and facilitating increased use of exploitative individual agreements, and
- restricting the ability of employees to bargain collectively with their employers and to be represented by their unions.
The campaign by the ACTU to counter the proposed amendments of the second wave is in full swing. Click on their website to get excellent background information on the entire issue, as well as on their campaign.
Any lobbying efforts you can make in opposing this unfair legislation being passed can be directed to Senator Andrew Murray, who is the Australian Democrats spokesperson on industrial relations. He may be contacted c/o Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600, Australia, Fax: (61/2) 62773767, or by e-mail: [email protected]