June 19 2005 - The ACTU and Australian unions have launched
an $8 million advertising campaign attacking the Howard Government's industrial relations changes.
TV and radio advertisements will run in all state capitals and
regional areas. The advertisements are designed to raise awareness of the unions' claims
that changes in industrial relations changes will
take away key rights at work. The advertisements are intended to show how taking away
rights to unfair dismissal can wreak havoc on Australian families and
how individual contracts will undermine job security and take home pay.
Few Australians are aware of the proposed changes, according to ACTU
President Sharan Burrow, but, she claims, once they
understand the changes they overwhelmingly opposed them.
"Now that he has control of the Senate John Howard is trying to take
away workers' rights by pushing through complex legal changes with
little public debate. The challenge for unions is to make the public
aware about what is at stake and hold the government accountable for
this attack on working families."
Unions will back the advertising campaign with action in workplaces and
communities around the nation.
"Making work less secure impacts on families and the community. These
laws are not just an attack on unions they are and attack on the living
standards of every Australian worker. They would be a backward step for
working families at a time when many of them are already struggling
just to keep their heads above water", Ms Burrow said.