Unions launch advertising campaign

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.

See also:

Workplace relations poll
June 1 2005 - The ACTU has released a national survey showing that public opinion is against the Federal Government’s plans for radical changes to workplace relations.

Where do we want workplace relations to be in five years time?
February 27 2005 - What did the Minister actually say? Full text of Minister Kevin Andrews' speech.