ACTU Attack IR Law Regulations
March 22 2006 - Not surprisingly, Australian unions have
attacked the details of regulations relating to the Government's new industrial relations
laws recently released by Workplace Minister Kevin Andrews, describing them as 'harsh
new Federal Government fines and penalties for workers
and unions and a crackdown on union activity in the workplace'.
Union critics point to Federal
Government fines of between $6,000 and $33,000 for seeking commitments
from employers around job security or fair treatment processes and claim that many
basic union activities in the workplace have been effectively outlawed.
ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said:
"These laws are an affront to basic Australian democratic rights. They
impose harsh fines on Australian workers and unions simply for standing
up for fundamental values like job security and fair treatment for
employees.
"Under the regulations workers or unions who even ask to have certain
matters contained in a workplace agreement will be fined by the
Government. For example, an individual or union that seeks to have some
protection from harsh or unfair dismissal for workers written into a
workplace agreement will be fined $6,000 and $33,000 respectively by
the Government - even where their employer also wants or agrees to such
a provision.
"The question that the Federal Government and Kevin Andrews need to
answer is why should a worker or a union be fined by the Government for
trying to make jobs more secure or asking for fair treatment for
workers?
"These are things of fundamental importance to workers and working
families - job security and fair treatment - but the Government is
saying it will now be illegal for workers or unions to even ask for
these things.
"The laws also provide for fines for workers or unions who seek
commitments in agreements that union or OH&S representatives will have
access to training or that union members be allowed to meet to discuss
workplace issues. Clauses regulating the use of independent contractors
or labour hire employees have also been banned.
"These laws infringe the basic rights of every Australian worker. They
will increase the pressure on people in the workplace and put more
pressure on the incomes and lifestyles of Australian working families.
The Federal Government has produced no valid argument, evidence or
justification as to why such laws are necessary."