Maria Vamvakinou, Federal Member for Calwell, will address a public meeting on Thursday, 24 October 2005.
The meeting will allow local residents to be better informed about the Howard Governments proposed Industrial Relations changes and learn how the community can fight back.
“The Howard Governments’ attack on workers rights can only be described as ruthless. Millions of Australian employees will have their rights shredded - their current rights will not be 'protected by law' ” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“It doesn’t matter how much tax-payers money is thrown away by the Howard Government to add some shine to their proposed Industrial Relations changes, the fact is millions of people will be worse off”
“John Howard should come clean and admit the truth, that working Australians will be at the mercy of their employers”
"By abolishing unfair dismissal laws, around 4 million workers will have no job protection, leaving them to be sacked for no good reason, or no reason at all."
"Workers will be pushed onto individual contracts, with the only choice being to accept a cut in wages or conditions, or to not get the job."
"The no-disadvantage test currently ensures that workers who enter contracts cannot be undercut on Award conditions, however this test is to be abolished and replaced with only 5 minimum conditions, leaving rights such as overtime, annual leave loading and redundancy pay up for so-called negotiation“
“These changes shift all the power to the employer and to suggest that a school leaver seeking work can bargain on equal footing with any prospective employer is absurd”.
“It’s ridiculous to assert that 18 year olds can bargain on an equal footing with their employer or their prospective employer, in an environment where the protective safety nets have been removed. This is outrageous – it is a recipe for exploitation”.
“Under the Government’s plans minimum wages would be set by people specially chosen by the Government to make sure wages stay low”.
“Pensioners will also be affected, as their payments are tied to average earnings and if average wages do not increase, which they are unlikely to, then pensions will not increase. Equally if average wages are brought down, as it is suspected they will, then pensions will also be decreased”.
Labor is committed to protecting all Australian workers. Labors’ principles for a fair and productive industrial relations system are:
• The need for a strong safety net of minimum award wages and conditions.
• A strong independent umpire to ensure fair wages and conditions, and to settle disputes.
• The right for employees to bargain collectively for decent wages and conditions.
• The right for workers to reject individual contracts which cut pay and conditions, and undermine collective bargaining and union representation.
• Proper rights for Australian workers unfairly dismissed.
• The right to join a union and to be represented by a union.
The public meeting will be held in association with the Northern Communities Union Solidarity Group.
Other speakers at the meeting will include:
Marcus Clayton – Industrial Lawyer, Slater and Gordon
Martin Kingham – Secretary, Construction Union
Antony McMullen - Social Justice Officer, Uniting Church (VIC/TAS)
