Workers Deserve A Christmas Break

Date: 02 March 2004

NSW workers deserve time off over the Christmas-New Year break, even when the big days fall on Saturday as they do in 2004, the NSW Labor Council said today.

Labor Council secretary John Robertson said revelations that special public holidays had not been gazetted for this year's festive season were an insult to hard-working men and women in NSW.

Mr Robertson called on Commerce Minister John Della Bosca to follow the practice of previous governments and proclaim additional holidays for the following Mondays.

"Australian workers are amongst the hardest-working in world and it is not too much to expect a few days with families over the Christmas-New Year break," Mr Roberston said.

"This is a work and family issue, there is no way most workers could get through the bustle of the festive season merely relying on weekends off work.

"Arguments by employers that the extra ho0lidays are too costly are as mean-sproroted as they are predictable.

"Indeed, the previous Greiner-Fahey governments- hardly champions of the workers - recognised it was only fair to shift the holiday to Monday when it fell on a Saturday."

Mr Robertson said he would be seeking an urgent meeting with Mr Della Bosca to clarify the issue.

For further information

WWW:	http://workers.labor.net.au/

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