ACTU Executive resolution-GST & Bill

Date: 16 May 2000

The ACTU will seek early discussions with the Democrats after the ACTU Executive voted today to condemn Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith's latest moves to resurrect his failed second wave industrial legislation.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow, chairing her first meeting of the ACTU Executive today, said the new Workplace Relations Amendment Bill was shamelessly biased in favour of employers.

The Executive voted to campaign against the Bill and called on all political parties to reject it. The ACTU and affiliate unions will also make submissions to the Senate inquiry into the Bill.

"Mr Reith has once again attacked the right of workers to bargain collectively," said Ms Burrow. "Mr Reith and the Government have shown themselves to be on one side only - the employer - by instructing the AIRC to, in effect, favour the employer's side of the argument during a dispute."

Ms Burrow said the ACTU believed that some issues must be dealt with at an industry level to allow fair coverage for all employees. This included training and apprenticeship opportunities, skills development, occupational health and safety, and the protection of employee entitlements.

The ACTU Executive also resolved to protect workers' wages against the GST following last week's Budget. The ACTU and unions will:

• Monitor the price effects of the GST in coming months
• Seek the inclusion of clauses in collective agreements that will allow for wage reviews to compensate for the GST
• Ensure adequate compensation for low-paid workers through the next Living Wage case
• Apply for higher award allowances to compensate for price rises.

"Mr Costello has been exposed as a fraud over his arguments that tax cuts would compensate for this unfair tax," said Ms Burrow.

"The Treasurer has admitted that Australians 'deserved' the tax cuts, and that they are not a 'sugar coating' designed to compensate for GST price rises. The tax cuts have become a sick joke - many people have had their cuts eroded by last week's interest rate rises, even before the GST kicks in.

"The ACTU has always said that the GST was nothing but a burden on working families. Mr Costello confirmed that in the Budget last week when the Government's price rise predictions rose to 6.75% in the September quarter."

The Executive will spend today and tomorrow considering policy reports that will be presented for debate at the ACTU's three-yearly Congress in Wollongong next month.

Hundreds of delegates will discuss policy, and debate recommendations in areas that include the economy and employment, young people and unions, wages, superannuation, collective bargaining, and industrial legislation.

For further information

Contact:	ACTU Media Officer: George Wright
Union:	ACTU
Phone:	0419 556 616
Fax:	(03) 9663 4051
Email:	gwright@actu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.actu.asn.au/

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