Democrats urged to reject Reith laws

Date: 26 May 2000

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said workers would be looking to the Democrats to protect their rights at work, as unions released their submissions to a Senate committee hearing into Peter Reith's anti-industry bargaining Bill in Canberra today.

"Australians want a fair go from their workplace laws. The Democrats stood up for the rights of workers when they blocked Mr Reith's second wave of industrial laws last year. We would urge them to continue to block the excesses of this partisan Minister," said Ms Burrow.

"The community knows that Peter Reith has already swung the pendulum too far in favour of employers. His latest plans will tip the balance even further."

Ms Burrow described comments by Mr Reith this week that 'pattern bargaining was OK if the parties wanted it' as disingenuous.

"You cannot say a bargaining system is OK but not give employees the basic right to take legal industrial action in support of a claim. Without that right, a bargaining system is useless and Mr Reith knows it," she said.

"Without the ability to take industrial action, workers have no power and employers have no reason to negotiate in good faith. The system becomes a one-way street in favour of employers."

The ACTU also criticised the rushed timetable for public consultation on the Bill. More than 15 unions have lodged written submissions opposing the laws but only a small number including those from the finance (FSU), retail (SDA) and manufacturing (AMWU) sectors will be able to give verbal evidence.

"Mr Reith knows these laws are biased and he wants to silence public discussion about them," said Ms Burrows.

"Hundreds of thousands of workers in all sorts of industries will be disadvantaged by these laws. From actors who rely on Standard Contracts to make a living wage, to women workers in the banks who used industry bargaining to secure paid maternity leave," said Ms Burrow.

"It's hard to see how these people are going to get a fair outcome from such an inadequate public consultation process. Australian workers will now have to trust that the Democrats will give working families a fair hearing and a fair go."

For further information

Contact:	George Wright
Union:	ACTU
Phone:	0419 556 616
Fax:	(03) 9663 8220
Email:	gwright@actu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.actu.asn.au/campaigns/thirdwave/index.htm

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