Fairness on election agenda

Date: 31 May 2000

ACTU President Sharan Burrow has welcomed Opposition Leader Kim Beazley's speech to the Canberra Labor Club tonight as a clear signal that the right of Australians to a fair go at work will be an important issue in the next federal election.

"The community has had enough of Mr Reith's biased and aggressive approach to workplace issues. Mr Beazley has put fairness in the workplace squarely onto the agenda for the next election and he should be congratulated for that," said Ms Burrow.

Ms Burrow welcomed Mr Beazley's commitment to protect the right of workers to bargain collectively and his rejection of Mr Reith's Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) individual contracts.

"With Mr Reith's encouragement, AWAs have become little more than a tool for unscrupulous employers to undermine job security and the living standards of working families. Almost 70% of AWAs have given the employees covered by them no pay rise. Australian workers will be glad to see the back of them."

"The right of working people to bargain collectively is fundamental in a fair society. All Governments should protect that right."

The ACTU said it was pleased by Mr Beazley's announcement that the Labor Party would reject Peter Reith's anti-industry bargaining laws and continued to urge the Australian Democrats to do the same.

"Mr Reith has already swung the pendulum too far against employees. These latest plans will tip the balance even further and they should be stopped."

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/

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