Boeing AWAs: 43 Hour Week - No Penalties

NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca, said the Boeing dispute in Newcastle was a perfect example of the unproductive conflict ahead, should the Howard Government proceed with its radical industrial relations takeover.

"Boeing has handed its maintenance workers at Williamtown individual contracts with a 43-hour working week, no overtime, no weekend penalty rates, no leave loading," Mr Della Bosca said.

Naively, local Liberal MP Bob Baldwin has suggested the dispute be settled in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

"That would be a good idea Bob, except your Government has already passed laws preventing the federal Commission from adjudicating on these matters," Mr Della Bosca said.

"It underlines the problem in the industrial relations debate, when even a member of Mr Howard's own Government doesn't understand how bad his policy really is.

"And the Liberal Member for Paterson is right: The Federal Commission should be able to solve disputes like this - just as the NSW Commission has been doing for more than 100 years."

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