Friday, April 27, 2007
Howard's law blamed for death
A Hobart woman has blamed Prime Minister John Howard's federal Workchoices legislation for her brother's suicide.
Julia Pycroft has told a Tasmanian Parliamentary inquiry into the new laws that her brother Michael Webb killed himself five days after being made redundant from Zinifex.
"Our family has been devastated by this law," she said.
"Does the Government give a rats?
"No they don't."
In a letter to Mr Howard that was read to the inquiry, Ms Pycroft said Zinifex had used Workchoices to force the redundancy on her brother last May.
"Mick was happy at work, he had been there for 20 years," the letter said.
"When Mick lost his job that was his life.
"They stripped him of everything. He became depressed.
"Michael felt no one cared.
"Prime Minister, although I blame Zinifex for Mick's death, I blame you equally for giving them the industrial laws they embraced."
A coronial inquest found that Zinifex was not culpable for Mr Webb's death but the redundancy had prompted the suicide. It found Mr Webb, 45, had been a very conscientious and loyal employee, who enjoyed his work and company of his co-workers.
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Julia Pycroft has told a Tasmanian Parliamentary inquiry into the new laws that her brother Michael Webb killed himself five days after being made redundant from Zinifex.
"Our family has been devastated by this law," she said.
"Does the Government give a rats?
"No they don't."
In a letter to Mr Howard that was read to the inquiry, Ms Pycroft said Zinifex had used Workchoices to force the redundancy on her brother last May.
"Mick was happy at work, he had been there for 20 years," the letter said.
"When Mick lost his job that was his life.
"They stripped him of everything. He became depressed.
"Michael felt no one cared.
"Prime Minister, although I blame Zinifex for Mick's death, I blame you equally for giving them the industrial laws they embraced."
A coronial inquest found that Zinifex was not culpable for Mr Webb's death but the redundancy had prompted the suicide. It found Mr Webb, 45, had been a very conscientious and loyal employee, who enjoyed his work and company of his co-workers.
more
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Darell Lea abandons AWA push
We can all take a minute to savour the sweet taste of victory today: Darrell Lea has abandoned its push to introduce AWA individual contracts.
The retailer had planned to put casual staff on AWAs that could cost them up to $100 a week, slashing weekend and holiday pay as well as other benefits.
More than 6500 Rights at Work supporters took the time to lobby Darrell Lea CEO John Tolmie last month. Our hard work has paid off: following a review and public outcry, Darrell Lea changed its mind.
Mr Tolmie had said that he felt competitive pressure to use John Howard’s laws to cut pay and conditions. But Rights at Work supporters argued in favour of treating workers decently, and we won.
Another ETU victory
In August 2004 Rem De Haas was working with Enviro Electrics in Richmond when he received a call to visit the office. ‘The company is no longer trading, so you don't have job. We'll let you know about your wages,' said a man in a suit. He of course was the much feared liquidator.
So began a long journey in pursuit of lost wages, which amounted to $4500. ‘We called the ETU straight away and were invited to the Carlton office the next day. Howard Worthing mapped out a strategy, and after three years we finally received a cheque,' says a delighted Rem. As for the role of Howard Worthing and the ETU Rem has a straightforward response. ‘It would have been so much more difficult without the ETU. It gave us hope and kept up our spirits,' says Rem.
On Monday 16 April, three years after the struggle began, Howard Worthing and Rino Lia handed over the cheques to some very happy ETU members. So much for John Howard telling workers they're better off without a union! And who will Rem be voting for? ‘It won't be John Howard, I can tell you that much,' says Rem, who's now working with SJ Electric in Thomastown.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Howard's IR law disgrace
An expectant mum says she was sacked suddenly 11 days ago from her beloved job of more than eight years -- just four weeks before starting her maternity leave.
The devastated process worker said it was the last thing she expected when a new company recently took over the small business.
She says she has no doubt she was sacked because of her baby bump.
Despite spending the past six years on the same factory line, Ms Frew said she was the only worker not offered a new agreement or offered her job back.
Instead, she claims her new employer, Continental Manufacturing (Pearce Pharmaceuticals), told her there were too many good applicants and gave her job to a permanent casual.
Ms Frew found that Continental had failed to buy the previous owner's ACN number.
There was no transmission of business and the old employment agreements did not stand.
Ms Frew said she was given no severance pay. "I've got nothing, which is going to make it very hard when the baby arrives," she said.
Continental Manufacturing denies sacking Ms Frew or discriminating against her.
Group general manager John May said had Continental not stepped in, all the workers would have been looking for a new job. "We bought the assets of the business, not the business," he said.
more
The devastated process worker said it was the last thing she expected when a new company recently took over the small business.
She says she has no doubt she was sacked because of her baby bump.
Despite spending the past six years on the same factory line, Ms Frew said she was the only worker not offered a new agreement or offered her job back.
Instead, she claims her new employer, Continental Manufacturing (Pearce Pharmaceuticals), told her there were too many good applicants and gave her job to a permanent casual.
Ms Frew found that Continental had failed to buy the previous owner's ACN number.
There was no transmission of business and the old employment agreements did not stand.
Ms Frew said she was given no severance pay. "I've got nothing, which is going to make it very hard when the baby arrives," she said.
Continental Manufacturing denies sacking Ms Frew or discriminating against her.
Group general manager John May said had Continental not stepped in, all the workers would have been looking for a new job. "We bought the assets of the business, not the business," he said.
more
Sack your costly workers and save
Companies can sack a worker and readvertise the same job at lower pay under a landmark ruling that opens the way for employers to make "difficult" staff redundant for financial reasons.
Business hailed the Australian Industrial Relations Commission decision last night, declaring it had significant ramifications for the rights of employers to fire workers.
Union lawyers warned the decision "opens a Pandora's box", allowing employers to sack workers they regard as "troublemakers" and replace them with cheaper labour.
The commission has found that the company terminated an employee as a result of its financial difficulties and a subsequent decision to reorganise its structure.
It ruled that the grounds for sacking workers under Work Choices using "operational reasons" were much broader than the grounds that existed under the previous federal industrial legislation.
"The question of a 'valid reason' need not be considered, when an argument is advanced regarding the termination being for operational reasons, or for reasons that included operational reasons," the commission said.
more
Business hailed the Australian Industrial Relations Commission decision last night, declaring it had significant ramifications for the rights of employers to fire workers.
Union lawyers warned the decision "opens a Pandora's box", allowing employers to sack workers they regard as "troublemakers" and replace them with cheaper labour.
The commission has found that the company terminated an employee as a result of its financial difficulties and a subsequent decision to reorganise its structure.
It ruled that the grounds for sacking workers under Work Choices using "operational reasons" were much broader than the grounds that existed under the previous federal industrial legislation.
"The question of a 'valid reason' need not be considered, when an argument is advanced regarding the termination being for operational reasons, or for reasons that included operational reasons," the commission said.
more
Sunday, April 22, 2007
40,000 rock against IR laws
Opposition environment spokesman and former Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett says Prime Minister John Howard should be worried.
"We've got a lot of young people in crowd who love the music but also know that their rights are important to them," he said.
He says Australians are fed up with their rights at work being taken away.
"The fact that you've got some 40,000 people coming out to march on a weekend in Australia shows that John Howard's IR legislation is distinctly and definitely unpopular," he said.
"People are concerned about it, and particularly for young Australians, the ones who don't have that negotiational grunt that other Australians may have, the younger Australians, these issues are more important than ever."
Many of the performers made political statements and encouraged young people to get more involved in politics.
more
Saturday, April 21, 2007
The Lancet: The politics of fear and neglect
Editorial
Australian clinical and public-health research is an emblem of excellence across the Asia-Pacific region. That enviable position is being put at risk by Prime Minister John Howard's indifference to the academic medical community and his profound intolerance to those less secure than himself and his administration. The latest example of his complacency was a comment he made on a Melbourne radio station last week. He said that people living with HIV should not be allowed to enter and live in Australia—“prima facie, no”, he asserted. Australia already has tough immigration rules for those with HIV. All hopeful migrants aged over 15 years are tested for the virus. Their applications stumble if they are found to be positive.
To any visitor, Australian culture feels progressive and inclusive. This attractive exterior belies a strong undercurrent of political conservatism, which Howard is ruthlessly tapping into. As the Australian columnist Janet Albrechtson wrote recently, “the Australian polity is inherently conservative…a conservative coalition has ruled for 42 of 58 years”. 2007 is an election year for Australia. How the country interprets its past and sees its hopes for the future will be critical not only for the health of its people but also for the contribution Australia makes to world health. At present, Australian politicians are scoring well below their potential.
Take Aboriginal health. The current health minister, Tony Abbott, recently insulted Aboriginal peoples by claiming that those who spoke up for indigenous health were simply “establishing politically and morally correct credentials”. On climate change, environment minister Malcolm Turnball apparently sees little new in the latest alarming assessments by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Reviewing the effect of successive Howard administrations on Australia's academic community since 1996, the respected scientist Ian Lowe has written that “the present government has gone to extraordinary lengths to silence independent opinion within the research community”. This year provides an opportunity at the ballot box to bring a new enlightenment to Australian health and medical science.
Friday, April 20, 2007
The Road to Guantanamo Monday April 23
Monday April 23, 7.15 pm, Red Room (Tris Elies nightclub), Katoomba.
The Road to Guantanamo.
Part drama, part documentary, The Road to Guantanamo tells the story of how three young English men holidaying in Pakistan were seized by pro-US warlords in Afghanistan and illegally and unjustly imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay. They were finally freed after the public outcry at home forced the British government to gain their release. This is in stark contrast to the actions of the Howard government in Australia, which abandoned David Hicks.
Monday, April 23, 7.15 pm.
Treis Elies Red Room, Katoomba (next to train station).
$8 waged/$10 solidarity/$5 concession.
The Road to Guantanamo.
Part drama, part documentary, The Road to Guantanamo tells the story of how three young English men holidaying in Pakistan were seized by pro-US warlords in Afghanistan and illegally and unjustly imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay. They were finally freed after the public outcry at home forced the British government to gain their release. This is in stark contrast to the actions of the Howard government in Australia, which abandoned David Hicks.
Monday, April 23, 7.15 pm.
Treis Elies Red Room, Katoomba (next to train station).
$8 waged/$10 solidarity/$5 concession.
Howard's IR laws: 'contrary to Catholic doctrine'
The Federal Government's Workplace Relations Amendment Act contravenes Catholic social doctrine, according to an Australian Catholic Social Justice Council discussion paper that examines the nation's industrial relations laws. It argues that the central claims made by supporters of the Act and the changes it introduced are either based on false choices or else just plain wrong.
The paper was prepared for the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council by Dr Tim Battin, senior lecturer in political economy and political science at the University of New England. The chairman of the council, Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome, says Dr Battin’s perspective was that of a political economist analysing the practical effects of the IR legislation and the theories underpinning it, but also measuring them against the precepts of Catholic social teaching.
Dr Battin was concerned with its moral dimensions, the bishop said. On the concept that the Act 'deregulates' the 'labor market', Dr Battin says there is no such thing as 'de-regulation'; there is only re-regulation.
"In fact," he says, "the Workplace Relations Amendment Act runs to 675 pages, plus additional pages of regulations.
"To bring about change in one direction or another, all governments engage in re-regulation, bringing about different sets of winners and losers.
"In short, the supposed dichotomy between regulation and de-regulation is a red herring.
"The debate is about the kinds of regulations, institutions and markets we are to have. Whichever government regulation is being analysed, the questions to be asked include: who is better off and who worse off, and what is the effect on equity?
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The paper was prepared for the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council by Dr Tim Battin, senior lecturer in political economy and political science at the University of New England. The chairman of the council, Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome, says Dr Battin’s perspective was that of a political economist analysing the practical effects of the IR legislation and the theories underpinning it, but also measuring them against the precepts of Catholic social teaching.
Dr Battin was concerned with its moral dimensions, the bishop said. On the concept that the Act 'deregulates' the 'labor market', Dr Battin says there is no such thing as 'de-regulation'; there is only re-regulation.
"In fact," he says, "the Workplace Relations Amendment Act runs to 675 pages, plus additional pages of regulations.
"To bring about change in one direction or another, all governments engage in re-regulation, bringing about different sets of winners and losers.
"In short, the supposed dichotomy between regulation and de-regulation is a red herring.
"The debate is about the kinds of regulations, institutions and markets we are to have. Whichever government regulation is being analysed, the questions to be asked include: who is better off and who worse off, and what is the effect on equity?
more
SCG: Rockin' for Rights! 22 April
Unions NSW presents Rockin for Rights, an extravaganza of Aussie rock talent committed to standing with the workers of Australia to overturn John Howards new industrial relations laws.
On Sunday April 22nd protesters will assemble at Hyde Park north at 11am and then march to the Sydney Cricket Grand where some of Australia's top music acts will be Rockin for your rights at work.
Come with your family and friends and be part of history at the SCG and send the message “we didn't vote for these laws and we don't want them”.
Since the introduction of WorkChoices in March 2006 some bosses have been
doing everything they can to prevent workers from participating in the National Days of Action. Before the November 30 2006 national sky channel hook up many workers were told in no uncertain terms that they were not to participate in any protest against these
extreme IR changes.
This time we're giving all workers the chance to come along on a Sunday and
have their voices heard.
Every band and performer at the show will be rockin out for free - giving
their time on April 22nd so that we can all have our weekends, jobs and rights
protected.
There is a limit of 40,000 places at the SCG. Entry to the SCG will be by the purchase of a wristband which are only $5.00. Gates at the Sydney Cricket Ground will open at 11.45am.
We urge you to buy your wristband get to Hyde Park north at 11.00am, march to the Sydney Criket Ground and be part of Rockin For Rights.
Please click here for conditions of entry.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
workchoice serfdom!
Under the Howard Government's IR changes workers can be forced to work important public holidays, like Christmas, Easter, and Anzac Day without the right to refuse.
Over the Easter long weekend Unions NSW received a number of reports fromworkers who had been forced work over the holiday period - impinging on important family time. We have begun hearing reports that Veterans and their families now are beingforced to ANZAC day.
If you have heard the stories of veterans and their families being forced to work this ANZAC Day remember to contact or yourYour Rights At Work committee campaigner or Tim Fitzsimmons from Unions NSW on 0423 375 522.
Over the Easter long weekend Unions NSW received a number of reports fromworkers who had been forced work over the holiday period - impinging on important family time. We have begun hearing reports that Veterans and their families now are beingforced to ANZAC day.
If you have heard the stories of veterans and their families being forced to work this ANZAC Day remember to contact or yourYour Rights At Work committee campaigner or Tim Fitzsimmons from Unions NSW on 0423 375 522.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
States commit to greenhouse gas cuts
13 April 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Defying their prime minister, John Howard, Australia's states vowed to make significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and to set up a national system of carbon trading by 2010 to combat global warming.
Howard, who faces a tough election battle later this year, refused to join the plan and said setting greenhouse targets would damage the economy and the nation's standing as the world's largest coal exporter.
"The states told me of their views in relation to an emissions trading system," but the federal government is "unwilling to commit to a particular target, because of the possible consequences of that to the economy, especially to jobs," Howard said after meeting the leaders of the nation's six states and two territories on Friday 13 April.
Instead, Howard has backed the establishment of an AUS$126 million (US$105 million) centre to explore ways for Australia to adapt to climate change. "We all agreed that adaptation to climate change was an important issue and I announced that the Commonwealth would establish a national centre for climate change adaptation," he said.
more
NewScientist.com news service
Defying their prime minister, John Howard, Australia's states vowed to make significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, and to set up a national system of carbon trading by 2010 to combat global warming.
Howard, who faces a tough election battle later this year, refused to join the plan and said setting greenhouse targets would damage the economy and the nation's standing as the world's largest coal exporter.
"The states told me of their views in relation to an emissions trading system," but the federal government is "unwilling to commit to a particular target, because of the possible consequences of that to the economy, especially to jobs," Howard said after meeting the leaders of the nation's six states and two territories on Friday 13 April.
Instead, Howard has backed the establishment of an AUS$126 million (US$105 million) centre to explore ways for Australia to adapt to climate change. "We all agreed that adaptation to climate change was an important issue and I announced that the Commonwealth would establish a national centre for climate change adaptation," he said.
more
States commit to greenhouse gas cuts
13 April 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Defying their prime minister, John Howard, Australia's states vowed to make significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions on Friday, and to set up a national system of carbon trading by 2010 to combat global warming.
Howard, who faces a tough election battle later this year, refused to join the plan and said setting greenhouse targets would damage the economy and the nation's standing as the world's largest coal exporter.
"The states told me of their views in relation to an emissions trading system," but the federal government is "unwilling to commit to a particular target, because of the possible consequences of that to the economy, especially to jobs," Howard said after meeting the leaders of the nation's six states and two territories on Friday 13 April.
Instead, Howard has backed the establishment of an AUS$126 million (US$105 million) centre to explore ways for Australia to adapt to climate change. "We all agreed that adaptation to climate change was an important issue and I announced that the Commonwealth would establish a national centre for climate change adaptation," he said.
more
NewScientist.com news service
Defying their prime minister, John Howard, Australia's states vowed to make significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions on Friday, and to set up a national system of carbon trading by 2010 to combat global warming.
Howard, who faces a tough election battle later this year, refused to join the plan and said setting greenhouse targets would damage the economy and the nation's standing as the world's largest coal exporter.
"The states told me of their views in relation to an emissions trading system," but the federal government is "unwilling to commit to a particular target, because of the possible consequences of that to the economy, especially to jobs," Howard said after meeting the leaders of the nation's six states and two territories on Friday 13 April.
Instead, Howard has backed the establishment of an AUS$126 million (US$105 million) centre to explore ways for Australia to adapt to climate change. "We all agreed that adaptation to climate change was an important issue and I announced that the Commonwealth would establish a national centre for climate change adaptation," he said.
more
Monday, April 16, 2007
One Million: Australia`s working poor
One million Australians make up the "working poor", living in households in which at least one adult has a job but earns only the federal minimum wage, research shows.
The research on low-income households is based on unpublished Bureau of Statistics data and the Federal Government's latest Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. The analysis of the survey data found there were an estimated 356,000 households making up the working poor in 2005.
They represented 6.5 per cent of all households where at least one person was employed. A total of 982,000 people, including 213,000 dependent children aged 14 or under, lived in the working-poor households.
In a joint submission to the Fair Pay Commission, state and territory Labor governments have presented a statistical snapshot of the low-income households that rely most heavily on the wage-fixing body's decisions on minimum wage rates.
The research also showed employees on the federal minimum wage - $13.47 an hour for adults - had little access to the training they would need to secure better-paid work.
The joint submission says the commission should "recognise that for a large group of workers regular minimum wage increases provide the only form of upward earnings mobility".
more
The research on low-income households is based on unpublished Bureau of Statistics data and the Federal Government's latest Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey. The analysis of the survey data found there were an estimated 356,000 households making up the working poor in 2005.
They represented 6.5 per cent of all households where at least one person was employed. A total of 982,000 people, including 213,000 dependent children aged 14 or under, lived in the working-poor households.
In a joint submission to the Fair Pay Commission, state and territory Labor governments have presented a statistical snapshot of the low-income households that rely most heavily on the wage-fixing body's decisions on minimum wage rates.
The research also showed employees on the federal minimum wage - $13.47 an hour for adults - had little access to the training they would need to secure better-paid work.
The joint submission says the commission should "recognise that for a large group of workers regular minimum wage increases provide the only form of upward earnings mobility".
more
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Union stalwart dies: wife slams Santoro
Former Queensland Trades and Labor Council secretary Ray Dempsey, has died of cancer aged 62.
Mr Dempsey and his family were subjected to threats of violence and murder in 1985, when he was the spokesman for the SEQEB (South East Queensland Electricity Board) linesmen, 1000 of whom were sacked by then premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen for their involvement in industrial action.
Mr Dempsey's wife, Carol, said yesterday her husband had made great friends during that time and was responsible in the early 1990s for ensuring the sacked workers were paid their full superannuation benefits, which Bjelke-Petersen had stripped from them.
"In 1990, Ray was appointed an industrial commissioner by the Goss government and was to be reappointed for his second term in 1997 when Rob Borbidge won government," Mrs Dempsey said.
"But that was stopped by the then industrial relations minister Santo Santoro, who was recently sacked himself by John Howard for not revealing secret share dealings he was involved with.
"Santoro hated Ray because of the stance my husband took for the workers in the SEQEB strike, and he used to abuse him at public functions when I was there as well.
"Santoro swore he would get Ray, and he did by refusing to reappoint him as a commissioner. He was a total bastard. It caused enormous financial stress to this family, and Ray spent the last few years as an industrial consultant working from home.
"A couple of weeks ago, Ray sent an email to Santoro telling him how he was pleased to see justice done before he went."
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Federal election: more public school funding
"Public schools cannot withstand another three years of attacks on their funding share," she said.
Without that funding, "there will be many, many children who are denied the opportunity to reach those national goals".
Ms Byrne said under the Howard Government the funding share for public education had plummeted from 43 per cent to 35 per cent, despite 70 per cent of Australian children attending public schools.
"The Howard Government's continuing cuts to the share of public education funding are taking away the right to a quality public education that every child deserves," Ms Byrne said.
The Australian Education Union estimates that after NSW, Victoria is in the greatest need of funding, requiring 24 per cent of the $2.9 billion.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Bitter Darrell Lea Easter eggs!
Spare a thought for the workers who are serving you your Easter eggs this weekend: they might have been lumped with an unfair AWA individual contract.
Casual workers at Darrell chocolates shops have been left with a less than sweet taste in their mouths after their employers served them up an AWA that cut public holiday pay by more than $100 a shift. Weekend rates are also slashed, and there is no pay rise factored in over the life of the five year agreement.
John Howard likes to trumpet that AWAs are "flexible" and allow workers to "negotiate" with their employers. But surprise, surprise: at Darrell Lea, every AWA is the same… and if you don't sign, you lose shifts.
Tell Darrell Lea boss John Tolmie to pay his workers fairly! Send him an email from this website today. www.rightsatwork.com.au
Mr Tolmie told newspapers last week that he felt competitive pressure to cut his staff's pay and conditions. "As we understand it, from our research, just about every other retailer out there has got some form or other of AWAs in play," he said.
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