Unions NSW has serious concerns that the State Government’s public sector workplace policy amounts to WorkChoices New South Wales.
The proposal represents the most radical change to workplace laws in more than a century.
If passed, NSW public sector workers would be banned from negotiating their rights at work.
The Industrial Relations Commission would be sidelined, and the conditions of public sector workers would potentially be determined at the whim of the government.
“This is an unprecedented assault on the rights of public sector workers to have their day in court to determine their wages and conditions,” Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon said.
“The Government has offered to discuss the legislation with unions this week and we welcome that opportunity.
“But at the moment we are looking at a policy that will unravel more than a century of hard won rights and conditions at work.
“It will also mean poorer public services. You can’t cut jobs, wages and conditions for police, teachers and other public sector workers without cutting services.”
If the laws pass in their current form, the Government would effectively have a blank cheque to determine workplace rights and conditions for its own employees.
The Industrial Relations Commission would be banned from enforcing existing awards.
“All Australians should be entitled to negotiate a payrise or have it determined in the Industrial Relations Commission. Why is the Government singling out police, nurses and other public sector workers for WorkChoices-style laws?”
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