Lismore solidarity

Wednesday 27 July,

300 NSW public service workers attended a rally in Lismore to bring their concerns about changes to industrial relations legislation to government whip Thomas George.

Members of unions representing nurses, allied health workers, teachers, firefighters, police and other arms of the public service marched along Conway Street singing (to the tune of He’s got the whole world in his hands), “We’ve got the worst premier in the world” interspersed with the more traditional union cries.

The O’Farrell government recently introduced broad-reaching amendments to the industrial relations legislation covering public sector employees that would strip the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) of its power to set wage rises as it would be forced to abide by decisions made by the Finance Minister, Greg Pearce.

The O’Farrell government has also capped wage rises at 2.5% (less than inflation), unless there is demonstrable increased productivity.

Last week IRC president Roger Boland removed himself from a case brought by the Public Service Association challenging the constitutional validity of the government’s wages legislation.

In May Justice Boland accused the O’Farrell government of “straight-jacketing” the IRC. The crown solicitor then sent Justice Boland a letter saying he could be seen by lay people as biased and recommending he step aside.