More than 300 trade unionists are heading to the NSW parliament after the government suddenly shut down debate on planned changes to public sector employment conditions.
Unions members started gathering in Macquarie Street from midday to continue their public campaign against the industrial relations bill.
The gathering includes 300 teachers from across NSW who make up the NSW Teachers Federation's state council.
"They will vote there on the future direction which the federation will take in the campaign to defend wages and conditions of the states public sector workers, including teachers," the teachers union said in a statement.
Earlier today, the government used a provision that had not been used in more than a century to guillotine the debate in the upper house, accusing filibustering Greens and Labor MPs of wasting taxpayers money.
"The state government has today set a new low in democratic standards, gagging debate on a bill that will strip away workplace rights for 400,000 workers in NSW," Unions NSW secretary Mark Lennon said in a statement.
The debate on the industrial relations bill, which will give the government the power to stipulate wages and conditions for public servants, has been running in various stages since Wednesday.
"These laws mean public sector workers will have their wages and conditions dictated by the government with no negotiation or recourse," Public Service Association general secretary John Cahill said a statement.
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Greek Unions Protest
Protesters occupied Greece's Finance Ministry in Athens as ministers announced that negotiations with the EU, European Central Bank and the IMF over austerity measures and public asset sell-offs had been "positive."
Hundreds of activists from the PAME trade union confederation blockaded the entrance to the building before dawn.
Trade unionists draped a huge banner calling for a general strike over five storeys down the front of the building and tore down the EU flag from its roof, replacing it with the PAME flag.
Members were saying that the government's planned economic measures would "turn workers into slaves."
PAME had declared today "a day of nationwide activity" and rallies against the government's "anti-people policy," with actions taking place across the country in the afternoon.
Prime Minister George Papandreou was not in Athens having jetted off to Luxembourg for talks with Jean-Claude Juncker, the head of the group of 17 eurozone finance ministers.
"The prime minister will present the mid-term plan to Juncker, which includes speedier privatisations and new measures to cut government spending and raise revenue," a government official said.
Mr Juncker has criticised Mr Papandreou for not cutting fast enough and failing to "reform" the public sector in return for a €110 billion (£98bn) EU-IMF bailout package.
The ruling Socialist Party is attempting to implement its "austerity programme" to placate bond investors who suspect the country could default on its sovereign debt
Teachers Federation at Parliament House
04 June 2011 NSW Teachers Federation
The State Council of the Teachers Federation met today in front of Parliament House in Macquarie Street.
The teachers carried unanimously a resolution condemning the O'Farrell Government's attack on the industrial rights of public sector employees in NSW. They vowed to support other workers affected by this legislation, and their unions.
Federation will continue to participate fully in the ongoing campaign coordinated by Unions NSW. Members will take whatever action is necessary to defeat this attack on the real incomes of teachers, their working conditions, their fundamental industrial rights and their union.
Despite claims that the new government would introduce new standards of openness and transparency, the Premier failed to disclose his plans at any time during the election campaign.
Public sector employees will have fewer industrial rights than any other employees in Australia. Simply by issuing regulations, it will allow the O'Farrell government to:
If not overturned, this legislation will result in substantial cuts to teachers' incomes in the coming years. Because schools in the private sector are not affected by this legislation, they will be able to attract teachers from our public schools and TAFE colleges, by offering better salaries and conditions. This is at the very time when the government needs to attract and retain thousands of new teachers to replace the many thousands who will reach retirement age in the next four to five years.
Regardless of any claims made by the O'Farrell government, no teachers' working conditions and consequently no student learning conditions are safe under this legislation. Basic working conditions, such as hours of teaching, sick leave, release time and class sizes can now be changed simply by regulation without any right of appeal to the NSW Industrial Relati ons Commission. Time available to support students can be slashed and class sizes can now be increased without any reference to an independent umpire.
This legislation makes it clear that the O'Farrell government neither values public services nor the workers who deliver them to the people of NSW.
The State Council of the Teachers Federation met today in front of Parliament House in Macquarie Street.
The teachers carried unanimously a resolution condemning the O'Farrell Government's attack on the industrial rights of public sector employees in NSW. They vowed to support other workers affected by this legislation, and their unions.
Federation will continue to participate fully in the ongoing campaign coordinated by Unions NSW. Members will take whatever action is necessary to defeat this attack on the real incomes of teachers, their working conditions, their fundamental industrial rights and their union.
Despite claims that the new government would introduce new standards of openness and transparency, the Premier failed to disclose his plans at any time during the election campaign.
Public sector employees will have fewer industrial rights than any other employees in Australia. Simply by issuing regulations, it will allow the O'Farrell government to:
- cut the real income of teachers and other public sector workers, by limiting funded increases to 2.5% per annum;
- unilaterally change the working conditions, including sick leave and hours of work, of public sector workers without any right o f appeal to any independent umpire or court;
- end the independent role of the NSW Industrial Commission.
If not overturned, this legislation will result in substantial cuts to teachers' incomes in the coming years. Because schools in the private sector are not affected by this legislation, they will be able to attract teachers from our public schools and TAFE colleges, by offering better salaries and conditions. This is at the very time when the government needs to attract and retain thousands of new teachers to replace the many thousands who will reach retirement age in the next four to five years.
Regardless of any claims made by the O'Farrell government, no teachers' working conditions and consequently no student learning conditions are safe under this legislation. Basic working conditions, such as hours of teaching, sick leave, release time and class sizes can now be changed simply by regulation without any right of appeal to the NSW Industrial Relati ons Commission. Time available to support students can be slashed and class sizes can now be increased without any reference to an independent umpire.
This legislation makes it clear that the O'Farrell government neither values public services nor the workers who deliver them to the people of NSW.
100,000 Australian workers get $19.49 more
03 June, 2011 | ACTU Media Release
Today’s decision by Fair Work Australia to grant a 3.4% increase to the one in six workers who are dependent on awards will allow Australia’s lowest paid workers to keep pace with the cost of living, but not with the rest of the workforce.
The Annual Wage Review decision will lift the National Minimum Wage by $19.40 a week to $589.30 or $15.51 an hour from 1 July, and means that in real terms, the minimum wage has finally recovered from WorkChoices.
The benchmark tradespersons (C10) rate will increase by $22.60 to $686.20 or $18.06 an hour.
“Today’s decision will help meet the needs of award wage earners and we are pleased it is above inflation, but the reality is it will not be enough to bridge the gap between the low paid and the rest of the workforce,” said ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence
The panel’s decision to award a flat 3.4% increase to the 1.4 million workers on award wages translates as $19.40 for the lowest income earners on the National Minimum Wage.
“That will benefit about 100,000 Australian workers, who take home the lowest pay in our community, while the majority of the remaining 1.3 million workers on award wages will receive about $22 a week,” Mr Lawrence said.
“We are pleased that the panel’s decision nullifies the claims being put out by big business, who would have the community believe that the state of the economy is so parlous we can’t afford to pay our lowest paid a decent wage.
“Today’s decision is twice what employers were seeking, which would have been a real wage cut to the most vulnerable workers.
“The panel, in their ruling, agreed with what the ACTU has been saying – that the overall outlook for the economy is positive and that labour productivity is growing, underlying inflation is acceptable, unemployment is on the decrease and labour force participation is high.
“These facts should silence the noisy myths being peddled by self-interest business groups.
“The panel also agreed with the unions that while the natural disasters during summer had affected some sectors in the economy, most businesses expected to recover and that there were government schemes in place to support those who needed it.
“Relative to the rest of the developed world, Australia is doing very well – and it is only fair that our lowest paid can share in our prosperity.”
Today’s decision by Fair Work Australia to grant a 3.4% increase to the one in six workers who are dependent on awards will allow Australia’s lowest paid workers to keep pace with the cost of living, but not with the rest of the workforce.
The Annual Wage Review decision will lift the National Minimum Wage by $19.40 a week to $589.30 or $15.51 an hour from 1 July, and means that in real terms, the minimum wage has finally recovered from WorkChoices.
The benchmark tradespersons (C10) rate will increase by $22.60 to $686.20 or $18.06 an hour.
“Today’s decision will help meet the needs of award wage earners and we are pleased it is above inflation, but the reality is it will not be enough to bridge the gap between the low paid and the rest of the workforce,” said ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence
The panel’s decision to award a flat 3.4% increase to the 1.4 million workers on award wages translates as $19.40 for the lowest income earners on the National Minimum Wage.
“That will benefit about 100,000 Australian workers, who take home the lowest pay in our community, while the majority of the remaining 1.3 million workers on award wages will receive about $22 a week,” Mr Lawrence said.
“We are pleased that the panel’s decision nullifies the claims being put out by big business, who would have the community believe that the state of the economy is so parlous we can’t afford to pay our lowest paid a decent wage.
“Today’s decision is twice what employers were seeking, which would have been a real wage cut to the most vulnerable workers.
“The panel, in their ruling, agreed with what the ACTU has been saying – that the overall outlook for the economy is positive and that labour productivity is growing, underlying inflation is acceptable, unemployment is on the decrease and labour force participation is high.
“These facts should silence the noisy myths being peddled by self-interest business groups.
“The panel also agreed with the unions that while the natural disasters during summer had affected some sectors in the economy, most businesses expected to recover and that there were government schemes in place to support those who needed it.
“Relative to the rest of the developed world, Australia is doing very well – and it is only fair that our lowest paid can share in our prosperity.”
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Right to bargain upheld
01 June, 2011 | ACTU Media Release
A decision today by the industrial umpire to allow workers to keep their right to protected industrial action when an employer refuses to bargain with them is a win for Australian workers.
ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said the ruling by the Full Bench of Fair Work Australia should also be a warning to all employers that they must respect workers’ basic rights to bargain for better wages and conditions.
“Today’s decision by the full bench of FWA to uphold the tribunal’s original ruling in favour of the Transport Workers Union sends a timely message that employers cannot ignore workers’ requests to bargain,” Mr Lawrence said.
“JJ Richards refused to bargain in good faith, which was essentially an attempt to take away workers’ fundamental right to pursue fair pay and conditions.”
Today’s decision came about after waste contractor JJ Richards & Son had flatly rejected attempts to initiate bargaining for a collective agreement by the Transport Workers Union.
The union then sought permission from Fair Work Australia to ask members if they wanted to take legal industrial action.
Mr Lawrence said the unanimous Full Bench had delivered a comprehensive rebuff to employer groups seeking to undermine workers’ rights. He said Fair Work Australia’s original ruling that unions could seek a protected action ballot when employers refuse to bargain was completely in line with the intent of the Fair Work Act to ensure employees have a voice in their workplace.
The ACTU intervened in this case in support of the TWU and to protect the principle that workers should have the right to take protected industrial action in pursuit of better pay and conditions.
“And today’s decision by FWA’s full bench to uphold the ruling confirms workers do have rights and should be able to freely exercise them,” he said.
“If an employer refuses to bargain or recognise the legitimate claims of workers, then employees must have the option of exercising their right to strike. Any further restrictions on this right would be a dangerous development that unions will vigorously oppose.
“Protected industrial action has been a feature of the Australian industrial relations system for decades. For all of that time, including in the dark days of WorkChoices, the rights of a union to call a strike and the rights of an employer to lock out its workers have been conditioned by a requirement that all parties must be trying to reach agreement with the other. Today’s decision merely confirms that.”
A decision today by the industrial umpire to allow workers to keep their right to protected industrial action when an employer refuses to bargain with them is a win for Australian workers.
ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said the ruling by the Full Bench of Fair Work Australia should also be a warning to all employers that they must respect workers’ basic rights to bargain for better wages and conditions.
“Today’s decision by the full bench of FWA to uphold the tribunal’s original ruling in favour of the Transport Workers Union sends a timely message that employers cannot ignore workers’ requests to bargain,” Mr Lawrence said.
“JJ Richards refused to bargain in good faith, which was essentially an attempt to take away workers’ fundamental right to pursue fair pay and conditions.”
Today’s decision came about after waste contractor JJ Richards & Son had flatly rejected attempts to initiate bargaining for a collective agreement by the Transport Workers Union.
The union then sought permission from Fair Work Australia to ask members if they wanted to take legal industrial action.
Mr Lawrence said the unanimous Full Bench had delivered a comprehensive rebuff to employer groups seeking to undermine workers’ rights. He said Fair Work Australia’s original ruling that unions could seek a protected action ballot when employers refuse to bargain was completely in line with the intent of the Fair Work Act to ensure employees have a voice in their workplace.
The ACTU intervened in this case in support of the TWU and to protect the principle that workers should have the right to take protected industrial action in pursuit of better pay and conditions.
“And today’s decision by FWA’s full bench to uphold the ruling confirms workers do have rights and should be able to freely exercise them,” he said.
“If an employer refuses to bargain or recognise the legitimate claims of workers, then employees must have the option of exercising their right to strike. Any further restrictions on this right would be a dangerous development that unions will vigorously oppose.
“Protected industrial action has been a feature of the Australian industrial relations system for decades. For all of that time, including in the dark days of WorkChoices, the rights of a union to call a strike and the rights of an employer to lock out its workers have been conditioned by a requirement that all parties must be trying to reach agreement with the other. Today’s decision merely confirms that.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)