Rights, wages and conditions on trial in Abbott Government review
The terms of reference made public today in the media are a complete repudiation of the Abbott Government’s pre-election promise to workers that wholesale changes were not on the agenda, the ACTU said.
“The terms of reference revealed today put the whole workplace system on trial – pay and conditions, rights at work, collective bargaining and unfair dismissal are all on trial by the Productivity Commission,” President of the ACTU, Ms Ged Kearney said today.
“Workers need to understand the scope of this review, because its outcomes will have a direct impact on them.
“The last time the Coalition were in Government they put in WorkChoices, the most radical change to our industrial relations system in 100 years.
“This time, despite all their promises, the Coalition clearly intend to put the system that Australian workers rely on for decent wages on trial,” Ms. Kearney said.
The terms of reference lists the matters that will be looked at, and its scope is very broad.
“It’s also revealing that there a number of objectives in the current Act which the Government hasn’t included in the Terms of Reference, including the needs of the low-paid, the enforceability of wages and conditions, work-life balance, representation and the prevention of discrimination,” Ms Kearney said.
Ms Kearney said that the public should be alarmed about the direction of the review.
“The Government has put its public view that Australian wages and conditions are too high, and too generous, and they have blamed workers for the loss of jobs going overseas.
“Given the sensitivity about these issues, the Government would only be asking for such a comprehensive review if they were determined make radical change.
“The Productivity Commission review will be the platform by which the Government can change the laws that protect Australian workers and make it easier for business to cut take home pay,” Ms. Kearney said.
Sunday, March 09, 2014
Friday, March 07, 2014
Corporate Culture: Meatworkers Ripped off in Visa Scam
Thousands of Taiwanese workers employed in Australian abattoirs are not paying tax, according to the meatworkers' union.
The young workers, in the country on working holiday visas, work for major Australian companies such as smallgoods manufacturer Primo through specialist labour hire agencies.
The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) says the workers are being ripped off, working long hours for little pay.
What is worse, it adds, is that the foreign workers are replacing local workers in towns where the meatworks is a major employer.
Veteran slaughterman Robert Baker said that in the NSW town of Scone, the meatworks, owned by Primo, employs mostly international workers.
Mr Baker has been in the industry for 20 years but lasted only three months at the meatworks before quitting over safety concerns.
He now worries about the Taiwanese friends he has made.
They will give you lots of forms to fill in, including ABN forms. When you ask them how about tax file number they say 'Don't worry about that - you don't have to pay tax, you can earn money using ABN'.
According to the AMIEU, Primo uses specialised labour hire companies to employ the Asian backpackers.
Scottwell International recruited many of the young Taiwanese through a variety of labour hire companies.
On its website, Scottwell says its principal business is the recruitment of Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean employees to work in abattoirs and slaughterhouses across Australia - now at 19 different abattoirs across three states and employing more than 1,100 people.
Ian Tam, who was recently hired by the meatworkers' union as a Taiwanese liaison officer, went undercover at Scottwell.
He says the backpackers are being encouraged not to pay tax by using ABN numbers.
"I investigated this agency. I just [pretended] I was one of them, like a backpacker looking for job," Mr Tam said.
"They give you a form to fill in, quick interview and ask you 'can you work now?'
"They will give you lots of forms to fill in, including ABN forms. When you ask them 'how about tax file number?' They say 'don't worry about that - you don't have to pay tax, you can earn money using ABN'.
"If you don't sign those documents you cannot get the job."
The young workers, in the country on working holiday visas, work for major Australian companies such as smallgoods manufacturer Primo through specialist labour hire agencies.
The Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) says the workers are being ripped off, working long hours for little pay.
What is worse, it adds, is that the foreign workers are replacing local workers in towns where the meatworks is a major employer.
Veteran slaughterman Robert Baker said that in the NSW town of Scone, the meatworks, owned by Primo, employs mostly international workers.
Mr Baker has been in the industry for 20 years but lasted only three months at the meatworks before quitting over safety concerns.
He now worries about the Taiwanese friends he has made.
They will give you lots of forms to fill in, including ABN forms. When you ask them how about tax file number they say 'Don't worry about that - you don't have to pay tax, you can earn money using ABN'.
According to the AMIEU, Primo uses specialised labour hire companies to employ the Asian backpackers.
Scottwell International recruited many of the young Taiwanese through a variety of labour hire companies.
On its website, Scottwell says its principal business is the recruitment of Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean employees to work in abattoirs and slaughterhouses across Australia - now at 19 different abattoirs across three states and employing more than 1,100 people.
Ian Tam, who was recently hired by the meatworkers' union as a Taiwanese liaison officer, went undercover at Scottwell.
He says the backpackers are being encouraged not to pay tax by using ABN numbers.
"I investigated this agency. I just [pretended] I was one of them, like a backpacker looking for job," Mr Tam said.
"They give you a form to fill in, quick interview and ask you 'can you work now?'
"They will give you lots of forms to fill in, including ABN forms. When you ask them 'how about tax file number?' They say 'don't worry about that - you don't have to pay tax, you can earn money using ABN'.
"If you don't sign those documents you cannot get the job."
IndustriALL: Ukraine needs a peaceful way-out
IndustriALL Global Union’s affiliates in Ukraine report that the situation changes from bad to worse. The country faced political instability, which resulted in the deaths of more than 100 and over 500 injured people at Kiev’s famous Maidan square. Now the mass media are drenched with reports and different views about continued escalation of the situation around Crimea bringing a potential danger for further division in this country.
In these difficult times IndustriALL Global Union expresses, together with its worldwide family, deep solidarity with its Ukrainian affiliated-trade union organizations, who by all means are trying to prevent further escalation of conflicts. IndustriALL supports all those who find solutions that aim at keeping peace and stability for ordinary workers and their families.
There is a high risk that in wrangles between different groupings both inside and outside the country the economic achievements of Ukrainian workers will be victimized. This is why, IndustriALL Global Union is supporting peace and integrity in Ukraine, however the price for it should not be the deterioration of working and living conditions of the people of labour.
IndustriALL Global Union appeals to the Ukrainian authorities demanding them to wage all their efforts in order to maintain and improve living standards, and not to allow the impoverishment of workers and their families in Ukraine.
Tuesday, March 04, 2014
ACTU: Public Supports Higher Minimum Wage
60% of Australians are concerned about the emergence of a “working poor” in this country, and support an increase in the minimum wage.
An even higher number – 71% – say a decent minimum wage is a way of ensuring Australia remains a good place to live, according to a new national survey.
And even though Australia’s minimum wage of $16.37 an hour or $622.20 a week is relatively high by international standards, a third of those surveyed say they could not afford to live off that amount.
The results are contained in a new national survey of 1035 people conducted by Essential Research for the ACTU.
As unions gear up for this year’s annual wage review, which will determine whether 1.5 million Award-dependent workers get a pay rise or not, the survey shows strong continuing support for Australia’s minimum wage despite a loud and organised employer campaign against it.
The ACTU has not yet settled on the amount it will claim in this year’s case. The application by the ACTU is due with the Fair Work Commission towards the end of this month.
Employers ready for tough fight
Last year, low-paid workers were awarded a little over half the extra $30 a week that had been sought by the ACTU.
Employer groups are already setting the scene for a tough fight in this year’s case, and there is much interest in what the Abbott Government will do.
In recent years, the previous Labor Government did not oppose the union movement’s claim, but did not nominate a number itself.
There is no guarantee the Coalition Government will do the same, as during the Howard Government it actively intervened in the wage review to back a lower amount than that claimed by the unions.
But whatever position the Government adopts, the new survey shows that there is strong community support for a higher minimum wage.
Only 15% of those surveyed disagreed with the statement: The Government should support a higher minimum wage to ensure all Australians have a decent standard of living.
Seventy-one per cent agreed that a decent minimum wage is a way of ensuring Australia remains a good place to live, while only 17% agreed with the central argument by employers, that Australia’s minimum wage is too high and is preventing business from hiring people.
An even higher number – 71% – say a decent minimum wage is a way of ensuring Australia remains a good place to live, according to a new national survey.
And even though Australia’s minimum wage of $16.37 an hour or $622.20 a week is relatively high by international standards, a third of those surveyed say they could not afford to live off that amount.
The results are contained in a new national survey of 1035 people conducted by Essential Research for the ACTU.
As unions gear up for this year’s annual wage review, which will determine whether 1.5 million Award-dependent workers get a pay rise or not, the survey shows strong continuing support for Australia’s minimum wage despite a loud and organised employer campaign against it.
The ACTU has not yet settled on the amount it will claim in this year’s case. The application by the ACTU is due with the Fair Work Commission towards the end of this month.
Employers ready for tough fight
Last year, low-paid workers were awarded a little over half the extra $30 a week that had been sought by the ACTU.
Employer groups are already setting the scene for a tough fight in this year’s case, and there is much interest in what the Abbott Government will do.
In recent years, the previous Labor Government did not oppose the union movement’s claim, but did not nominate a number itself.
There is no guarantee the Coalition Government will do the same, as during the Howard Government it actively intervened in the wage review to back a lower amount than that claimed by the unions.
But whatever position the Government adopts, the new survey shows that there is strong community support for a higher minimum wage.
Only 15% of those surveyed disagreed with the statement: The Government should support a higher minimum wage to ensure all Australians have a decent standard of living.
Seventy-one per cent agreed that a decent minimum wage is a way of ensuring Australia remains a good place to live, while only 17% agreed with the central argument by employers, that Australia’s minimum wage is too high and is preventing business from hiring people.
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