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Work Rights


 

This is a prosperous country - our economy is strong and we have a way of life that is the envy of many in the world -yet the previous Howard government passed Work Choices and related legislation to attack workers and remove their rights, break unions, allow us to be sacked with no come back, and lower working wages. Why? So that corporate Australia could make even more money and pay its executives even more ridiculous salaries? This should be a time to invest in social infrastructure, not make the lot of working families harder.

Big business wanted these so called “reforms” of industrial laws so it could increase it profits by making people work harder for less. These were ideologically driven reforms that would give bosses more or less unfettered control over workers. These changes were an attack on human rights of Australians.

The changes will hit hardest those least advantaged in our society – young people, women, those in low paid work, casuals and temporary workers. 

Taken with the new ‘welfare to work’ provisions - such as those that are pushing young mothers back into the workplace - we have a recipe for injustice. For example, working mothers are more likely to be taking part-time or casual positions where pay loadings are no longer guaranteed.  They are also more likely to need the sick and family leave provisions that may soon be stripped away by a Coalition government keen on talking up its ‘family values’. Many will not be in position to bargain.

The Greens will be working to pressure the Rudd government to reverse these legislative burdens in full.

 

Work Rights - Latest Media Releases

Greens encourage global action on IR laws

Senator Rachel Siewert
27/12/2008
The Australian Greens have encouraged unions to campaign globally on the
Federal Government's Industrial Relations Fair Work Bill - and vowed to
amend the legislation if necessary to ensure Australia's workers achieve
minimum global workplace safeguards.

Spokesperson on Industrial Relations Senator Rachel Siewert, said The

Greens push end for 'unfair' AWAs and ITEAs

Senator Rachel Siewert
09/12/2008

The Australian Greens will move amendments in the Senate to allow AWAs or ITEAs that do not meet the new "better off overall test" to be terminated.

ABCC Rallies shows need for immediate change

Senator Rachel Siewert
02/12/2008

The Australian Greens have put their support behind rallies against the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) in both Perth and Melbourne today, pointing to the immediate need for the abolition of the ABCC.

Senate Inquiry report supports end of ABCC

Senator Rachel Siewert
28/11/2008

The Australian Greens today renewed calls for the abolition of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), following the release of the Senate Inquiry report into the Greens' Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Workplace Rights) Bill.

Greens support union rally to abolish ABCC

Senator Rachel Siewert
26/11/2008

The Australian Greens today put their support behind a rally and petition against the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) in Canberra today, pointing to the immediate need for the abolition of the ABCC.

ALP IR is not forward enough with fairness - Greens

Senator Rachel Siewert
25/11/2008

The Australian Greens believe many working Australians will feel letdown by this legislation as not delivering on the promise to abolish Work Choices and to create a genuinely fair industrial relation system.

"There are huge gaps and problems with the Fair Work Bill. The unfair dismissal laws don't go far enough, too many restrictions on collective bargaining remain, continuing individual agreements and an umpire with limited powers are all cause for concern," said Senator Rachel Siewert.

Rights of building workers must be respected - Greens

Senator Rachel Siewert
24/11/2008

The Australian Greens today renewed their calls for the Australian Building & Construction Commission (ABCC) to be abolished, and voiced their concerns over the future state of industrial relations in Western
Australia.

Government weak on actual changes to IR

Senator Rachel Siewert
14/11/2008
The Rudd Government's plans for industrial relations reform are nothing more than Work Choices Lite, the Australian Greens said today.

Women worried about ALP's IR laws

Senator Rachel Siewert
12/11/2008

Today, Senator Siewert told stories of women workers currently finding life very difficult under Work Choices and wondering what their working lives will be like under Forward with Fairness.

Barnett should exercise caution on industrial relations reforms: Greens

Senator Rachel Siewert
11/11/2008

The Australian Greens today voiced their concerns over the future state of industrial relations in Western Australia, after comments from WA Treasurer Troy Buswell that the state system would be overhauled.

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