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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
Now more than ever the time to support working parents
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says that now more than ever, government-funded paid parental leave is a must to adequately support Australian families.
Senator Hanson-Young has responded to statements from Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan that recent global financial events could delay the introduction of such a paid parental leave scheme for Australia to beyond 2009.
Greens ‘New Century’ Australia Senate Agenda
The Australian Greens today outlined their vision for Australia in the new century ahead of the opening of the Balance-of-Power Senate.
Australian Greens Leader, Senator Bob Brown, said a record 1.17 million people voted Greens at the last election, and the five Greens Senators were ready to work constructively with all parties to respond to the challenges of the new century.
"Pollution, poverty, discrimination and the destruction of Australia's forests and precious environments are the legacy of the last century and decades of greed and inaction."
"The Greens' role, beginning with this new Parliament, is to begin delivering an Australia that was cleaner, fairer and saner."
Guest workers must be protected
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has welcomed the Federal Government's Guest Worker Pilot Scheme announced yesterday, but stated that the rights of workers must be protected.
"While it is pleasing to see the Government provide much needed assistance and training for our Pacific neighbours, especially with the injection of money back into their respective communities, we must ensure that the guest workers are not exploited," said Senator Hanson-Young.
Award changes rip up workplace conditions ... not Work Choices
"The ALP is currently ripping up workers' hard won conditions, rather than delivering on its promise to rip up Work Choices," said Senator Rachel Siewert today.
"The award modernisation process currently underway will result in fewer minimum standards than existed before Work Choices, with the most vulnerable workers hit hardest yet again."
Greens support union calls for immediate changes to Work Choices
"The poll results released today by the ACTU come as no surprise to the Australian Greens," said Senator Rachel Siewert.
"Australians voted to get rid of Work Choices at the last election but instead we still have AWAs, millions of workers not protected from unfair dismissal and award conditions being stripped away."
