[Greens-Media] Greens urge Labor rethink on AWA backflip

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

07.12.04

Greens urge Labor rethink on AWA backflip

The Greens will continue to oppose the federal governments push for more
Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) and their unfair dismissal bills.
Greens Senator Kerry Nettle called on Labor to rethink their policy
change flagged by Stephen Smith today regarding future ALP support for
AWAs.

"Under Stephen Smith's watch Labor is rapidly shedding its claim to
represent the interests of working people. It is turning its back on the
union movement and its hundred years of struggle to protect the rights
of workers," Senator Nettle said.

"The push for AWAs is a blatant attempt to undermine the wages and
conditions of workers in this country, and Labor knows that.

"While the Government tries to dress AWAs up as being about "choice" it
ignores the industrial reality that workers are told to either sign the
AWA or miss out on the job, miss out on overtime, miss out on taking
leave when they would like to or miss out on other discretionary
workplace conditions. 

"If the Government is serious about choice, then it should amend the AWA
Bill to enable workers who have signed an AWA to be able to opt in to an
enterprise agreement.

"AWAs are not about flexibility. The reality is that employers simply
offer the same standard AWA and that compared with enterprise agreements
they are stripped of most workplace entitlements and often provide for
little more than a salary, job title and management's right to dismiss
you without fair procedures. 

"John Howard claims to be interested in work/family balance but is
simultaneously pursuing an industrial relations agenda that undermines
working conditions and stability."

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146