[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Limitations on Union Access to Workplace Allegations Must be Investigated_N McKim MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

PREMIER MUST INVESTIGATE IR ACT BREACH ALLEGATIONS
 
Bartlett Must Work by Negotiation, Not Ultimatum

Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader

Monday, 4 August 2008
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today demanded that Premier David Bartlett
investigate allegations by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU)
that some government agencies are in breach of the Industrial Relations
Act 1984 by imposing unreasonable limitations on union officials
entering workplaces.

Greens Leader Nick McKim MP said that if the allegations are true it
would constitute a significant escalation in the government's
brinksmanship, and blamed Mr Bartlett's recent union bashing rhetoric
for creating a situation whereby anti-union behaviour by some government
agencies may be seen as acceptable.

"Mr Bartlett is engaging in a dangerous game of brinksmanship with the
unions when what he really should be doing is committing to sit down and
working through this issue by negotiation, not by ultimatum," Mr McKim
said.

"Allegations such as this are something we would expect under the
Liberals, not a supposedly pro-worker and pro-union Labor government." 

"These are serious claims of illegal anti-union behaviour by a Labor
government, and Mr Bartlett has no option now except to give a cast iron
guarantee that union officials will be able to enter workplaces and
conduct activities in accordance with the law."

"It is in the interests of everyone that Mr Bartlett tone down his
rhetoric and adopt a more statesmanlike demeanour," Mr McKim said.