[Greens-Media] Greens push end for 'unfair' AWAs and ITEAs

[Bennett, Ebony (Sen B. Brown)]

Greens push end for 'unfair' AWAs and ITEAs

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.

"The Greens will put forward a simple and sensible amendment that will
allow a worker on an existing AWA to ask Fair Work Australia to test it
against the "better off overall test", and to be allowed to terminate an
agreement that is proven to be unfair," said Senator Rachel Siewert
today.

"We will continue to argue for the absolute end of AWAs, not the current
government position that allows AWAs to exist indefinitely."

"In March the Senate knocked back similar Green amendments to the
Transitional Forward with Farness Bill to allow workers on unfair AWAs
to terminate those agreements," said Senator Siewert. "Now they have a
chance to put things right and ensure that the promise of fairness in
the workplace is guaranteed."

"The Australian public made their stance very clear at the last
election, when they voted overwhelmingly for an end to AWAs and an end
to Work Choices," said Senator Siewert.

The Greens also expect to move amendments to provide equal unfair
dismissal protections for all workers, strengthen the safety net, expand
the matters that can be contained in collective agreements, provide
workers with internationally recognised rights to freedom of association
(including the right to take industrial action), and to increase the
powers of Fair Work Australia.

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Ebony Bennett
Media Advisor 
Senator Bob Brown | Leader of the Australian Greens 
e: ebony.bennett at aph.gov.au 
m: 0409 164 603 | p: (02) 6277 3170 | f: (02) 6277 3185
w: www.bobbrown.org.au <http://www.bobbrown.org.au/>