[Greens-Media] Greens stand up for paramedics, junior doctors and unions

[David Shoebridge]

Greens stand up for paramedics, junior doctors and unions
Media Release - 19 September 2012
 
Greens amendments to legislation which passed through NSW parliament yesterday prevented the O'Farrell government's anti-worker bill from undermining union solidarity while allowing junior doctors and paramedics to be able to leave the troubled Health Services Union (HSU) and be represented by another organisation.
 
Greens NSW MP and Industrial Relations spokesperson David Shoebridge said:
 
"These amendments were important to protect unions from the O'Farrell's ideological attack in the form of competitive unionism.
 
"The O'Farrell government's plan was to have unions fighting amongst themselves, setting teachers against headmasters, nurses against midwives and one government department against the other.
 
"The Greens recognise that paramedics and junior doctors have a legitimate case to seek separate representation from the disgraced HSU and we moved amendments to allow that to happen.
 
"However the Greens were not going to be part of the O'Farrell government's ideological attack on all unions and we limited the operation of the Act to paramedics and junior doctors 
 
"Importantly the Greens amendments applied the changes retrospectively so that they cover the paramedic's current application before the Industrial Commission.
 
"In the current political environment it is more important than ever that unions remain strong enough to protect their members' rights from the cuts and job losses delivered by conservative governments," Mr Shoebridge said.
 
Media contact: Mark Riboldi 9230 3030 | 0433 753 376
 
 

Mark Riboldi
Communications & Policy 
Office of Greens NSW MP David Shoebridge
P: (02) 9230 3030|M: 0433 753 376|T: @thebigriboldi ( http://twitter.com/#!/thebigriboldi )
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