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Autumn 2006

Tassie Worker Joins ACTU Delegation to Canberra

Jacci Jones, a medical typist at the North West Regional Hospital and HACSU member, joined a group of more than thirty workers from regional marginal seats at Parliament House late last year. The workers met in Canberra to tell Liberal and National Party MPs that they strongly disagreed with the Government’s new workplace laws.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said, "These are ordinary Australian workers who know the new laws will make their lives harder." After meeting with the workers, Ms. Burrow said, "The new laws will remove the basic rights of working people, cut the take home pay of workers, reduce job security and hurt families."

Jacci, representing the North-West electorate of Braddon, found the experience of meeting other unionists, Sharan Burrow, attending Question Time and meeting Shadow Employment Minister Steven Smith and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Jenny Macklin, inspiring and informative.

"What we really need to do is make those who voted for these laws accountable." Jacci believes that "the only thing that is going to be any help is a change of government."

The delegation marked the beginning of a long-term campaign to ensure that the Liberal and National parties are held responsible for the reductions in job security and pay caused by the new workplace laws and, ultimately, to overturn the destructive new legislation.

Key marginal electorates - such as Bass and Braddon in Tasmania - are the focus of this campaign, electorates where the Howard Government is most vulnerable.

Ms. Burrow described the campaign as a "relentless new effort to threaten the job security of Coalition MPs and Senators at the next election."

If you would like to become involved with your local campaign committee please contact your local HACSU office or call the Helpline on 1300 880 032.