Call the HACSU Helpline
1300 88 00 32

more info

Winter 2006

Your Rights at Work Protests in Launceston

Approximately 4000 community members and unionists attended a rally in Launceston at the end of June to protest against the Coalition Government’s new work laws.

Protesters met at Princes Square and marched through Launceston to Albert Hall. The procession was led by Brant Webb, Bill Shorten and forty Beaconsfield miners, and stretched to cover more than three city blocks.

Albert Hall was packed to capacity, with union flags flying from the upper level.

Protesters heard from local workers who had first hand experience of the new laws.

Kath Casey, a shop delegate for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employee's Union (SDA), read a statement from a Spotlight worker who was pressured to sign an individual contract.

"The AWAs offered did not provide any penalties for Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday work and the base rate of $14.30 per hour covered all hours," Kath said, "This rate was two cents above the ordinary hourly rate of the Award." Under the new agreement workers stand to lose up to $90 a week.

Kath provoked cheers from the assembled audience when she closed by saying: "the only way to change this legislation is a change of Government at the next election."

Laurie Lewis, a meat worker and a member of the Meat workers' Union who has been locked out of his place of work since April 2003 for refusing to sign an individual contract, also addressed the crowd.

Laurie spoke of his experiences at Blue Ribbon Meatworks, where after a change of owner employees were told they must become trainees in order to keep their jobs. At the end of the twelve-month traineeship period, employees were sacked - but could chose to come back as independent contractors. Workers who refused were locked out.

The Blue Ribbon dispute has taken place largely under the old industrial relations system, but Laurie raised concerns about how cases like his will be dealt with in the new system.

"Where will we go now when the Boss says 'you're sacked but you can sign an individual contract or hire yourself out as a contractor?'" Laurie said.

"Under the Federal Government's new Industrial Relations laws we have no protection at all."

Doug Cameron from the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU), Bill Shorten from the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) and Debbie Butler from the Launceston Community Legal Centre spoke to the crowd.

Hobart Day of Action

Hundreds turned out despite poor weather on 1 July for a Workers Rights rally in Hobart.

Those assembled heard from Ashley Gallichan, whose employer had placed workers on individual contracts which paid junior employees as little as $7.98 per hour and removed penalty rates, and Sally Neil, a nurse who was dismissed by her employer the previous week for a minor mistake which under the old IR system would have likely resulted in a first warning.

Sally told the audience that her situation was a good example of how the new IR laws can impact on working people's lives.

"Under the old system, I would have been entitled to a fair process to determine whether my mistake warranted dismissal. Under this new system my employer could sack me on the spot, with no requirement that they consider my side of the story."

Sally explained how under the old system, "if I thought my employer had acted unfairly I could go to the Industrial Commission for an independent hearing. Under the new IR laws I am out the door with no right of appeal."

Ashley encouraged the crowd to "do something" about the new legislation. His suggestions included joining a union, phoning talk back radio, writing to the paper, talking to your friends and neighbours and supporting functions such as the YRAW week of action.

Other speakers included Simon Cocker, Secretary of Unions Tasmania, Anne Urqhart, Vice President of Unions Tasmania and AMWU Secretary and Denison MP Duncan Kerr, representing Kim Beazley. A statement was read from Anglican Bishop of Tasmania Bishop Harrower.

Workers were encouraged to hold the coalition accountable at the next election in order to move towards a fair IR system.