Resist Howard’s IR laws

Sydney, June 28

Thousands rally nationwide as Howard Government plots its next move to crush workers' rights

SECRET BUSINESS

The Howard Government held secret discussions with the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ACCI) about big business plans for a new wave of IR reforms in July, the ACTU has discovered.

On the big business agenda is an end to paid overtime, greater ability to stand down workers without pay and for individual contracts to override the current five minimum standards.

The employer group document also states that big business wants further cuts to the legal minimum standards for all Australian workers so that sick leave entitlements could be halved to only five days a year and all annual leave could be 'cashed out', leaving workers without any annual holidays.

At the same time an advisor to the so-called Fair Pay Commission has warned against any further rises in the minimum wage, claiming low wages create jobs.

Australian business leaders have also called for the scrapping of the migrant pay 'safety net' - the minimum wage that foreign 'guest workers' are supposed to receive.

ON THE MARGINS

The Maritime Union is playing a key role in the ACTU Marginal Seat Campaign by sponsoring activists to galvanise community condemnation of the Howard Government's IR regime.

Assistant National Secretary Mick Doleman is co-ordinating the work with the CFMEU Miners Division in NSW and other States where other unions have co-ordinators in place, connecting our members to the campaign in those electorates. He is also on the ACTU IR Campaign Committee alongside Tony Maher from the CFMEU.

There are 20 seats in total. The ALP needs to win 16 and, with redistribution, the margins of some of these seats have blown out to 'unwinnable' while others have increased the chance of defeating the government candidates.

Newcastle wharfie Shannon Gleeson has been seconded from the wharves to work full time at the Organising Centre with the NSW Labor Council in the marginal seats of Dobell in northern NSW. Dobell takes in Gosford and the adjoining electorate of Paterson.

Meanwhile Port Botany wharfie Sean Ambrose reports Patrick rank and file members are working enthusiastically within local 'Your Rights at Work' campaigns.

Sean is volunteering with comrade Paul McAleer (P&O Port Botany) involved with the Western Sydney committee and on establishing the Sutherland Shire 'Your Rights at Work' committee.

Sutherland Shire consists of two federal electorates, Cook and Hughes, held by Bruce Baird and Danna Vale. Both are Libs and both voted for WorkChoices. Both seats are regarded as safe Tory strongholds, but this is of no concern to Sean or Paul.

The Port Botany wharfies suggest one effective weapon we can deploy in the lead up to the election involves beer coasters in local clubs and pubs that display the 'Your Rights at Work' logo.

"The beauty of these is that they are in your face and after a few beers people begin to talk more," said Sean. "Another shock tactic we will be considering is the deployment of propaganda leaflets of the type that were dropped during WWII. We will have them altered with the 'Your Rights at Work' logo. I hope to see all our comrades all in the trenches ready for the final assault."

WOMAN SACKED FOR

REJECTING AWA

A young woman miner was bullied and sacked after she refused to sign an AWA individual contract that required her to pay a $200 'fine' if she called in sick with less than 12 hours notice.

This example of an unfair contract follows a recent admission by the Office of the Employment Advocate that every AWA registered under the new IR laws has removed at least one award condition and that 64 per cent have removed leave loading; 63 per cent cut penalty rates and overtime; 52 per cent cut shift loadings; and 16 per cent removed ALL protected award conditions.

Lorissa Stevens is qualified to drive an excavator, backhoe, bobcat, front-end loader, forklift and heavy rigid vehicle.

She recently began work in the Hunter Valley with a contractor in the mining industry and was undergoing induction training when she was asked to sign an AWA individual contract.

She was pressured by the company and subsequently dismissed after she baulked at signing the AWA because of the sick pay clause.

Meanwhile around 80 staff at a Melbourne call centre operated by Global Tele Sales - a subsidiary of the giant German airline Lufthansa - have been told to sign individual contracts that cut their take home pay by up to $80 a week.

The AWA contracts cut evening and weekend penalty rates and penalise staff for taking sick leave or leave to care for a family member.

DAY OF ACTION

Record numbers of maritime workers joined the national day of protest on June 28, with branches reporting a turnout of around 3,000 members taking to the streets.

In SYDNEY six busloads of wharfies, seafarers and veterans headed west at dawn from Port Botany and the city to Blacktown in one of the key city marginals.

Branch Secretary Robert Coombs congratulated members on their discipline and record attendance.

"We had just under half the membership out there," he said. "Around 1,000. They marched and everyone rostered on that afternoon was back at work by 1pm before start of the shift. It was tremendous show of force and great discipline."

Mick Doleman, assistant national secretary and IR campaign co-ordinator who led the Sydney march said there is now a clear cut distinction between the Coalition and Labor parties - Howard is anti worker and Labor is pro worker.

"The groundswell against the IR laws is gaining momentum," he said. "Australian workers are angry and getting angrier. Now we have to intensify our activities in the marginals to dump Coalition MPs supporting Howard's IR laws that abuse and exploit citizens in their electorates. The struggle must continue."

In MELBOURNE, which boasted the biggest turnout, between 150,000 and 200,000 workers closed the CBD. Around 1000 MUA joined the march that kicked off at four different points - Federation Square, Parliament House, Trades Hall and Spencer Street Railway Station - and converged on the intersection of Bourke and Watson.

There Federal Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley, promised to overturn the Howard Government anti-worker laws. _

"When we get into office in 18 months time, we will rip up these laws," he said. _ "Then we are going to put in place laws based on true Australian values. This is a battle for the ordinary Australian way of life. This is a battle for Australian families. It's also a battle for basic dignity in the workplace."_

Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary, Brian Boyd, praised workers for attending the rally despite pressure from some employers and the threat of sanctions under the new laws. And ACTU President, Sharan Burrow, said Australian families had widespread concern about cuts to workers' take-home pay and the loss of entitlements such as penalty rates, overtime payments and other basic entitlements.

Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, also praised the rally for supporting the rights of vulnerable workers at a time when interest rates are rising and people are struggling financially. _

In BRISBANE, Mick Carr reports the Brisbane rally was an outstanding success with around 350 MUA members marching under the Queensland Transport Unions' Federation banner in the 25,000 turnout. The rally heard major addresses from Queensland IR Minister Tom Barton, ACTU Secretary Greg Combet and ALP Treasury Spokesperson Wayne Swan.

"Greg Combet gave a great speech. He spoke and everyone listened," said Mick. "It was a passionate speech. Greg Combet clearly articulated the obvious differentials between the Howard Governments' position on industrial relations - ie, to bow down to the corporates and big business - whilst applauding the comments of the ALP via Kim Beazley to do away with and tear up AWA's."

In FREMANTLE, Chris Cain told the media the next rally would be five times bigger.

Close to 500 MUA members rallied in PERTH, with some jobs stopped and others kept running. "Despite the rally not having the endorsement of UnionsWA, a lot of unions had a change of heart and came anyway. Now its time to gear up for the next one." Several thousand people waving union flags and placards gathered in Russell Square in Northbridge to voice their concerns about the IR laws.

In ADELAIDE the branch had a stop work meeting, before bussing around 70-80 members to the marginal seat of Makin to rally outside the office of the local Coalition MP. Branch Secretary Jamie Newlyn reports the local mayor, who stood for Labor last election, joined workers who had been duded under the IR laws to address the rally.

In WOLLONGONG branch secretary Mark Armstrong reports good representation from all sections - stevedores, tugs and lines. "We had around 200 members easy," he said. "The biggest draw card of the day was Reverend Gorden Bradbery who stressed it was the most vulnerable people who were being hit hardest by the laws.

"He told us how he was conducting a funeral service and one of the family had to ask for note to take back to his boss, so he wouldn't be sacked," said Mark. "The chant for the day was 'Hey hey ho ho Little Johny's got to go'. Both local members, Jennie George and Sharon Bird spoke to the estimated 7000."

MUA casual deckhand John Markulic, Adsteam tugs, said it was a great turn out. "Everyone was pretty vocal," he said. "We all showed up to protest against Johnny Howard and his IR laws. People don't want to put up with all his crap. People were coming out of cafes and shops and joining us. They thought it was great. "

In NEWCASTLE, branch secretary Jim Boyle reports around 200 MUA members attended the meeting at Trades Hall where the local Catholic bishop joined union leaders, before marching to and protesting outside Spotlight, the infamous employer who made headlines for forcing a worker onto an AWA undercutting pay and conditions.

"Obviously the public concern hasn't died out," said Jim. "The turn out was terrific especially among young women who have been hit the hardest by the new laws and now recognise the importance of unions. The interesting thing was everyone wanted to know when we were marching again so they could be in it."

In DARWIN, MUA national organiser Mick Killick addressed around 500 people gathered in Raintree Park in the city. He publicly attacked Diamond Offshore for dumping the MUA marine crew on board the Ocean Bounty rig so they could replace them with people on individual contracts.

National Secretary Paddy Crumlin, who was attending an international bargaining forum for a collective agreement on wages and conditions with world shipowners in London, wrote congratulating all members who protested against the Howard Government's anti worker, anti Australian IR Legislation.

"The participation of the MUA has been at the forefront of all activity, particularly the mass rallies of protest held yesterday all around Australia," he said. "Ordinary working men and women in our country are looking to our union and union movement to protect basic working and living conditions that are the foundation of decent lives for them and their families.

"Our activities are also a rallying point for support by workers and their unions around the world who have sent messages of solidarity in our great struggle.

"Your work and the work of our members, staff and their families is a great inspiration in keeping our campaign moving to final success - the dumping of Howard and the rats and impostors who hold government in this country. MUA Here to Stay."

The ACTU estimated 300,000 people attended rallies and other events across Australia on the day.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the large turnout reflected widespread community concern about cuts to workers' take-home pay and the loss of entitlements such as penalty rates, overtime payments and other basic entitlements.

"The rallies show a groundswell of opposition to the new IR laws and are a clear signal to the Howard Government that it faces a tough fight at the next election over its IR laws," she said.

Rallies were also held in LAUNCESTON Tasmania, where around 2,000 people rallied including rescued Beaconsfield miner Brant Webb. A further protest was held in HOBART on Saturday July 1 on Parliament House lawns.