Fairness at Work

“The vast majority of employers treat their employees with respect and dignity. But there will always be the rogues. That is why Macquarie’s working families need employment laws that are based on balance, flexibility and fairness. Nothing else is good enough.”
– Bob Debus

The Howard Government’s WorkChoices legislation is the harshest attack on the rights and conditions of workers in Australia’s history. WorkChoices is changing the nature of our communities by allowing the exploitation of the most vulnerable workers – the low-paid, women, young people, and migrants.

Bob Debus, as part of a Rudd Labor Government, will reintroduce fairness and balance into workplaces with fair, flexible proposals that will strengthen the economy and protect our way of life for future generations.

A Rudd Labor Government will:

1. Abolish AWAs
2. Establish sensible arrangements for the transition from AWAs
3. Provide flexibility and fairness for both business and employees to keep our economy strong and productive
4. Make workplace rules fair to protect working families
5. Guarantee employee rights with a universal safety net of 10 National Employment Standards to protect conditions such as annual leave, parental leave, public holidays, penalty rates and overtime
6. Restore the rights of employees if unfairly dismissed
7. Protect employers from unlawful industrial action
8. Create a new and independent industrial umpire to oversee the new system and ensure fairness in workplaces

WorkChoices hits home in Macquarie

The Howard Government’s extreme workplace laws are causing hardship and distress for many working families of Macquarie.

Labor’s Industrial Relations Taskforce recently visited Lithgow at the invitation of Bob Debus to hear local workers tell of their experiences under WorkChoices. The meeting heard of employees being forced to sign away their penalty rates, shift allowances, overtime and meal breaks.

Bob said he was concerned to hear about working families in the Central West who feared for their futures as a result of the new laws.

“What was once unlawful, is now lawful,” he said.

Taskforce chair and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations, Brendan O'Connor, told the gathering that the abolition of AWAs was a central part of Labor’s plan.

“We will not take a step back on this,” he said. “If a majority of workers want the protection of a collective agreement, they will have one. It is a basic right that has been lost in this country.”

Survey confirms stories of exploitation

A recent national survey has confirmed that reports of workplace exploitation in Macquarie are being repeated all around Australia.

Commenting on the Women and WorkChoices report, Bob Debus described “an increased climate of fear” in many low-paid industries such as hospitality, cleaning, aged and child care. The report found that some women’s pay had been slashed by up to $100 a week.

“This report confirms the stories I have been hearing in Macquarie,” said Bob. “Vulnerable employees are being exploited under WorkChoices. Some employees are losing pay and conditions but they are too frightened to speak in public because they need the job.

“Supporters of Mr Howard’s workplace laws have challenged me to bring these people forward to tell their stories – but these employees are too frightened. This report confirms that the workplace exploitation we are hearing about in Macquarie is happening right around the country.”