Federal Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey has today confirmed the Howard Government’s intention to go further on industrial relations and get rid of trade unions altogether if re-elected.
Speaking on ABC radio this morning, Mr Hockey said: “The days of unions are essentially over”.
ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said:
“This is Mr. Hockey confirming the government has an agenda to go further on Work Choices if it is re-elected.
“The Howard Government has already cut workers’ protection from unfair dismissal and allowed penalty rates, overtime, and redundancy pay to be reduced.
“A Government document already shows that John Howard wants to push an extra 1.5 million workers onto AWAs and Peter Costello has previously admitted he wants to further cut workers’ protection from unfair dismissal.
“Now Mr Hockey has revealed the Government wants to get rid of unions altogether if it is re-elected.”
“This is a stunning admission of the Liberal Party’s future agenda on industrial relations.
“The Liberals want to go further on industrial relations and getting rid of unions, along with pushing 1.5 million more workers onto lower-paid AWAs will be a major part of the next wave of Work Choices if they are re-elected,” said Mr Lawrence.