New evidence has emerged that two years after the Fair Work Act swept away WorkChoices, Tony Abbott is hiding behind Liberal Party extremists and conservative business lobbyists to position for a renewed attack on rights at work.
ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said reports today that former Howard Government headkicker Peter Reith was binding together with ideological bedmates like Hugh Morgan and the Institute of Public Affairs was clear evidence of a concerted campaign to reintroduce WorkChoices.
“Mr Abbott is hiding behind his business and Liberal Party friends who want a return to hardline industrial relations policy,” Mr Lawrence said.
“The Liberal Party is so addicted to WorkChoices that as soon as Tony Abbott climbs ahead in the polls, it begins planning to bring back its anti-worker industrial relations system.
“But for working Australians what matters is decent wages, the right to paid holidays and sick leave, to be paid overtime and penalty rates.
“In the real world, workplace relations isn’t some theoretical economic debate. It’s about the pay cheque at the end of the week to meet rising costs of living.”
Tomorrow is the second anniversary of the Fair Work Act, which replaced WorkChoices after Australians resolutely voted against it and the Howard Government at the 2007 election.
The ACTU is today releasing a report of two years under the Fair Work Act, which confirms the system that replaced WorkChoices has been good for Australia’s economy, has led to fewer industrial disputes and more people than ever before are covered by collective bargaining.
“The reality is the Fair Work Act has restored protection for all workers from unfair dismissal, the rights to collective bargaining, better access and representation from unions in the workplace, a proper safety net, and the abolition of Australian Workplace Agreements,” Mr Lawrence said.
“In contrast, WorkChoices placed millions of workers in vulnerable employment, undermined protections, and led to real cuts to the value of minimum wages.”
More information
The Fair Work Act - two years on
PDF of media release