Unions put forward new plan to protect jobs and workers' entitlements
02 June, 2009
A new plan to protect the jobs and entitlements of Australian workers affected by the global downturn has been endorsed today by unions at the triennial ACTU Congress being held in Brisbane.
Unions have resolved to campaign strongly to implement the plan, which includes a call for the Federal Government to tie stimulus and infrastructure spending to support for local industries.
Unions are also seeking a guarantee that 100% of workers' entitlements will be protected if a company collapses as a result of the global financial crisis and tighter business regulation to prevent any future financial crisis.
ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:
"The GFC has put at risk the jobs and livelihoods of people across the globe with more than fifty million working people expected to lose their jobs, including a projected 6 to 10 percent of the Australian workforce.
"It is already the cause of untold hardship among working families with businesses collapsing, jobs lost, entitlements unpaid and homes repossessed.
"Working Australians and unions demand that this must never happen again.
"Unions advocate and support measures to rebuild the economy that address the underlying causes of instability that led to the GFC and will campaign to ensure business practices are effectively regulated and there are caps on executive salaries so that the crisis never occurs again,” she said.
"Unions propose the Federal Government immediately adopt National Interest Expenditure Guidelines that place mandatory requirements on the recipients of public funding of any kind (including guarantees) to ensure Australian jobs are protected and created and key industries are maintained and strengthened.
"Unions are also seeking urgent and major reforms to ensure income and asset security for Australian workers and their families, including security of workers’ entitlements and subsidies for companies in industries under threat and forced to downsize production,” said Ms Burrow.
The triennial ACTU Congress is being held at the Brisbane Convention Centre from 2-4 June.
More information
Download Congress resolution on the global financial crisis below
Contact Details
Mark Phillips
Ph: 0422 009 011
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