ACTU President Sharan Burrow today will call for greater investment in vocational education and training, the restoration of workers’ rights lost under Work Choices and for the Federal Government to begin undoing the social and economic damage caused by the former Liberal Government in next week’s Budget.

Ms Burrow will release details of the unions’ priorities for the Federal Budget before she addresses a graduation ceremony of students at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst.

Key ACTU priorities for the 2008 Federal Budget include:
 

The replacement of Work Choices with fair and balanced new IR laws, including an education program to ensure employers and employees understand and are aware of their rights and obligations.

Increased funding for the management, monitoring and policing of the 457 visa program to eliminate abuse by employers and ensure temporary migrant workers are not exploited.

Measures to ease the financial pressure on working Australians and their families including support for the Labor Government’s election commitment to improve the affordability, accessibility and quality of childcare services.

Action to begin addressing the legacy of under-investment in Australia’s social, economic and environmental infrastructure left by the former Howard Government — with a particular focus on vocational education and training.

WHAT: ACTU pre-Federal Budget announcement
WHEN: Thursday 7 May, 9.45am
VENUE: CD Blake Auditorium, Village Drive, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst
SPEAKERS: ACTU President Sharan Burrow will be joined by an apprentice and graduate teacher

For the ACTU 2008 Federal Budget Priorities please download attachment