More than 100 nurses, fire-fighters, ambulance officers and other emergency service workers will hold a protest at Parliament House in Canberra today to voice their concerns over the Federal governments proposed changes to Australias workplace laws.
The workers will be joined by ACTU President Sharan Burrow and Oppositi0on Leader Kim Beazley to launch a statement detailing their concerns about the effects of the Governments IR plans on emergency services workers and the public.
The workers fear the Governments plans to strip awards could see emergency services workers lose important industry specific entitlements like special Long Service Leave provisions, Rostering Arrangements, Breaks, Work Allowances and Career Structures.
ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:
Australias wonderful emergency service workers deserve better than this.
The Federal Governments workplace plans would remove important conditions from emergency workers – conditions that recognise the special, sometimes dangerous and critical nature of their work to the community.
The Government is also planning to reduce the capacity of the Industrial Relations Commissions to resolve any disputes that may arise between emergency service workers and their employers.
Currently the Industrial Relations Commission plays an important role in ensuring that disputes in the emergency services sector are able to be quickly resolved without disruption to services, said Ms Burrow.
