Press Release
ACTU Media Release - Thousands more workers to be hurt by WorkChoices while Liberals stand by AWAs
Thursday February 07, 2008
Thousands more Australian workers will be hurt by WorkChoices as a result of today’s (Thursday February 7, 2008) decision by the Liberals’ to defend the use of AWA Individual Contracts and oppose the Labor Party’s new industrial relations laws say unions.
Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop today announced the Liberals will oppose the Labor Government’s legislation to ban AWAs when it is tabled in Parliament next week.
The Liberals’ stance could result in businesses continuing to push workers onto lower paid AWAs until late 2008 said the ACTU.
Recent government figures show around 1000 workers every day continue to be pushed into signing WorkChoices AWAs, despite the Liberals’ election loss.
ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:
"The Liberal Party’s decision to support AWAs is an insult to the Australian people who voted overwhelmingly to reject WorkChoices at last year’s election.
“Ms Bishop is wrong to argue that WorkChoices and AWAs are separate things.
“AWAs were the centre piece and cruel heart of the Howard Government’s unfair WorkChoices laws.
“AWAs did a lot of damage to Australian workers by lowering wages and conditions and reducing workers’ rights.
“With the Liberals planning to oppose the Labor Government’s clear mandate to scrap WorkChoices many more Australian families risk being hurt by AWA Individual Contracts.
“This shows the Liberals have not learnt anything from the last election and are ignoring the clear mandate the Labor Government was given to scrap WorkChoices and AWAs.
“This decision shows that the Liberals plan to keep WorkChoices alive despite the Australian people voting to kill off the policy at the last election,” Burrow said.
Last modified 2008-02-08 10:59 AM
