Press Release
Workers demand response on IR changes
Monday August 29, 2005
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Victorian State Secretary Martin Pakula
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A delegation of National Union of Workers members from companies in the Frankston region will present a petition to Federal Member for Dunkley, The Hon. Bruce Billson’s, office on Wednesday (August 31), voicing their concerns about the Howard Government’s planned Industrial Relation reforms.
The group represents workers from Inghams in Somerville, Nylex Automotive in Frankston and Nylex Consumer Products in Seaford, who have all expressed grave concerns about the proposed new laws.
NUW members from all three worksites recently voted to contribute to the ACTU’s national advertising campaign against the proposed legislation, and further decided to take their concerns to their local member.
The only problem was that Mr Billson refused to meet with the workers for almost three months, effectively refusing to hear their concerns until the legislation was already in Parliament.
The seat of Dunkley is one of the most marginal Liberal-held seats in Victoria, and the NUW members determined that if their local member would not meet with them, then a petition was the only other way to ensure their voices were heard.
They will also call on Mr Billson to table the petition in Parliament, to ensure their opposition is formally acknowledged.
NUW State Secretary Martin Pakula said he was not surprised by his members’ strong opposition to the proposed new laws.
“These kinds of sentiments are being echoed at workplaces around Victoria,” Pakula said.
“In the past three months we have been meeting with members across the state, informing them about the changes, and just what they might mean to them and their families, and the response has been overwhelming.
“As soon as our members realise just what these changes mean, they are overwhelmingly against them.
“Thousands of our members have got behind the campaign by supporting the ACTU’s advertising campaign, while others – like our members from Nylex and Inghams – have chosen to go directly to their local members to voice their concerns.
“These changes are extremely unpopular with working families, and we find it disturbing that local members like Bruce Billson are refusing to talk to their concerned constituents.
“Our members requested a meeting with Mr Billson a fortnight ago, and were told this would not be possible for almost 11 weeks; or not until the legislation has been tabled in Parliament.
“Why are Government members refusing to talk to concerned workers about these changes? Why won’t they fully explain what these changes mean?
“Workers are genuinely concerned about these radical new laws and it is about time the Federal Government stood up and took some notice,” Pakula said.
The NUW contingent plans to present the petition to Mr Billson’s office at Noon on Wednesday (August 31).
The Hon. Bruce Billson’s office is located at ‘Plowman Residence’, 20 Davey St, Frankston.
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Last modified 2005-11-07 10:57 AM
