National Union of Workers

NUW Delegates from Nylex Automotive in Frankston and Nylex Consumer Products in Seaford had the opportunity to voice their opposition to the Howard Government’s radical Industrial Relations agenda to their local member, The Hon. Bruce Billson yesterday (August 31, 2005).

The Delegates had tried to make an appointment to meet the Federal Member for Dunkley – the most marginal Liberal-held seat in Victoria – to raise their concerns a fortnight ago, but were told they would need to wait almost 11 weeks to arrange a meeting.

So concerned were they with the Federal Government’s proposed new laws, that rather than wait the almost three months to meet with their local member, they instead prepared a petition which more than 300 of their workmates signed, to present to Mr Billson’s electoral office yesterday instead.

But when they arrived at Mr Billson’s Frankston offices, the man himself was there and agreed to meet with them.

Mr Billson said he had become aware of their desire to meet with him via the local media – despite previous phone calls to his office – and had made room in his schedule to do so.

While the Delegates were confused as to why it took the local media stepping in to achieve the desired meeting, they were more than willing to take-up the opportunity to discuss their concerns, and those of their workmates.

Both Nylex sites have recently voted overwhelmingly to donate to the joint NUW/ACTU advertising campaign against the proposed new laws.

But the members at both sites were so strongly opposed to the changes, that they wanted to take their opposition further, hence the petition and desire to meet with Mr Billson.

The Delegates spent around half an hour with the Federal MP, raising numerous issues, including concerns about the planned changes to unfair dismissal laws, and the ability of employers in the future to demand employees sign individual contracts rather than collective agreements.

They also raised issues regarding the lack of detail which had been provided by the Federal Government about the proposed new laws.

They said workers had a genuine fear that they were being railroaded, with the Government having full control of the Senate and being able to pass whatever legislation it liked with no consultation with the people it represented.

What ensued as a lively debate between all parties, with little consensus being reached.

Mr Billson denied there had been no consultation, saying this was what the Government was doing now.

He added that this consultation would continue once the details of the new legislation were released in the coming months.

A desire to consult with workers, he said, was why he had agreed to yesterday’s meeting.

However, the Delegates argued there had been no consultation and if workers were to truly understand the legislation, they first needed to see the detail and then have time to digest it, before it was passed in Parliament.

If the legislation is to be passed before the end of the year, they argued that the bulk of the detail should already be available, and questioned why it hadn’t been passed on to working families.

They also asked why the legislation needed to be passed so quickly, why it could not be delayed until next year so working families could have time to understand what was being proposed and provide genuine feedback to the Federal Government.

While there was no agreement in any of these matters, Mr Billson did promise to table the Delegate’s petition in Parliament and agreed to meet with them again once the details of the legislation had been released.

He also agreed to clarify some of the issues the Delegates raised concerning casual employees, and companies breaking themselves up to fit under the 100 employee unfair dismissal limit.

And all Delegates present look forward to meeting with Mr Billson again to continue their campaign against the Howard Government’s ideologically-drive laws.