Union News

Coalition furthers its attack on workplace rights

23 February, 2012 – 13:33 Anonymous

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The O’Farrell Government is seeking to undermine working people and their trade unions, with a series of new laws introduced to parliament designed to nobble trade unions and their capacity to advocate and campaign for members.

The laws are designed to impose unreasonably harsh penalties when workers take industrial action and divide unions, through the false pretext of ‘competition’.

Unions NSW Secretary, Mark Lennon, said the Government had introduced the laws with no consultation, only one day after a Commission of Audit recommended consideration of new industrial relations laws.

“This Government clearly believes unions have no right to exist and is doing everything in its power to stamp them out,” Unions NSW Secretary, Mark Lennon said.

“The community has already resolved this issue – it was called the Your Rights at Work campaign. The Premier and his ministers ought to learn from that experience.

“The NSW community tell us regularly that they believe trade unions have a legitimate right to exist. Who else will stick up for their interests in the workplace?”

Today’s introduction of new laws comes after the Government flagged its intention to cut staff ratios for nurses, police, firefighters and other public sector workers in yesterday’s Commission of Audit.

Mr Lennon said the impact of the laws would be to undermine services to the community.

“This Government had made an art form of springing contentious and major legislation on the parliament late in the day with no consultation,” Mr Lennon said.

“The Premier and his team insist on attacking public services and the people who deliver them. It has to stop.”