Australian workers are facing their biggest battle ever. The conservative Howard government has announced a range of measures to make ‘labour more flexible’ and to improve the competitiveness of Australian workers.The government wants to introduce:* 5 minimum conditions that will replace collective agreements. These conditions are: minimum hourly wage rate; 10 days sick leave/carer’s leave; unpaid parental leave; 4 weeks annual leave – but 2 weeks can be cashed out; 38 hour week but no extra pay for overtime, weekends, shift work or public holidays and no limits on when you can be asked to work these hours.* No unfair dismissal protection if you work in a workplace with less than 100 permanent employees* Workers that have been fired, made redundant or retrenched will not be able to claim.* On strikes: workers must ballot, strikes will be easier to stop and it will be easier to fine workers for going on illegal strikes.* Employers can offer workers individual contracts even if there is a collective agreement.* If your workplace has individual contracts, your union will not be allowed access.* When a collective agreement expires, your employer can drop your wages down to the minimum conditions.* It will be illegal for trade unions to bargain for workplace rights such as: trade union training leave or paid union meetings; representing workers if a dispute arises; ensuring that no individual contracts are offered or that the next agreement is a collective agreement; limiting the use of labour brokers; defending someone if they are unfairly dismissed.If the union asks for such rights, or files agreements containing them, it can be fined up to $33 000 (Australian dollars).
Workers take to the streetsBut the trade unions have vowed to fight against the new laws. On November 15, about 210 000 marchers in Melbourne stretched down 18 city blocks showing how they felt about Howard’s proposals.In all, the trade unions estimate that almost half a million took part in rallies and protests across the country.”People (marching) today know that their living standards and job security are under threat,” said ACTU president, Sharan Burrow. “They know they will lose protection from being sacked unfairly and they know that their wages and conditions are at risk by the Government’s changes.”Meanwhile, South African trade unions will be discussing how to lend their support to the struggle ‘down under’. Will South African workers be next on the list to be forced to work ‘flexibly’?