Unions’ election campaign launch today: Tasmanians are ready to fight again to protect their rights at work
Tasmanians cannot afford to go backwards in rights at work from a Federal Coalition plan to revive WorkChoices, say unions.
ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence will visit Launceston today (Thursday) to warn workers and unions of the dangers posed to working Tasmanians and their families by Tony Abbott and Eric Abetz’s commitment to hardline industrial relations policies.
In his Budget reply speech last week, Mr Abbott announced he would bring back the worst aspects of WorkChoices by winding back unfair dismissal protection and reintroducing individual contracts. Mr Lawrence said it was essential for working Australians to build on the advances made since the last Federal election and avoid a return to WorkChoices.
“The community backlash against WorkChoices was a key factor in the election of the Rudd Government in 2007 with a mandate to restore rights at work,” Mr Lawrence said. “The Coalition lost the Tasmanian seats of Bass and Braddon because working people said enough was enough.
“It seems incredible that Tony Abbott would want to bring back WorkChoices but he is determined to slash protection from unfair dismissal and to give employers the power to dictate pay and conditions through individual contracts. We say whatever the name, never again.”
Unions Tasmania Secretary Simon Cocker said: “Working people in Tasmania turned out in big numbers to defeat WorkChoices in 2007 and are shocked at the arrogance of Eric Abetz in continuing to push an agenda that is so dear to him but so soundly rejected by Tasmanians.
“WorkChoices has remained on life support in Eric Abetz’s office since 2007 and the emergence of Eric Abetz as a leader in the Liberal Party is a warning to all Tasmanians that the hardline anti-working people policies are back on the agenda.”
Media conference
10.30am, Thursday, 20 May 2010
ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence and Unions Tasmania Secretary Simon Cocker will be available for a media conference with WorkChoices victim Louise Bruce (who also appears in one of the new ACTU TV advertisements) at the offices of the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association, 72 York Street, Launceston at 10.30am.
Jeff Lawrence will also visit the Waverley Woollen Mills at 2.30pm to meet with workers about the future of the plant, which has suffered significant job losses in recent years.
ACTU
