April 1999 Volume 80 Number 4 "serving the protectors"
Draft Bill Rebuked by SA Unions
By Brett Williams

Mark Caroll says PASA members should make their views known to MPs

Chris White says PASA members should make their views known to MPs

The successful passage of proposed legislation through the SA Parliament will leave industrial awards with only “a few basic conditions”, the UTLC has warned.

Responding to Industrial and Employee Relations Act amendments sought by the Olsen government, UTLC (United Trades and Labor Council) secretary, Chris White, insisted that entitlements guaranteed by awards were “under threat”.

White referred to such entitlements as overtime payments, shift penalties, annual leave loading, allowances and public holidays.

Through the amendments, the Government seeks to:

• Limit unfair dismissal claims.
• Introduce junior rates of pay to all awards.
• Delete the “no-disadvantage” clause in enterprise agreements.
• Create the Workplace Agreement Authority to approve collective agreements.
• Increase the ease with which employers can insist on individual contracts.
• Prevent union officials from entering worksites without “reasonable suspicion that the employer is breaching an award or agreement...”

Despite Government claims that the amendments will reduce unemployment, revitalize the economy and achieve workplace co-operation and job security, the UTLC remains strongly opposed to them.

“These changes give increased power and flexibility to employers to exploit workers,” said White.

“It sounds the death knell for something Australians hold dear - a fair go for all.”

“This is about a fair go for workers who are the backbone of this State. All of them will lose rights under these new laws.”

Nine academics from South Australia’s three universities wrote of their broad-ranging concerns about the amendments in an open letter to Government Enterprises Minister, Dr Michael Armitage. They asserted that:

• “Hoped-for employment effects are unlikely”.
• Employees’ capacity to join unions will be inhibited.
• The removal of unfair dismissal laws for many employees is “discriminatory and unfair”.

“...we consider the overall package of amendments to be potentially damaging to a system that, on balance, is working efficiently and smoothly for the State,” the letter reads.

It describes South Australia’s current industrial relations system as “one of the State’s strengths”, and asserts that the amended act would encourage employers to “engage in exploitative contracts”.

Police Association assistant secretary, Mark Carroll, said the amendments were concerning for all SA workers, including police.

“That’s why the Police Association - which is an affiliate of the UTLC - is assisting its members to better understand the legislation,” he said.

He said the Police Association would be part of a UTLC strategy of lobbying Upper House members of Parliament to defeat the amendments. He likened the exercise to the Association’s acrimonious battle with the Government over the police bill last year.

“As part of the trade union movement as a whole, our members can support other workers in their fight for a fair go,” he said.

“(PASA) members who are opposed to the legislation should write to their local MPs and make their views known,”

Dr Armitage’s office was contacted by the Police Journal for comment but didn’t respond.

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