[ Fighting Howard's Unfair Workplace Laws ]

Introduction

John Howard's extreme workplace laws have made it harder for young people to study and buy their own home by taking away overtime, penalty rates, holiday pay and other conditions.

After 11 years in power, John Howard has lost touch. Despite the financial pressure people are experiencing, he said we've "never been better off".

If the Liberals win this election, they will take their extreme workplace laws further. Only Labor can protect people's pay and conditions.

Young Labor has made campaigning for a fair workplace system a priority. We are committed to 'tearing up' John Howard's unfair workplace laws under a Rudd Labor Government.

The Young Labor campaign against these extreme laws will continue to remind John Howard that young people care about their jobs and are willing to fight (and vote) for their working rights. That is why Young Labor will continue to work with Unions NSW and the senior party up to the Federal election.

We urge all young people who believe in a fair workplace system to join the campaign to 'give Howard some job insecurity'.




Give Howard some job insecurity: Young Labor marching on May Day in support of workers' rights.

Background

Due to his majority in the Senate, John Howard has been able to pass a set of workplace laws that are dramatically altering the working landscape in Australia. These changes are making it harder for working families and young people to make ends meet.

"There are alternative policies that can achieve similar employment outcomes without asking the most disadvantaged workers to bear the sole burden of adjustment and without the adverse effects on the family/work balance."

Fred Argy, Visiting Fellow, ANU
Australian Financial Review, Wednesday 13 December 2006, p.51

What will the Howard Government's unfair workplace laws co$t you?

The Howard Government's extreme workplace laws are hurting working Australians:

1. No safety net

Under Mr Howard's unfair workplace laws, working Australians have lost penalty rates, overtime, shift loadings, meal and rest breaks, annual leave loading, redundancy pay, allowances and certainty of hours/rostering without compensation.

According to the Howard Government's own figures, 75% of Australian Workplace Agreements negotiated since the extreme workplace laws came into effect have taken away basic conditions like shift loading, two-thirds have removed penalty rates, and 44% have taken away ALL the conditions John Howard promised would be protected by law.

2. Less bargaining power

Mr Howard's unfair workplace laws favour a shift onto individual contracts, where employees have the option to accept the terms offered by their employer, or turn down the job, which is no choice at all.

How can young people be expected to negotiate with big bosses?

3. More people facing unfair dismissal

The Howard Government's extreme workplace laws allow businesses with under 100 employees to unfairly dismiss staff for 'operational reasons', even if alternatives are available like redeployment to another position.


In short, John Howard's unfair workplace laws demonstrate no concern for the impact on working conditions or families.

Although the Howard Government professes to be pro-individual and pro-family, their extreme workplace laws are bad for employees and bad for families.

John Howard has forgotten that it is people that drive a strong economy. If we are to maintain a strong economy, we need to take care of people.

Learn more...

		The Liberals will go further John Howard didn't say a word about WorkChoices before the last election, and then introduced laws that cut conditions like overtime and penalty rates. How much further will he and Peter Costello take these laws if re-elected? They say "there is still a long way to go". • Video: view • Fact Sheets: view • Liberal Finance Minister Nick Minchin talks about • taking WorkChoices further: listen
		Voting Record Coalition MPs voted for John Howard's extreme workplace laws up to 23 times. These unfair laws have already: • CUT penalty and overtime rates; • CUT annual wage increases; and • THREATENED maternity leave. To find out more, check out the website
		Fact sheet To learn more about how John Howard's unfair workplace laws are hurting working Australians, and what Kevin Rudd and Labor plan to do about it, read the Workplace Laws Fact Sheet. View the fact sheet
		More information John Howard's extreme workplace laws have made it harder for young people to study and buy their own home by taking away overtime, penalty rates, holiday pay and other conditions. For further information on what the Howard Government's extreme workplace laws will co$t you, visit the NSW Government's information page. To find out more, check out the website

What Young Labor is Doing

Education: Young Labor has been holding regular forums to raise awareness of the impact of John Howard's extreme workplace laws among young people. At our mid-year conference we were addressed by the President of the Australian Workers Union Bill Shorten. At our annual conference we heard from the Secretary of Unions NSW John Robertson.

A forum held with Matt Thistlethwaite from Unions NSW addressed the effect the changes would have on young workers, who are typically employed in casual positions that have less job security, lower pay and fewer conditions. Another forum with Anna Collins from Unions NSW and Trish Bradbury from the Transport Workers Union focused on the impact the changes will have on women, who face greater hurdles in attempting to balance work and family responsibilities.

Campaigning: Young Labor has been active in the community as part of the ACTU campaign in order to raise awareness of the impact of John Howard's unfair workplace laws. Over 40 young activists marched on May Day and at the National Day of Action to protest against the changes and demonstrate our support for workers' rights.

Young Labor members have also been handing out flyers and petitions at shopping centres and train stations.

To get involved, please contact us. Alternatively, you can send an email to Brendan Cavanagh, or call him on 0405 145 375 for more information.

Give Howard some job insecurity: Young Labor preparing to march on May Day in support of workers' rights.