Workers' rights

Workers have a right to secure employment, to a decent income, a healthy 
and safe workplace, and the right to strike. This should be guaranteed by 
law.

Since the 1980s, we have seen big business and governments, co-operating to 
weaken the position of workers and their unions. They have introduced anti-
union laws that reduced injured workers' rights to compensation. The real 
value of wages has fallen and workers have been forced to trade off many of 
their hard won conditions for wage rises.

Workers are being continually threatened with unemployment and the 
casualisation of their jobs. At least one worker in four is casual, many 
working unpredictable, irregular and unsure hours. Women are hit 
particularly hard — one in three female employees is in casual work.

Long and irregular hours make it extremely difficult for working parents to 
manage family — resulting in women, in particular, being driven out of the 
workforce.

Over 50 per cent of workers report that the intensity of their work has 
increased, causing ill health, fatigue and poor quality of working life.

Almost one in three full-timers work over 49 hours per week. Around 60 per 
cent of those working overtime are doing so for free.

With fewer workers being forced to work more (often unpaid) hours, it is no 
wonder that big business is rolling in profits and unemployment remains 
high.

At the same time governments allow big businesses to close down operations 
whenever they like regardless of the thousands of jobs lost. 

The Chain Valley Mine on the Central Coast of NSW closed last month, and on 
the South Coast BHP has just announced the sacking of 122 mineworkers at 
its West Cliff colliery.

Closures leave workers and their children with few prospects while the 
corporations escape with their profits, often subsidised by taxpayers, and 
take no social responsibility for their actions.

The mergers of big companies, rationalisation of industry, the 
restructuring of workplaces, the introduction of new technologies, the 
privatisation of public enterprises, the reduction in tariffs on imported 
goods and the exodus of manufacturing jobs to lower wage countries demand 
urgent measures.

The CPA believes that there are answers to these problems.

We stand for the planning and regulation of our economy and 
industries: it is possible to have full employment and job security.

The CPA stands for:

* Government that takes control over industry and makes the private sector 
accountable

* Legislation protecting the rights of trade unions to organise, to 
investigate workplaces and to strike without penalty

* Defence of the award system and union negotiated agreements with the 
abolition of individual contracts

* Regular wage rises to compensate for price increases on basic consumer 
items and provide workers with a share of productivity gains

* Heavy fines and criminal charges for companies that cause the death and 
injury of workers

* Full wages for workers on compensation and the right to take common law 
action

* Shorter working hours with no loss of pay

* Taxation penalties for companies working excessive overtime

* Paid maternity leave and family leave

* A standard six weeks annual leave

* Penalties for companies that close workplaces and shed jobs. 

The Communist Party believes that working class people should have a 
special place in our State. After all they are the ones who create the 
wealth and produce the goods and services that we all enjoy. Not the Big 
Business and developer parasites who feed on the wealth created by workers. 
Workers must have their Rights protected and recognised by legislation.

For jobs and workers' rights vote CPA