Labour Notes
Unions around Australia have slammed a move by Federal Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews to abolish the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC). The commission, which is made up of employer, union and government representatives, co-ordinates campaigns and researches ways of preventing workplace deaths. "With over 50 construction deaths per year, our industry needs stronger health and safety standards and more investment, not less", says Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) Construction National Secretary John Sutton. The Minister's announcement would see the commission become nothing more than a "ministerial advisory group" within the Department of Workplace Relations. "To suggest that the work on health and safety is done and can be relegated to a small committee is an insult to those who have been injured or died on the job", Victorian Trades Hall Council Secretary Leigh Hubbard said.* * * Community workers are rallying in support of a sacked colleague after she complained about her boss' bullying at a Tweed Heads Family Centre. Staff there have instituted a range of work bans and, along with concerned community members, rallied outside the Centre last Friday to send a clear message to management to reinstate the employee and sack the boss. The boss responded to their action by threatening to hold back wages of the centre's employees. "All workers have a right to raise concerns with management without fearing reprisals and the boss' actions, in this case, are a clear breach of power", Australian Services Union (ASU) President Sally McManus said.* * * The Senate Building and Construction Inquiry held three days of public hearings in Melbourne last week and questioned two union secretaries, Martin Kingham and Tom Watson, who had had a number of adverse findings against them from the Cole Royal Commission. Both union officials pointed out to the inquiry that, even though there had been adverse findings in the Commission, they had never been asked by Terence Cole (Chair of the Commission) anyone else for their side of the story. This latest inquiry was set up to examine the proposed Building and Construction Industry Improvement Bill 2003 arising out of the Royal Commission. If the bill is passed through Federal Parliament, it will result in the outlawing of pattern bargaining, and significantly weaken the rights of unions to represent workers in the construction industry. It could also open the way for similar legislation to be implemented in other industries. To find out how you can stop this legislation log on to http://www.cfmeu.asn.au/construction/campaigns.