The Guardian 15 November, 2006
All out for November 30!
Every worker a union member
On Monday this week the Minister for Union Bashing announced further amendments to his WorkChoices legislation. The Howard Government plans to give employers extensive rights to stand down workers at any time there is a downturn in business or during industrial action.
The new amendments also seek to prevent the inclusion of overtime in calculating annual leave, sick leave and carers’ leave — a sneaky means of reducing the rate at which these entitlements accrue each year. (Actual wages paid can be as much as 30% or more than the base weekly wage because of long hours of overtime — at present many agreements provide for leave rates to be based on this larger amount.) Personal leave payments will also only be paid at a basic rate of pay, minus overtime and penalty rates.
These are just a taste of things to come if the Howard Government is re-elected in the federal elections next year. It is imperative that the government and its legislation are thrown out and workers’ rights are restored. This will require the full might of the trade union movement and as wide a section of the broader community as possible. That is why the Your Rights@Work campaign with its many solidarity groups and, in particular, the National Day of Community Action on November 30 across Australia, is so important.
WorkChoices is based dividing the workforce, smashing trade unions and leaving individual workers defenceless in the face of aggressive, profit-gouging employers. Employers have considerable resources behind them, they have the power to hire and fire, and backing them up one of the most worker-hating governments in Australia’s history. The only way workers can defend themselves is by organising in trade unions and acting in unity. This organisation and united action is the source of their power. As the saying goes: "United we bargain, divided we beg".
The importance of joining a union and being represented by your union in negotiating collective agreements is evident in the difference in outcomes for workers who are union members and those who do not have union protection.
Workers who belong to unions have better wages and conditions than non-union members; union members on average earn 15% more than non-union members!
Every single non-union individual employment contracts (AWAs) examined by the Office of the Employment Advocate had at least one of the five "protected by law" conditions in Howard’s WorkChoices legislation removed. The OEA revealed that 64% of the AWAs cut leave loadings; 63% eliminated penalty rates; and 52% cut shift loadings.
Unionised workplaces have better health and safety conditions and are more likely to elect representatives who are then legally entitled to monitor health and safety at work.
Unions help to break down barriers in workplaces — they unite workers and create a community so workers do not feel isolated or easily intimidated by employers.
Overtime rates, annual leave, rostered days off, redundancy agreements, long service leave payments, hours of work, shift allowances and the many other conditions in awards and agreements were ALL fought for and won by unions. Employers do not just hand out entitlements as an act of generosity. They must be fought for and then continue to be defended or they will be taken back by the employer as is happening now through AWAs. The only way to hold onto these conditions or make new gains is through the trade union.
Unions represent you in negotiations with employers and are there to advise you of your rights and to assist you in any problems with your employer whether it be underpayment, sexual harassment, discrimination, injury or a safety question.
Unions have a long and proud history of defending the rights of working women, migrants, part-timers and casuals. It is much more difficult for employers to discriminate against women who have a union supporting them and who are aware of their rights. Anti-discrimination laws, paid maternity leave and family leave were won by unions who continue to fight for improved conditions for them.
Unions collectively and individually support education and training for workers and lobby for on-the-job training for members.
The union movement continually strives for better laws to protect low paid workers such as outworkers.
When employers try to sack workers and import guest workers to take their employees’ jobs in pursuit of higher rates of exploitation and larger profits, it is unions who take up the fight to defend their jobs and ensure sacked workers receive their entitlements. Unions are in a far stronger position to exercise muscle, lobby governments and gain support from other unions and the community.
Unions do much more than just look after their members in the workplace. They take up other important social, economic, cultural, environmental, community and political issues. They are active in rebuilding East Timor and with other overseas aid, defending the rights of refugees, supporting Medicare, public education, public transport, the environment, peace, migrant and women’s rights, Aboriginal reconciliation, to name a few issues.
If you are not a member then join now. Urge your fellow workers and friends to join. And, on November 30, be there with the hundreds of thousands of other Australians.
National Day of Union and Community Action
Nov 30 @ 8:30am
Stand up for your rights at work.
For further information and to find a rally location close to you visit
www.rightsatwork.com.au
or phone the ACTU hotline on 1300 362 223
Over THREE HUNDRED venues around Australia