Reith pushed back — but keep your powder dry

The release last Monday of the report of the Senate inquiry into the 
Howard Government's "second wave" industrial legislation shows that major 
aspects of Reith's amendments have been rejected by both the Labor Party 
and the Democrats.

An ACTU press release says the report makes clear that most of the Bill has 
no hope of passing the Senate and that Reith's "second wave" has suffered a 
"crushing defeat".

The Democrats have rejected all of Reith's "headline" changes including 
removing further conditions from awards, making it easier for employers to 
impose AWAs on employees, further restrictions on industrial action, 
including the requirement of secret pre-strike ballots, and measures which 
would make it harder for unions to recruit, organise and represent members.

Senator Andrew Murray (Democrats) says that "the Democrats cannot support 
at least two-thirds of the Bill because it reduces essential protection for 
workers.

"Much of the Government's proposals are too harsh and very significant 
amendments would be needed to deliver fair law. These proposals may yet 
prove unfixable", said Senator Murray. There are a number of other areas 
where the Democrats would consider further negotiations with the Minister.

ACTU President, Jennie George said that "Mr Reith's agenda has been beaten 
this time but the ACTU will remain vigilant..."

Coinciding with the release of the Senate report, the ACTU organised 
actions in main capital cities last Monday and launched a TV advertising 
campaign which aims to alert the community to the job insecurity, 
casualisation and the reduction of working conditions now being experienced 
by many workers.

Jennie George said that the TV campaign "is only the start of our long term 
commitment to making the public aware that the problems they feel in their 
workplaces are being made worse by the Federal Government's attacks on the 
award system and job security.

"Working people need real issues to be addressed by the political parties", 
she said. 

"While this setback for the Government's agenda is welcome", CPA General 
Secretary, Peter Symon told The Guardian, "the first wave 
legislation remains with its savage restrictions on trade union action. The 
penalties for almost any sort of strike action and the limits on the right 
of unions to represent and service their members make it extremely 
difficult for trade unions to function freely.

"It is to be hoped that the ALP, the Democrats and Green's Senator Bob 
Brown, will combine to make opportunities to force amendments to the 
existing legislation next year. The repeal of anti-trade union sections of 
the Act are essential", he said.