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More IR Changes Needed

6 May 2009
by Brian Boyd
VTHC Secretary

At the beginning of next month (1-3 June) sees the peak Australian union movement’s biennial discussion (ACTU Congress) occur on how to progress workers rights.

It’s been nearly two years (November 2007) since we saw off the reactionary Howard government. Many industrial and political issues remain unresolved for the union movement. It is important that this Congress articulate this ‘unfinished business’ so that our constituency and supporters in the wider community can be mobilised to pursue them with vigour, eg: limitations remaining on collective bargaining, limitations remaining on workers’ rights to take industrial action, limitations remaining on union right of entry to workplaces, the anti-democratic activities of the ABCC continuing in the nation’s construction industry.

It is important for unions to update its IR policy agenda so that new progressive legislative outcomes can be pursued with the Federal government. It must be made clear that the Fair Work Act does not satisfy our original “Your Rights @ Work/Scrap Work Choices” campaign.

The Rudd/Gillard government is not even close to being in office as long as the British Labour Party (‘New Labour’), yet it is starting to act and sound like it! The British Labour Party – in the 90’s quickly departed from a social progressive framework and embraced uncritically capitalism, allowing and encouraging the market to determine the direction of society. British Labour in government also distanced itself from its activist base, many elements of the union movement, citizens concerned about the environment and anti-war activists.

The Tories, predictably have moved to fill the vacuum in recent times and the Brown government is headed for a big loss at the next general election.

Tony Blair courted the British union movement before his original electoral victory in the mid 90’s. However, he never delivered anything of substance to this core constituency.

The lessons for Australia are clear. Disenchantment is already growing with the Rudd government over unfinished IR business and other issues (eg Paid Maternity Leave, the environment, an equitable response to the Global Financial Crisis).

There is a national ALP Conference in July/August 2009 and a federal election due in 2010.

Unions should vigorously insist a second term ALP government address via policy initiatives all ‘unfinished business’ issues.

This is not an unreasonable way forward.