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New Federal Government takes shape – The issues

Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary
Thursday 16 September 2010

We have a new federal Industrial Relations Minister, Senator Chris Evans.

What sort of response will the union movement get from the new government?

Before the recent federal election (21/8) we heard from the two previous IR Ministers, Julia Gillard and Simon Crean. They felt they “had got the balance right” in terms of the Fair Work Act. This, despite the fact that the ACTU, the VTHC and many individual unions have consistently stated that this is not the case. That there is in fact “unfinished business” from the anti-WorkChoices campaign that saw the defeat of the Howard government.

The overwhelming evidence is that ‘rights at work’ generally and bargaining rights more specifically are still heavily restricted and curtailed by WorkChoices–style elements remaining in the Fair Work Act.

There were some encouraging signs as the new government began to assemble in Canberra, as the second week of September ended. At the ALP caucus meeting the Caucus Chair Daryl Melham said:

‘And we understand the responsibility that has been placed upon each and every one of us. We understand our history as a party and as a movement, a broad Labor movement that includes the trade union movement.’

Sections of the media recorded the: “Hear, Hear” and applause at this statement.

On the ABC’s “Insiders” program on Sunday 12/9/10, the Prime Minister said she was a ‘supporter of the union movement’.

Is this a sign of the times? Is it a good omen, given the lack of use of the “u” word after 2007?

Some media commentators have reported that the Prime Minister wants to shift away from “traditional notions of industrial relations”. No one in the union movement will disagree with more emphasis being placed on the important issues of “jobs” and “skills training”. But if this means leaving the unfair elements of the current IR laws remaining in place, then problems remain.

The ACTU leadership met with Prime Minister Gillard and IR Minister Chris Evans on Wednesday 15 September 2010. There was a general undertaking that the union movement would have a higher level of input into government policy.

In particular, the Australian Labor Advisory Council (ALAC) was given more recognition and would meet about four times a year.

It is hoped issues like the scrapping of the ABCC, removing restrictions on workplace bargaining, increasing job security and entitlements protections and dealing with “sham” contractors will get more attention.

We should, of course, not ignore the antics of Tony Abbott.

He wants to destabilise the new minority government at all costs.

He wants to be an “aggressive” and "ferocious” opposition.

He wants the Gillard government to be “unworkable” sooner rather than later. The conservatives are revealing their contempt for the election outcome. There will be provocations galore.

However the general mood seems to counter Abbott’s sour grapes. The preliminary consensus is to give the new government a go, however tenuous the parliamentary numbers are. This doesn’t mean the union movement should hold back from the normal engagement it needs with the government.

It is no time to be shy.

Recently the VTHC Executive Council (10/9/10) carried a resolution that called for a collective, national response:

“That VTHC affiliates ask their respective national offies to press the ACTU for a Special Executive as soon as possible in order to articulate the union movement’s “ask” of the new federal government.

That these issues include:

· Abolish the ABCC

· Fix OHS harmonisation process.

· Curtail Workplace Ombudsman’s anti-union activity.

· Lift “right of entry” restrictions.

· Progress the Pay Equity Case expeditiously.

· Instigate a review of the Fair Work Act, eg, bargaining restrictions.

· Use ILO conventions as minimum benchmarks for improved IR laws, democratic and workers’ rights.

That the VTHC Secretary continue to call on the ACTU to call a Special Executive to address these issues.”