Federal Election - What Now?
By Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary
Monday 30 August 2010
Caption: Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott have very different
agendas in dealing with a hung parliament
The recent Federal Election (21/8) has come and gone.
The important issue for the union movement is to get a result that doesn’t allow the Conservatives and the employers the ability to re-visit WorkChoices–style policies on Australian workplaces.
We should support the ALP forming a government with the independents and the Greens. We should then call on such a government
to progressively improve the industrial relations environment.
It should be remembered that it was revealed during the recent election campaign that the Fair Work Act, without legislative change, can still be manipulated by government policy settings, new regulations and ministerial interventions.
There should be no doubt that an Abbott led government would at the very least utilise such options in the IR legislation to the detriment of many organised Australian workers.
In the event that an Abbott government is the final outcome of the current federal parliamentary impasse, then we should begin preparation to create a sustained campaign against any backward steps that interfere with workers rights at work.
Archive
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External Heritage Restoration Work on The Iconic Melbourne Trades Hall, Nearly Complete
2010 - Jun - 22Tuesday 22nd June 2010, by Brian Boyd VTHC Secretary Like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the heritage listed Melbourne Trades Hall needs constant maintenance and care. The special coating for the outside of the building began to be applied almost nine years ago. There was also a lot of work done moulding the roof edge adornments and repairing the ramparts. The final phase of the columned front entrance began in late April this year....read more
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Ark Tribe Trial - 5 July 2010
2010 - Jun - 18Support Ark Tribe Trial Continues - 20 - 22 July 2010 Shortly rank and file S.A. building worker Ark Tribe faces 6 months jail, after being singled out by the ABCC. Last month Adelaide Magistrate David Whittle ruled that the ABCC case against Ark Tribe would continue....read more
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ASU Day of Action
2010 - May - 0711am 10 June 2010 Federation Square Opposite Flinders St Station Melbourne Rally then March up to Parliament Pay Up No more lip service to equal pay www.payup.org.au...read more
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VTHC Labour Day Dinner Dance a big success
2010 - Apr - 2020 April 2010 The Victorian Trades Hall Labour Day Dinner Dance held at the San Remo Ball Room in Carlton on Friday 16th April 2010 was a great success with over 270 guests attending. This annual occasion celebrates the achievement by Victorian unions gaining the world’s first 8 hour working day in 1856. The 8 hour day public holiday was celebrated on the actual day of victory for the 8 hour movement, 21 April, until 1934. The Victorian Unions have reinstituted the holding of their Labour Day celebrations closest as possible to the 21 April of each year. This decision was made in 2006, the 150th anniversary of the 8 hour day. Russell Atwood, VTHC Senior Vice President and Brian Boyd, VTHC Secretary hosted the evening. The guest speaker was Daniel Andrews, State Minister for Health. ACTU President elect Ged Kearny was also in attendance. ...read more
