In earlier posts maliciously deleted, I showed that Gillard’s national “harmonisation” of OHS meant in some states a weakening of current workers’ rights. Despite union opposition, State parliaments are considering these harmonised OHS laws, and in some instances a threat of further weakening.
Here is an alert from SA from veteran OHS campaigner Andy Alcock.
“As you are probably aware, the federal OHS Bill will shortly be coming before the SA Parliament for ratification. Just recently the Liberal Party and some big businesses want to deny union access to workplaces.
In the past, union access to workplaces has meant that they have become safer. If the Liberals are successful, this will seriously weaken the effectiveness of the new legislation.
SA Unions has initiated a campaign to encourage al State MPs to vote to keep union access to workplaces in the new act and to support theintroduction of the highest OHS&W standards.
Below is information about the campaign from SA UNions. I would urge you to get involved. All you need to do is sign the form letter on the SA Unions website below. I amended mine to include some important facts about OHS&W in Australia and have included my letter for your consideration.
Please get involved and help improve OHS&W standards in Australia.”
Dear Member of Parliament,
I am writing to you to call on you to support the Work Health and Safety Bill which is currently before the Parliament.
It is important to me that South Australians are protected while they are at work.
I believe this Bill is good for business and good for workers across the nation.
You need to be aware that Access Economics has estimated that about 7000 Australian workers die annually from traumatic injuries and occupational related diseases.
Traumatic accidents account for about 400 – 500 deaths and the others are caused by disease.
Every day we see the result of poor safety at work and the impact these injuries and deaths have on the families and workmates of South Australian workers.
I believe the Work Health and Safety Bill is a step in the right direction and an important step in improving the safety of South Australian working people.
I want to have the right to ask my union to come into my workplace to help me make it safer. Union workplaces are generally safer workplaces.
South Australian workers are the only ones who don’t have this right at the moment.
I urge you to support the passage of this Bill for the sake of workers’ safety, consistency for business and for the economic benefit of the state.
Effective OHS & welfare laws are basic human rights for workers.
Further, the UN Declaration of Human Rights allows workers to be members of unions.
Union OH&S experts have helped prevent many accidents and work-related disease.
Please ensure that you support this basic human right.
Yours sincerely
Andrew (Andy) Alcock
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