The following 2006 comment focuses on one of the new details of WorkChoices, that of ‘prohibited content’. Content for enterprise agreements that are legally prohibited are ‘union-friendly claims’. They were formerly lawful content in collective bargaining agreements. This assumes some knowledge of WorkChoices and how it is unfair for workers and their unions and gives [...]
Our rights at work need fighting for under Rudd’s corporate industrial relations policy
OUR RIGHTS AT WORK NEED FIGHTING FOR Two papers by Rob Durbridge AEU National Office Paper one. It is common ground on all sides of politics that the union campaign against Work Choices played a big part in the defeat of the Howard Government. But the Rudd Government has no intention of returning the favour [...]
First the Verdict: The true story of the Cole Commission into building and construction workers
Book review First published: Australian Options, No. 35, Summer 2004 www.australian-options.org.au. First the Verdict is a first rate expose of the Howard Government’s $60 million Cole Building Industry Royal Commission as a witch hunt against the building unions. Published on the day former Minister for Workplace Relations Tony Abbott released the Cole recommendations, First the [...]
ILO rules the BCII Act breaches minimum freedoms for workers
ILO (2005) Council Report from the Freedom of Association Committee http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb294/pdf/gb-7-1.pdf paragraphs 409-457 The ILO Governing Body endorsed recommendations from its Committee on Freedom of Association asking the Howard Government to amend the laws. ACTU president Sharan Burrow, who is a member of the ILO Governing Body, welcomed the decision as a vindication of union [...]
Professor George Williams: ABCC inappropriate use of public power
THE AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION: AN APPROPRIATE USE OF PUBLIC POWER? This is a copy from the Forum on Industrial Laws Applying in the Australian Construction Industry National Press Club, Canberra, 25 August 2008 George Williams Anthony Mason Professor of law, University of New South Wales I have been asked to talk about the [...]
Building and construction workers have less rights than other Australian workers…my references
References White, C. (2006) ‘Provoking Building and Construction Workers’ 20th Conference AIRAANZ 21st Century Work: High Road or Low Road? http://www.aomevents.com/conferences/AIRAANZ/papers.php. White, C. (2004) Review Jim Marr , ‘First the Verdict The true story of the Building Industry RoyalCommission’ Australian Options, No. 35, Summer 2004 www.australian-options.org.au. White, C. (2006) ‘The Perth 2007 and the right [...]
RUDD’S SECRET INDUSTRIAL INQUISITION
Howard’s blandly named Australian Building and Construction Commission, the ABCC remains under Rudd. I re-wote an earlier film review when I heard that in august 2008 the ABCC, under PM Rudd and Minister Gillard, is prosecuting Victorian CFMEU Noel Washington who faces 6 months jail for not answering questions about a union meeting. One way [...]
EXPLOITATION AND SUPRESSING STRIKES
AUSTRALIA’S WORKCHOICES: EXPLOITATION AND SUPRESSING STRIKES Or do not follow Australian Labour Law Paper for San Francisco Labor Centre University of California Berkeley by Chris White march 2007 Australia’s Prime Minister John Howard proudly aligns his politics with President Bush. PM Howard has led a right-wing neo-liberal government since 1996 and in July 2005 won [...]
The Chinese Unionise Wal-Mart 2006
At the high-rise Beijing headquarters of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) on 30/1/2007, I asked Ms Guo Chen from the Grass-Roots Organization and Capacity Building Department to go through their steps of unionising Wal-Mart. Why? The retailer Wal-Mart is the largest anti-union company in the world. The China union breakthrough is a significant [...]
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