2nd Last Meeting before Federal Election! + Help Support Transport Workers
Conveners
Dear Rights at Work Supporter,
Next Meeting...
This Tuesday 9th October, we are meeting at the Neutral Bay Community
Centre from
5.45pm, and invite you along for what looks like could be our 2nd last
meeting before the Federal Election!
Things are heating up, with the release of the Australia@Work Report
this week which revealed some rather unflattering truths about the
Howard Government's WorkChoices laws, not happy news for our local
member IR Minister Joe Hockey. The report further supports what Rights
at Work campaigners have been saying all along, ever since the
introduction of 'WorkChoices'.
The study concluded those on AWAs (individual contracts - the
Government's preferred employment arrangement) earned on average $106
a week less than those on collective agreements.
Could YOU live on $106 a week less?
Contact details for sending a letter to your local paper about the
Australia@Work report and more :
Mosman Daily - edi...@mosmandaily.com.au
Northside Courier - northsidec...@fpc.com.au
North Shore Times - shor...@cng.newsltd.com.au
Click here to read the full Australia@Work Report:
http://www.smh.com.au/pdf/Australia@Work%20The%20Benchmark%20Report.pdf
Help Support Transport Workers....www.twu.com.au
You may have heard in the media about the McArthur group of companies
which has collapsed, threatening employee and owner-diver
entitlements.
McArthur is a national carrier with around 700 employees and sub-
contractors. It went into administration last week with about $13
million in debts. The employees appear to be engaged by three
corporate entities registered in the British Virgin Islands and, as a
result, it was feared employees would not be eligible for the Federal
Government's GEERS scheme. After pressure was applied to Minister
Hockey he widened the scheme to cover the employee entitlements
negating any issues concerning eligibility.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has now approached Minister Hockey
to also cover the entitlements of owner-drivers who also contracted to
the company. He has refused instead blaming the NSW Government in what
the TWU believes to be a spurious argument concerning responsibility
for owner-driver industrial coverage. The Minister's position is
curious given that many of the owner-drivers involved reside and work
in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and even Western Australia.
Mark Crossdale, a representative from the Transport Workers Union will
be attending our meeting and will be updating us on the issue, so come
along!
You can also read more about the issue at http://www.twu.com.au/
As per our last update, we have large Your Rights at Work Placards
available, and are looking for volunteers for markets AND Election
Day, leafleting, and other activities, so please send through your
availabilities from any time now.
Thanks again & keep in touch,
Julia Armitt
Co-convener
North Sydney Your Rights at Work Group