IEUA Federal Executive Resolution

That the IEUA expresses its serious concern at elements of the proposed Federal IR laws.

In several key areas the government’s proposed laws are not in the spirit of ALP policy and fall short of IEUA members’ expectations that the Government would “rip up” WorkChoices.

In particular:

1.      Award Modernisation:  there remains a real risk that Award Modernisation will have a negative impact on the most vulnerable workers in our sector;

2.   Arbitration only being available in the narrowest of circumstances;

3.      Inferior rights to protection from unfair dismissal for workers employed by employers with less than 15 workers;

4.      Limited access to multi-employer agreements to the detriment of workers in our sector.

The IEUA calls on the ACTU to develop a campaign plan, focussed on union members in their workplaces, to fight to improve the Federal IR laws in 2009 and 2010.

Further, the IEUA calls upon the ACTU to develop a new IR Policy which fully restores the rights at work for Australian workers.  This policy should draw upon the best elements of existing State jurisdictions and best international practice.  The new policy should form the basis for our discussions with political parties prior to the next Federal election.