IEU Executive endorses the 2006 ACTU Congress IR Policy - Decent, Fair and Safe Workplaces

19 December 2006, 4:52pm

At the November 2006 IEU Executive meeting, a resolution supporting the ACTU's IR Policy was unanimously endorsed. This policy articulates the key principles which should underpin industrial relations legislation in Australia into the future.

In discussion, the IEU Federal Executive expressed its concern at the loss of workplace rights and the way the legislation breaches ILO Conventions. The Howard government remains intransigent in its view that the legislation will remain unchanged.

Given the negative impact this legislation potentially has for members in non government schools and for workers generally, the IEU has made clear that the union will campaign against the Howard government in the 2007 election.

Motion

"That IEUA Executive notes the report on ACTU Congress and in particular the IR Legislation Policy.

IEUA Executive strongly endorses the key principles of the ACTU IR Legislation Policy in particular:

Decent, relevant and secure safety net of fair and enforceable minimum standards contained in awards and/or legislation

Collective bargaining system built on the assumption of good faith bargaining

Rights of union membership and representation

Secure, safe and healthy workplaces

Provisions to enable parties to opt to be bound by State industrial relations laws rather than the national legislation

Accordingly the IEUA Executive commits to campaigning to change the federal government at the next election and to engage with other political parties to have the ACTU IR Legislation Policy adopted and enacted by an incoming alternative government."

Contact details

Lynne Rolley
Federal Secretary
Ph: 03 9254 1830
Fax: 03 9254 1835
ieu@ieu.org.au