4 years ago
GOVERNMENT BACKS DOWN ON DANGEROUS WORKPLACE CHANGE
TONY BURKE MP
The Morrison Government has been forced to back down on a regulation that allowed employers to rush through cuts to workers’ pay and conditions without giving them time to properly consult on the changes.
Just a few weeks ago Labor sought to overturn this dangerous regulation – introduced under the cover of the COVID-19 pandemic - but the Government did a deal with One Nation in the Senate to keep it in place, insisting it was a critical response to the coronavirus.
But it now appears Christian Porter was unable to deliver on his deal with One Nation to amend the regulation so he’s been forced to ditch it altogether.
This is thoroughly humiliating for the Minister – but a great win for workers.
We also note the Federal Court was due to deliver its verdict tomorrow on the CFMMEU’s legal challenge to the regulation.
Now Porter is trying to make a virtue of his failure, just as he did with the so-called Ensuring Integrity bill – which has been discharged from the Senate notice paper today as a result of a Labor motion.
The Government’s EBA regulation slashed the consultation period for changes to enterprise agreements from seven days to just one day, robbing workers of an important protection.
Under the regulation, announced without any consultation in April, employers were telling their workers about proposed changes to agreements one day and forcing them to vote the next, giving them no time to consult colleagues or unions.
The regulation was available to any employer, not just those experiencing a downturn as a result of coronavirus.
It was a lousy move that has undermined the tremendous goodwill and cooperation that was established between employers and workers when the coronavirus crisis began.
Labor will always stand up for Australian workers and their representatives.
Just a few weeks ago Labor sought to overturn this dangerous regulation – introduced under the cover of the COVID-19 pandemic - but the Government did a deal with One Nation in the Senate to keep it in place, insisting it was a critical response to the coronavirus.
But it now appears Christian Porter was unable to deliver on his deal with One Nation to amend the regulation so he’s been forced to ditch it altogether.
This is thoroughly humiliating for the Minister – but a great win for workers.
We also note the Federal Court was due to deliver its verdict tomorrow on the CFMMEU’s legal challenge to the regulation.
Now Porter is trying to make a virtue of his failure, just as he did with the so-called Ensuring Integrity bill – which has been discharged from the Senate notice paper today as a result of a Labor motion.
The Government’s EBA regulation slashed the consultation period for changes to enterprise agreements from seven days to just one day, robbing workers of an important protection.
Under the regulation, announced without any consultation in April, employers were telling their workers about proposed changes to agreements one day and forcing them to vote the next, giving them no time to consult colleagues or unions.
The regulation was available to any employer, not just those experiencing a downturn as a result of coronavirus.
It was a lousy move that has undermined the tremendous goodwill and cooperation that was established between employers and workers when the coronavirus crisis began.
Labor will always stand up for Australian workers and their representatives.