Published Tuesday, 27 March, 2007 at 06:15 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
WORK CHOICES FIRST ANNIVERSARY IS NO PARTY: MICKEL
Queensland workers and their families would vote against the Howard Government at the next federal election because of the impact of Work Choices, Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said today.
Mr Mickel predicted industrial relations would be an even bigger issue in Queensland than it was in the NSW election at the weekend.
“This week marks the first anniversary of Work Choices and it is an event that few workers in Queensland will be celebrating,” he said.
“About 18,000 calls have been taken on the Fair Go Queensland Advisory Service and Wageline and more than 700 claims of pay rip offs have been forwarded to the Office of Workplace Services during the first year.
“Nearly 240 callers have been helped after revealing they were dismissed or had their employment conditions downgraded. Nearly 90 percent were dismissed outright and the rest pressured into resigning or coerced into an Australian Workplace Agreement.
“And that’s just the tip of the ice berg – rural callers are scared to give their contact details because they open themselves up for retaliation.
“Queensland is making moves to legislate to protect young workers and public servants.
We’ve also ordered an inquiry into gender pay equity and an Industrial Relations Commission review of the new laws, as well as setting up the info lines to assist workers who believe they have been unfairly dealt with.
“Ultimately, though, a Rudd Labor Government will need to be elected to scrap Work Choices.”
___________________________________
Media contact: Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
27 March 2007
Mr Mickel predicted industrial relations would be an even bigger issue in Queensland than it was in the NSW election at the weekend.
“This week marks the first anniversary of Work Choices and it is an event that few workers in Queensland will be celebrating,” he said.
“About 18,000 calls have been taken on the Fair Go Queensland Advisory Service and Wageline and more than 700 claims of pay rip offs have been forwarded to the Office of Workplace Services during the first year.
“Nearly 240 callers have been helped after revealing they were dismissed or had their employment conditions downgraded. Nearly 90 percent were dismissed outright and the rest pressured into resigning or coerced into an Australian Workplace Agreement.
“And that’s just the tip of the ice berg – rural callers are scared to give their contact details because they open themselves up for retaliation.
“Queensland is making moves to legislate to protect young workers and public servants.
We’ve also ordered an inquiry into gender pay equity and an Industrial Relations Commission review of the new laws, as well as setting up the info lines to assist workers who believe they have been unfairly dealt with.
“Ultimately, though, a Rudd Labor Government will need to be elected to scrap Work Choices.”
___________________________________
Media contact: Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
27 March 2007