Published Tuesday, 24 April, 2007 at 12:19 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
HOWARD MUST APPEAL PRICELINE DECISION
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said The Australian Industrial Relations Commission decision in the Priceline case shows how bad the Federal Work Choices legislation is.
“This decision allows employers to sack employees and replace them with workers on a lower wage. This is deemed to be allowable under the operational reasons provisions in the Work Choices legislation.
Prime Minister John Howard said this morning businesses have always been able to sack workers for operational reasons but he is seeking advice about this ruling.
"The operational reasons have never been intended, either under this legislation or under previous legislation, as a device to simply get rid of somebody on a higher salary and employ somebody on a lower salary - that is not of itself in my view an operational reason," he said.
“I note the Prime Minister has said this legislation was never intended to be used in this way, he now has no option but to launch an immediate appeal against this decision,” Mr Mickel said
“We have seen confusion for workers and business with the introduction of this legislation and now we have the Prime Minister saying that the courts have got it wrong, the Prime Minister has refused to listen to legitimate concerns from a wide range of sources about the impact of this unfair legislation.
“Unfortunately those concerns have proven to be right.
“The real danger for every worker in the nation is that your job is not safe under the John Howard Government.
“Anytime your boss wants to reduce your wages they can simply sack you for operational reasons and hire some one else on less mioney. With this threat hanging over workers, we will see many more people pressured into accepting reductions in their conditions,” Mr Mickel said.
Media Contacts: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
April 24, 2007
“This decision allows employers to sack employees and replace them with workers on a lower wage. This is deemed to be allowable under the operational reasons provisions in the Work Choices legislation.
Prime Minister John Howard said this morning businesses have always been able to sack workers for operational reasons but he is seeking advice about this ruling.
"The operational reasons have never been intended, either under this legislation or under previous legislation, as a device to simply get rid of somebody on a higher salary and employ somebody on a lower salary - that is not of itself in my view an operational reason," he said.
“I note the Prime Minister has said this legislation was never intended to be used in this way, he now has no option but to launch an immediate appeal against this decision,” Mr Mickel said
“We have seen confusion for workers and business with the introduction of this legislation and now we have the Prime Minister saying that the courts have got it wrong, the Prime Minister has refused to listen to legitimate concerns from a wide range of sources about the impact of this unfair legislation.
“Unfortunately those concerns have proven to be right.
“The real danger for every worker in the nation is that your job is not safe under the John Howard Government.
“Anytime your boss wants to reduce your wages they can simply sack you for operational reasons and hire some one else on less mioney. With this threat hanging over workers, we will see many more people pressured into accepting reductions in their conditions,” Mr Mickel said.
Media Contacts: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
April 24, 2007