General

Federal Election information

Billionaire wants slave labour

Yesterday billionaire retailer Gerry Harvey said a "second tier" of foreign workers should be created in Australia, paid fifty percent less than local workers, undercutting local wages and conditions.

According to Mr Harvey, Mr Howard and the Liberal party are in total agreement with him. "You won't get politicians saying what I'm saying, but privately they know this sort of thing is a reality in the future."

Read more about Mr Harvey's demands to the Howard Government, and use our website to write a letter to the editor of your local paper now. www.rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/secondtier

WorkChoices has already cut wages and conditions for Australian workers by making it easier for business to get rid of conditions like penalty rates and overtime.

Now big business wants to go a step further, driving down Australian employees' wages by taking advantage of overseas workers desperate for a new life in our country. Like Australian workers, people from overseas deserve rights at work too. One of these rights is a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.

The Liberals cannot be trusted with our rights at work if re-elected. They will go further with WorkChoices. Write a letter to the editor now and share your views. www.rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/secondtier

Last week Liberal Workplace Relations minister Joe Hockey indicated a re-elected Howard Government would like to get rid of unions altogether, cutting vital representation and advocacy for working people.

Liberal Finance Minister Nick Minchin has apologized to big business because the IR laws didn't go far enough, and promised "another wave" of changes. Peter Costello, who hopes to be Prime Minister, has said he is open to a system where the only right is a minimum wage, and absolutely everything else is up for grabs.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/general/20071023_work.html
Last Modified: 23 Oct 2007