General

Australian Workplace Agreements

Tell the Senate your AWA story

URGENT: DUE BY THIS FRIDAY 29 Feb

Have your or your friends and family had an experience with AWAs? Did you have to try and negotiate with your boss in a WorkChoices environment? How did you feel about your kids having to find jobs in a WorkChoices world?

Nobody knows how you feel about AWA individual contracts better than you do - and we have to make sure the Senate Committee into Labor's IR Transition Bill hears your thoughts.

Make an official Senate Inquiry submission in three simple steps using our website now!
www.rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/tellthesenateyourviews

Last week, dismal approval ratings saw Brendan Nelson and Julie Bishop do a major backflip, announcing with much fanfare that they would not oppose the abolition of AWAs. However, the Senate Inquiry they commissioned to stall Labor's Transition Bill will still proceed.

In fact, the frames of reference for the Inquiry (available on our website) make it clear that the Coalition may have already predetermined the outcome. They talk about "impact on employment," the prospect of a "wages breakout" and "increased industrial disputation" that the Coalition say will arise with the abolition of AWAs.

It's just one more clue that the Liberals and Nationals are not genuine about supporting the abolition of AWAs. Julie Bishop refused to confirm that the Coalition, who holds a Senate majority, will pass Labor's Bill getting rid of AWAs. "I can't pre-empt what a Senate Inquiry will find," she said on February 19.

Don't let the Liberals and Nationals hijack the Inquiry! Make sure the Senate Committee knows your thoughts on AWA individual contracts and why you voted against them.
www.rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/tellthesenateyourviews

Submissions into the Inquiry close this Friday February 29.

The Senate Committee's job is to read every single submission from any Australian who takes the time to make one. You don't have to write an essay or have a PhD or legal training. Your opinion, experiences and stories about AWAs are what matters -and you should definitely feel free to urge the Committee to pass Labor's Transition Bill getting rid of individual contracts as soon as possible.

This is an important part of our ongoing campaign to make sure Labor's promised IR changes go through without the Coalition changing them. It is also important that Brendan Nelson and Julie Bishop realise that Australians will not tolerate a return to AWAs - not next election, not six years down the track, never.

Please consider taking the time to make a submission. Even a brief one will make a big impact.

Many thanks,

Sharan Burrow, Jeff Lawrence,
and the Rights at Work campaign team

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

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/general/20080227_awa.html
Last Modified: 27 Feb 2008