The Industrial Relations Thread

[DIEHARD]

Queensland Nationals call to block IR

The Queensland Nationals would advise their senators to vote down the Federal Government's industrial relations overhaul unless fundamental changes were made, leader Lawrence Springborg said today.

Yesterday, the Queensland Nationals sided with Peter Beattie's Labor Government calling on all Queensland senators to vote against the Bill.

Mr Springborg said today he wanted amendments made to the legislation, including paid public holidays as well as changes to unfair dismissal laws.

"This is fundamental to working families," he said.

"We don't argue that there shouldn't be some significant changes to our IR framework in this country but there are a lot of people out there, even those currently on AWAs that are concerned about the future ahead.

"We have to allay those fears while we have the opportunity."

Mr Springborg dismissed Treasurer Peter Costello's argument that employers would still pay extra for employees that worked public holidays.

"I understand where Peter Costello is coming from but also consider that in the environment that we live in, not everyone is completely empowered and some people are vulnerable, they do have to work, they do have to hold down one or two jobs to be able to sustain their family," he said.

"There is no doubt that the majority of employers are fantastic, as is the case with employees, but you are always going to have a rogue element, people who will seek to take advantage on either side."

Mr Springborg laughed off suggestions the Queensland Nationals had been leant on by their federal leader Mark Vaile or president Bruce Scott, both of whom support the legislation.

"I just make the point my 15 Nationals colleagues and the Queensland Nationals aren't very easy to lean on once we dig in on an issue that we believe in and we believe very strongly on this," he said.

Source: http://www.NEWS.com.au

[DIEHARD]

Nats hold key to IR reforms

The Queensland National Party's executive holds the key to John Howard's industrial relations reforms.

If the Queensland Nationals oppose the new workplace laws, maverick Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce has indicated he is unlikely to support the Government, forcing an embarrassing backdown.

The 45-member State executive will meet today in Brisbane to consider the Work Choices Bill.

If the Nationals oppose the Bill and Senator Joyce follows, the Government will be unable to implement the changes.

State National MPs met at Parliament House in Brisbane this week, calling for major changes to the Bill.

The Bill aims to allow greater use of contracts and reduce the scope of unfair dismissal laws.

It passed through the House of Representatives this month and will go to the Senate next week, with amendments suggested by a Senate committee.

The Queensland Nationals fear the effect of the laws in rural and regional electorates.

"The concerns raised by MPs were not geographically constrained, but came collectively from MPs representing the Nationals' southeast and urban electorates," said State Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg.

"These are legitimate concerns. We want them addressed properly and until then we can't support it (the Bill)," said Mr Springborg.

He said State MPs would ask today's meeting to withhold support for the Bill until 'a range of issues' could be discussed.

Senator Joyce said: "If my state legislative wing has serious concerns then I have to take them seriously.

"There are obvious concerns with the legislation as it stands. We have to work through those."

Queensland Nationals senator Ron Boswell refused to comment.

The Coalition holds a majority of one in the Senate and cannot afford defection, leaving the spotlight on Senator Joyce who, with Mr Springborg and others, is concerned about the removal of guaranteed penalty rates for public holidays such as Christmas Day and Anzac Day.

The group also has concerns about the removal of unfair dismissal protection for firms employing 100 or fewer staff, and whether the draft Bill can prevent rorting.

The plan to take over state industrial relations systems to form a single, national system, and the ability of workers seeking low-skilled jobs to confidently negotiate their own work conditions, also worry the group.

Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile will be among those at the meeting today.

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

[DIEHARD]

Wow the plot thickens! Nationals siding with Labor. :whatd:

I hope the Nationals sink it.

Anyway I thought I would create a I.R thread so we can follow it along without (Me haha) posting heaps of threads.

Probably develop a more quality thread anyway, keeping it all together.

Stay tuned for more I.R developments...this is an issue absolutely everyone should follow, no matter who you are.

[DIEHARD]

Vaile says IR Bill will pass

Acting Prime Minister Mark Vaile said today he believed all Coalition MPs would back the Government's workplace legislation, despite concerns being raised by the Queensland Nationals.

Mr Vaile, the Federal Nationals leader, will meet today with the Queensland Nationals' management committee in Brisbane to discuss concerns about the reforms.

15 Nationals MPs voted with Labor in the Queensland State Parliament yesterday to oppose the laws and Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce is not ruling out crossing the floor in the Senate as he pushes for changes to the Bill.

Mr Vaile said he believed the legislation would pass Federal Parliament.

"I believe all our Federal members and senators will vote for the legislation," Mr Vaile said.

"We'll work through the processes and the issues that have been raised, not just by Senator Joyce but Senator (Fiona) Nash in NSW and the Senate inquiry that concluded at the end of last week.

"We've indicated that we are prepared to make minor technical amendments."
Mr Vaile said he would continue to talk to Senator Joyce and other Nationals about their concerns.

Source: http://www.news.com.au

[DIEHARD]

Australia Post 'punishes protesters'

Australia Post has been accused of trying to intimidate its workers who attended rallies across the country last week in protest against workplace legislation.

Communications Workers Union of Australia Victorian secretary Joan Doyle said Australia Post was now doing the Howard Government's bidding.
"It's 10 days after the rally and the Government is trying to get someone who will intimidate workers and they're using Australia Post," Ms Doyle said.

"It's just intimidation and harassment."

But Australia Post external relations manager Matt Pollard said the Government had nothing to do with it.

"That's just not correct," he said.

"All we're doing is seeking to enforce an industrial agreement to which the union is a signatory."
Mr Pollard said workers were warned well in advance that if they were absent without approved leave on the day of the rallies they would be considered to be taking unauthorised industrial action and would receive formal warnings.

He said fewer than 1000 of its 46,000 workers across the country were absent and they would receive written warnings and would have to attend counselling and review sessions.

"These people abandoned their jobs and left work to their colleagues," he said.

"That's the reason these people have been given a warning, because on the day they just upped stakes and left others to do work in their absence."

Ms Doyle said the workers, who were mainly post delivery people, had offered to come to work two hours early to cover the time they had spent at the rally.

But Mr Pollard said this was irrelevant and start and finish times would not be varied so employees could attend a rally.

He said the workers' absence breached the organisation's enterprise bargaining agreement.

Ms Doyle said Australia Post was trying to intimidate workers.

"I think people have to be very concerned about the fundamental democratic implications of this," she said.

"What they're (Australia Post) saying is that free Australian citizens don't have the right to protest about unfair laws.

Mr Pollard said Australia Post had no quarrel with people attending rallies as long as they did it in their own time.

Source: http://www.news.com.au

[Titans#1]

Diehard, do you mind if we comment on these story's in here?

[DIEHARD]

Diehard, do you mind if we comment on these story's in here?

Oh no that is exactly what the thread is for.

Comments, thoughts, experiences, speculation, post your own articles you find, go for it.

I'm just posting articles to keep everyone up to date and to spice up the chat.

[DIEHARD]

Nationals set to force IR law changes

The Queensland Nationals look likely to force the Federal Government to make last-minute changes to its contentious industrialrelations laws.

On the back of concerns about parts of the legislation from renegade Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce and Queensland Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg, the state executive yesterday voted to support the overhaul with amendments.

On Thursday, Mr Springborg urged his colleagues in Federal Parliament to reject the Bill in its current form.

Senator Joyce has also asked for protection of penalty rates on public holidays and amendments to the unfair dismissal provisions to prevent companies taking advantage of them.

Following a meeting of the Queensland Nationals management committee in Brisbane yesterday, Federal Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile said he was confident his colleagues would support the laws.

But Mr Springborg said the Government would likely accept the changes the state branch had requested.

"We are comfortable, based on our discussion today, that we will be able to achieve much of the sensible, common sense changes which we've asked for," said Mr Springborg.

Mr Vaile said the Government would consider 'some minor adjustments' after discussing reform concerns at the meeting yesterday.

"There's been some issues raised that might need some small or minor amendment or change," he said.

"We've said all along we're prepared to have a look at that.

"So, in that regard, I'm quite confident that we'll have the support of the Queensland division of the party."

Senator Joyce wants the Government to delay the vote on the laws until all amendments are properly considered, but expects that to happen before Christmas.

"I don't think we have the capacity in the coming week to vote for this legislation because certainly there needs to be further discussions," he said.

Senator Joyce said he was under 'significant pressure' from coalition colleagues to support it, but said he would not walk away from his role of reviewing legislation from Queensland's point of view.

"If there's pressure put on me by other quarters, then it's not going to amount to anything because I'm going to continue doing my job," he said.

"(But) crossing the floor is always an option."

Queensland Nationals MPs yesterday crossed the floor in State Parliament to support a Labor motion urging all Queensland senators to reject the workplace relations changes in their current form.

Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

[DIEHARD]

Barnaby to wreck Howard's IR agenda
Emma Chalmers, Rosanne Barrett and Matthew Franklin, National Political Editor

Rebel Queensland senator Barnaby Joyce is poised to frustrate the Howard Government's efforts to ram its industrial reforms through Federal Parliament before Christmas.

After a crisis meeting at state National Party headquarters failed to resolve the industrial relations stalemate yesterday, Senator Joyce said almost no one in Australia supported the reforms and it would be a "ridiculous proposition" to force a vote next week.

State and federal Nationals remain deadlocked over the Work Choices Bill. The Queensland branch is holding fast to its demands to preserve public holidays and close loopholes in unfair dismissal regulations.

Federal Nationals leader Mark Vaile spent two hours in Brisbane yesterday trying to convince the Queensland management committee to give unconditional support to the Bill.

But the meeting refused to give an open endorsement and Senator Joyce said he had been given no direction on whether to support or oppose the proposed laws.

A vote on the issue split the Coalition in State Parliament this week, forcing the seven Liberal MPs to stand alone in support of the Bill.

After yesterday's meeting, Senator Joyce said he was no closer to providing the vital vote needed for the laws to pass.

"I don't think anybody would be voting for it as it stands right at this moment," he said. "There's only seven people in Australia who would vote for it as it currently stands and they showed that the other day in the (state) chamber.

"Everybody else including the Liberal Party in Canberra have issues with it. These need to be cleaned up."

Senator Joyce and fellow Nationals senator Ron Boswell said there was still time for the laws to be passed by Christmas. But some amendments, particularly in relation to public holidays, were "not open to compromise".

Mr Vaile downplayed the need for amendments, saying public holidays were gazetted by state governments and "can't be taken away unless negotiated away".

He said the Federal Government would continue talks with the Queensland division and was "confident of winning their support".

But with Senate debate on the Bill due to begin on Monday, time is running out for a compromise.

Government sources confirmed no decision had been made to force the Bill to a vote next week, so the debate could spill into the following week ? the last for the year.

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said Labor would happily assist Senator Joyce to meet the requirements of his state colleagues.

"We're going to vote against this legislation lock, stock and barrel ? the whole lot," Mr Beazley said.

"If he joins us, it will go down."

State Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said the concerns must be addressed before the Howard Government could rely on the Queensland Nationals. "There's a very strong recognition these concerns have to be addressed."

Industrial Relations Minister Tom Barton said it was time for Senator Joyce and the Queensland Nationals to show some strength.

"If they are unable to protect the major issues of pay and conditions they should stop raising the hopes of Queensland's workers who want this draconian legislation rejected," he said.

Source: http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au

Additional reporting Malcolm Cole, State Political Correspondent

[DIEHARD]

Christmas safeguarded under IR

EMPLOYEES who refuse to work on key public holidays such as Christmas Day and Anzac Day will be protected from the sack under changes to the Howard Government's industrial relations changes.

After sustained pressure from unions and Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce, the Government has agreed to include new safeguards in the legislation.
The family-friendly concession comes as the Government begins a push to secure Parliamentary backing for its industrial relations package in the next fortnight, before the Christmas recess.

However, the Government is still resisting calls to ensure workers who are rostered to work on Christmas Day or at Easter are guaranteed penalty rates; business groups strongly oppose any backdown on this issue.

Under the old "no disadvantage test", workers could trade away these conditions in exchange for more pay or longer holidays. However, critics argue there is nothing in the new legislation to ensure a worker won't be worse off in future.

Bosses have also won concessions in the legislation, including a deal allowing new projects to lock in enterprise deals and restrict union activity for up to five years on greenfield sites, such as start-up mines.

Greater protection is also expected for outworkers, including those in the clothing industry, after a government-dominated Senate inquiry raised concerns last week that they could be vulnerable to exploitation under the changes.

The Australian has learned that, as he prepares to fly back to Australia after a two-week overseas trip, John Howard is prepared to offer workers protection from being forced to work on iconic public holidays if they don't want to.

Specific provisions are expected to be added to draft legislation to ensure workers cannot be sacked if they don't want to work on certain public holidays. But guaranteed penalty rates for working those days are unlikely to be included.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Peter Hendy said yesterday employers would be "very unhappy" if the Government tried to appease Senator Joyce by legislating for penalty rates on public holidays.

Mr Hendy said the issue raised by Senator Joyce and other Nationals was an issue that existed with the present system, not the proposed one.

"We say, 'Where is the evidence there is a problem?' It is the case now that people aren't guaranteed penalty rates on public holidays.

"There are a large number of people on salaries who do work on public holidays. It is built into their packages, which is an acknowledgment that they work on public holidays - so they might get six weeks holidays instead of four weeks."

Another uncertainty is the Government's response to Senator Joyce's concerns that companies may be able to rort the unfair dismissal laws by dividing their operations into smaller companies with fewer than 100 staff.

Draft legislation, introduced into the parliament last month, will allow companies with up to 100 workers to avoid unfair dismissal provisions. Coalition sources have confirmed the Government believes there is limited scope for addressing this issue, but work is being done to provide further assurances.

The decision to address the greenfield site issue was expected and follows concerns raised by employer groups.

The changes will mean new enterprise agreements will stay in place for up to five years and cannot be amended by unions seeking a better deal for workers. This will build on the existing provisions that are mainly used in areas such as mining.

Mr Howard, speaking to reporters at the Corinthian Palace Hotel in the Maltese capital of Valletta, would not comment on specific amendments to the IR changes. But he said he was optimistic the legislation would be passed by Parliament this fortnight, despite the concerns raised by Coalition MPs.

Passing the workplace changes, tougher anti-terror laws and new welfare-to-work changes will be priority issues for the Prime Minister, who arrives back in Australia tonight.

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley warned yesterday the IR legislation could not be fixed with minor amendments.

"Slowly, like an infestation of termites, this will crumble away at family and living conditions," he said.

Asked if there were any new laws he would be inclined to keep if a Beazley government were elected, he said: "None at all. Every element from unfair dismissals across to what they do with minimum wages, across to the hammering they give people's penalty rates, holidays and the rest of it, all of it is just absolutely dreadful."

The Australian Council of Trade Unions said any proposed amendments to protect "iconic" public holidays represented an insult to working Australians designed to draw attention away from the enormous number of present entitlements workers would lose.

"If the National Party believes iconic public holidays can be traded away by workers who don't have bargaining power, they must accept that the system itself is wrong," ACTU president Sharan Burrow said.

Source: http://www.news.com.au

[wombat68]

looks like it'll be in for Chrissy :')

[DIEHARD]

Joyce still cagey on IR vote

Rebel Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce has squeezed concessions from the Government on its controversial workplace changes, but still will not commit to backing the legislation in the Senate.

Senator Joyce outlined his concerns during a meeting today with Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews as the Senate began debating the hefty 700 pages of legislation.
Unions also stepped up their calls for Senator Joyce to demand the Government make major changes to its Work Choices Bill, which they argue will strip workers of benefits.

ACTU president Sharan Burrow wheeled a trolley-load of emails from workers worried about the laws into Senator Joyce's office at Parliament House this morning.

"Barnaby, look, I've got a present for you ... 85,000 signatures telling you that you could be an Australian hero and protect working people," Ms Burrow said as she was ushered into Senator Joyce's office.

As the emails arrived, Senator Joyce said he felt like "the big bad wolf" but agreed to read a selection of the notes.

Senator Joyce's main worry is that under the new laws, employees could be sacked if they refuse to work on what he calls iconic public holidays, such as Christmas Day and Anzac Day.

The Queensland senator also wants the Government to close a loophole in the legislation to stop large companies restructuring so they can avoid new unfair dismissal rules.

Senator Joyce said he was happy with the hearing Mr Andrews gave him today.

"I'm quite happy with what we've been pushing for, for the protection of Good Friday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day," Senator Joyce said.

"You cannot sack people on those days. It will be illegal.

"To entice people to go to work on those days, you're going to have to offer them substantially more than any sort of baseline issue."

Senator Joyce was cagey about whether he was also pushing for guarantees that employees who worked on public holidays would be paid penalty rates.

But he stressed there was a limit to how many concessions he could extract from the Government.

"I think some people want us to fight every person in the pub and that's just not possible," Senator Joyce said.

"At the end of the day a form of legislation will go through."

While he appears to have made some headway with the Government on changes to the Work Choices Bill, Senator Joyce is yet to guarantee he will provide the key vote the coalition needs in the Senate to push through the legislation.

"There are other issues that may raise their head," he said.

"We'll follow the debate through to the end."

Unions and Labor have accused Senator Joyce of tinkering at the edges with the legislation and say more substantial changes are needed.

Opposition Leader Kim Beazley demanded in Parliament that Acting Prime Minister Mark Vaile explain why employees would not have to be compensated with penalty rates for working public holidays.

"If some Australians have to work on Christmas Day why should they work for Christmas peanuts," he said.

But Mr Vaile rejected Mr Beazley's claim.

"Workers today who have negotiated AWAs (Australian workplace agreements) have already made their own arrangements in terms of the rates of pay they will have," Mr Vaile said.

"So to make the allegation that people will be forced to work for peanuts is just ludicrous."

The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation before the end of next week.

Source: http://www.NEWS.com.au

[DIEHARD]

85,000 emails ask Joyce to say no

ACTU president Sharan Burrow knocked on Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce's door today to deliver 85,000 emails urging him to vote down the Government's workplace Bill.

The emails were collected in four days since the maverick Queensland senator demanded amendments to the Work Choices Bill relating to penalty rates on public holidays and unfair dismissals provisions.
Ms Burrow told Senator Joyce she was pleased to see he was concerned about some issues, but believed his proposed amendments were merely tinkering at the edges and he should instead use his vote defeat the legislation.

"85,189 Australians have asked Senator Joyce to use his vote to throw the government's proposed new workplace laws out of the Senate," she said.

But Senator Joyce would give no commitments. "I'll read a few of them but I won't be reading the lot," he said.

Senator Joyce said he had met Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews today to discuss his concerns, particularly with threats to so-called iconic public holidays, and was happy with the hearing he was given.

"The issues that the National Party have brought up are going forward," he said.
"I'm quite happy with what we've been pushing for, for the protection of Good Friday, Christmas Day and Anzac Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day.

"These issues that are going to remain iconic parts of the Australian calendar will remain the same.

"People have the choice. You cannot sack people on those days. It will be illegal.

"People have the choice to either stay at home and be paid whilst they're at home, for those days to be with their family.

"To entice people to go to work on those days, you're going to have to offer them substantially more than any sort of baseline issue."

Senator Joyce would not discuss his conversation with Mr Andrews when asked about the penalty-rates issue.

"Put it this way, we've raised the issue and I'm very happy with the outcome," he said.

Senator Joyce said he would not reveal his voting intentions towards the Bill until the parliamentary process was completed.

"You don't make the decision half way through the day, otherwise there's no point to me being here," he said.

"I might as well go back to Queensland because you've made your mind up.

"There are other issues that may raise their head. We'll follow the debate through to the end."

Source: http://www.NEWS.com.au

[Steelers]

Barnaby Joyce = Last defence

STAND FIRM BARNABY

[DIEHARD]

Barnaby Joyce = Last defence

STAND FIRM BARNABY

Joyce gives nod to new workplace laws

The Federal Government's sweeping overhaul of workplace relations was in effect assured of Senate approval yesterday when the Queensland National Party senator Barnaby Joyce promised not to vote against it.

He has been under pressure from Labor, smaller parties, trade unions, church leaders and others to defeat the legislation by crossing the floor with his crucial vote.

However, he said yesterday: "I will not be voting against the bill as a whole. The Labor Party wants me to throw it out holus-bolus, but I'm not in the Labor Party. In the Senate we review and amend. If the effect of this legislation on people's lives is onerous, that will be reflected at the ballot box."

But Senator Joyce said he still had the option of crossing the floor to pass certain amendments, "as I do with every piece of legislation".

The Government is expected to allow a handful of amendments, but the Opposition Leader, Kim Beazley, said yesterday these were just token changes. Labor's industrial relations spokesman, Stephen Smith, said it was tinkering at the edges.

The changes will include protection for employees who refuse to work on key public holidays: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Australia Day and Anzac Day and Good Friday and Easter Monday.

This change is vigorously opposed by the employer lobby the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, but it appears Senator Joyce's agitation will hold sway.

Sacking workers for refusing to turn up on these so-called iconic public holidays will be illegal and employers will need to provide sufficient financial incentive if they want staff to work on these days, Senator Joyce says.

The Government also appears to have agreed to Senator Joyce's demand that related-entity tests be used to stop big companies splitting into units of 100 employees or fewer to gain exemption from unfair dismissal laws. These tests examine whether one entity is the ultimate beneficiary and, if so, treat their sum as a single unit. Other changes were recommended by a Senate committee that reported on the legislation last week.

These include greater protection for outworkers.

The acting Prime Minister, Mark Vaile, said the committee's suggestions were constructive, and the Minister for Workplace Relations, Kevin Andrews, "will take [them] into consideration in the interests of all Australians".

THE ROAD AHEAD

- The Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce clears way for new workplace relations system, promising to pass legislation.

- There will be limited amendments to the legislation, including legal protection for employees who refuse to work on "iconic" public holidays such as Christmas Day.

- Lifting of unfair dismissal rules will be tightened to make sure larger companies cannot be split into smaller units.

- New laws condemned by unions, Labor and smaller parties.

Source: http://www.SMH.com.au