ACTU Media Release Issued 6.00AM TUESDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2005

'BILLY'S' AWA TELLS REAL STORY OF GOVERNMENT'S IR LAWS NO PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, OVERTIME, PENALTY RATES, BREAKS, BONUSES, LEAVE LOADING, ALLOWANCES OR UNFAIR DISMISSAL PROTECTION

ACTU Media Release Issued 6.00AM TUESDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2005

The Federal Government's own example of an Australian Workplace Agreement individual contract (AWA) that removes a worker's right to award entitlements that include public holidays, rest breaks, overtime, bonuses, annual leave loading, penalty rates & shift loadings tells the real story of the Government's industrial relations plans the ACTU said today.

The example of the worker 'Billy' is detailed on page 15 in the Government's 'WorkChoices' document and it shows that not even public holidays, overtime or rest breaks for Australian workers will be protected under the Government's proposed new workplace laws.

Commenting today on the Government's IR package, ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said:

"'WorkChoices' will mean no choices for Australian workers.

"Billy is a worker whose story is provided by the Government as an example of what could happen under their new workplace system. Under the new laws, to get a job as a retail worker Billy has to sign an AWA individual contract that removes his rights to public holidays, rest breaks, bonuses, annual leave loadings, allowances, penalty rates, overtime and shift loadings.

"If the company 'Billy' works for employs less than 100 staff he will also have no protection from unfair dismissal under the Government's new laws.

"The example of 'Billy' in the official Government information material clearly illustrates that the Prime Minister's claim that conditions like meal breaks, public holidays, overtime pay, shift penalties and allowances will be protected under his workplace laws is a farce.

"These new laws will transfer unprecedented power to employers. It will give employers an almost unfettered power to hire and fire at will and allow them to unilaterally determine the pay and conditions of employees without reference to meaningful minimum standards, protections or rights.

"Far from protecting the rights of working Australians, the example of 'Billy' shows how these laws will allow employers to put workers onto individual contracts that explicitly remove conditions like overtime, meal breaks, penalty rates, public holidays and allowances. Any worker who refuses to sign won't get the job.

"These laws will take Australian workers backwards at a time when many working families are already struggling just to keep their heads above water.

"The only advice the Prime Minister can give Australian workers who will be hurt by his workplace laws is sign the contract and accept the pay cut or go and find another job.

"This is a Prime Minister that is now clearly out of touch with the financial and time pressures that Australian working families are under."