Getting Rid of Work Choices More Urgent Than Ever

The relatively good economy and tight jobs market which existed when Work Choices was introduced actually protected many workers from the worst of laws. In poorer economic times it will be much easier to use those laws to exploit workers.

The economic downturn reinforces the need to consign John Howard's Work Choices laws to the dustbin as soon as possible.

Despite this, the Liberal opposition and big business are trying to use the current economic crisis to argue that the Rudd Labor Government should not implement its electoral mandate to get rid of Work Choices. The argument goes that we should not be restoring rights to workers when business is facing harder times. They want to retain the ability for employers to easily sack workers and drive down their wages and conditions. It seems likely that the Liberals and Nationals will attempt to use their numbers in the Senate to block the Rudd Government's Forward with Fairness legislation which aims to dismantle Work Choices.

We cannot afford to sit idly by and watch the Federal Opposition try and frustrate the will of the people who voted for fairer and more balanced workplace laws at the last election. We urge members to contact SA based Liberal Senators and independent SA based Senator Nick Xenophon (who along with Victorian Senator Stephen Fielding hold the balance of power in the Senate). Tell them to recognise the Rudd Government's mandate and support the Forward with Fairness legislation and get it passed as soon as possible.

A suggested letter template is below. Just cut and paste it into an email or send a letter to the address supplied

By taking this small step now you will be hastening the day when we can finally say that Your Rights at Work have been restored.

Just copy and paste into a letter or email.

Forward with Fairness Legislation

I, like millions of other Australians voted at the last Federal Election to get rid of the Howard Government's Work Choices laws and replace them with fairer and more balanced set of workplace laws.

I write to ask that you to respect my decision and that of millions of other voters and ask that you exercise your vote in the Federal Parliament to ensure that the Rudd Government's Forward with Fairness Legislation is passed into law as soon as possible.

The majority of Australians have indicated that they wish to see Work Choices gone and the rights it took away from workers restored. Please do not stand in the way of that happening.

Yours faithfully,

Liberal

Senator Cory Bernardi
120-122 Port Road, Hindmarsh SA 5007
senator.bernadi@aph.gov.au
08 8346 1433

Senator Simon Birmingham
61 Henley Beach Road Mile End SA 5031
senator.birmingham@aph.gov.au
08 8354 1644

Senator Alan Ferguson
100 King William Street Adelaide SA 5000
senator.ferguson@aph.gov.au
08 8237 7180

Senator Mary Jo Fisher
Ground Floor 75 Hindmarsh Square Adelaide SA 5000
senator.fisher@aph.gov.au
08 8223 1757

Senator Nick Minchin
36 Grenfell Street Kent Town SA 5067
senator.minchin@aph.gov.au
08 8362 8600

Independent
Senator Nick Xenophon
212 Grenfell Street Adelaide SA 5000
senator.xenophon@aph.gov.au
08 8232 1144