Changing the Rules for a Fairer Australia

December 11, 2018 News

Australia’s workplace laws used to be based on the simple idea that workers and employers should get a ‘fair go all round’.
Fairness should be at the heart of our workplace laws but at the moment, the laws are not fair to workers.
When workplace laws:

  • Allow penalty rates to be cut without increases to base rates of pay;
  • Allow wage levels to be at a record low as a proportion of the economy;
  • Can’t tackle wage theft because the chance of getting caught is so small;
  • Allow large multinational corporations from paying their fair share of tax;
  • Don’t stop superannuation going unpaid;
  • Don’t allow workers to bargain to keep their jobs secure against labour hire;

then the workplace rules are broken and we need to change the rules.

The rules need to be changed to restore a ‘fair go all round’ to give all working people the basic rights they need to improve their living standards.

As a result, the SDA and the whole of the trade union movement have adopted a comprehensive policy going forward.

This policy reflects the aspirations of working people and encompasses some key principles.

We want:

Fair Pay:

  • Restoring penalty rates;
  • Guaranteeing a living wage;
  • Free and fair bargaining;
  • A strong Award system that can be improved in line with community standards.

More secure jobs:

  • Properly defined and limited casual employment;
  • Permanent work, whether full-time or part-time, with fair roster rights;
  • Equal rights for all workers including site rates for labour hire workers;
  • The right to bargain to prevent jobs being outsourced.

Enforceable rights at work:

  • A strong and independent industrial umpire;
  • An end to wage theft;
  • An end to unpaid superannuation;
  • A right to arbitrate disputes;
  • The right to join and be represented by one’s union.

As part of the on-going campaign, the SDA and other Queensland unions held a rally in Brisbane City on November 20. Thousands of union members rallied, listened to several speeches and peacefully walked to the Fair Work Commission in Elizabeth Street.

For more details, go to ChangeTheRules.org.au