ACTU vows to fight IR changes to the end

The COVID-19 pandemic-induced ‘kumbaya’ moment between unions and the Coalition is well and truly over after a powerful union leader vowed to escalate a fight over proposed IR laws.

UNIONS have vowed their escalating attacks on the Morrison Government’s contentious industrial relations changes will last “as long as we need to win the fight”.

Echoing a campaign against the Howard Government’s Work Choices law that helped Labor win the 2007 election, the Australian Council of Trade Unions is leading the charge to overturn elements of a major Industrial Relations Bill currently before parliament.

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A Senate Committee inquiry into the proposed Fair Work Act (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill will hold public hearings in Townsville today, with unions and business groups appearing.

Australian Council of Trade Unions President Michele O’Neil told The Courier-Mail the laws would leave workers with less pay and lead to more job insecurity.

ACTU president Michele O'Neil says unions will fight IR changes “to the end”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

She said unions would fight the changes with the same vigour that they attacked Work Choices.

“The government needs to look at this legislation and if it’s not fixed, if they don’t agree to remove anything that cuts workers pay and conditions and rights then we’ll continue to campaign hard to have it rejected,” she said.

“This bill needs to be voted down if it hurts Australian workers and we’ll keep that campaign going as long as we need to win that.”

Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter said the changes to the Fair Work Act were “designed to achieve job, wages and productivity growth”.

IR Minister Christian Porter says negotiations over contentious IR laws have been cooperative. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage.

“Since the pandemic began, the Government has taken a genuinely collaborative and cooperative approach to the development of this legislation and I have made it clear that I intend to continue to work cooperatively with all stakeholders to help give this Bill has every chance of success,” he said.

Sunshine Coast electrician Rob Smith, who will represent the Electrical Trades Union, at today’s hearing, said insecure work had cascading negative effects on the lives of workers.

He is opposed to changes that he said would make it harder for workers to move from casual to full-time positions.

“There are jobs around but everyone’s looking for secure work which makes it very difficult to find,” he said.