ACTU urges Fair Work to stop bosses cutting jobs

The ACTU is seeking safeguards to require employers receiving the NSW and federal government’s support payments to maintain employment levels.

ACTU president Michele O'Neil. Picture: Gary Ramage

Employers will oppose an ACTU bid for temporary award changes that prevent businesses that receive federal and NSW support payments from cutting jobs or reducing the hours of part-time and casual workers.

Fair Work Commission president Iain Ross will convene a conference next week of repre­sentatives from employers, unions, the Morrison government and the NSW Treasury to consider an ACTU request for award changes to “protect jobs amid the growing crisis in NSW”.

Fair Work Australia President Iain Ross during a Senate hearing in Parliament House in Canberra.

ACTU president Michele O’Neil said the ACTU was ­extremely concerned that because the Morrison government had walked away from Job­Keeper, which guaranteed job and income security, many workers were in danger of losing their jobs because the new federal and NSW payments had very weak obligations on employers.

The ACTU is seeking safeguards in all awards to require employers receiving the NSW and federal government’s support payments to maintain employment levels, tell workers about their rights, and allow any disputes to be resolved by the commission.

Businesses and organisations receiving the new payments would be required to tell employees that employers were not permitted to terminate the employ­ment of staff, reduce their number or cut the hours of part-timers and casuals.

Employers would also be required to provide employees with information about any extra state or federal support available.

Ms O’Neil said Justice Ross should make the commission available to resolve disputes between employers and workers arising from the arrangements.

Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said his organisation was opposed to awards containing any provisions that would prevent employers terminating employees.

“This is not the role of awards,” he said.

“Termination of employment is dealt with extensively in the Fair Work Act, including through the unfair dismissal laws.”

Acting Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Jenny Lambert said ­industrial relations changes might be needed but the role of awards was to provide minimum terms and conditions of employment, not to limit or prevent any termination.