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Unions give Labor pain

Posted on June 16, 2008, 7:07pm

It used to be the case that Liberal Governments had more trouble with unions than Labor Governments.

Given the current degree of unrest in the health and education sectors you have to wonder if Premier Mike Rann has lost his mojo when it comes to managing industrial relations.

And in a sign of the times, it is professional workers who are flexing their collective muscle.

Meanwhile, on the federal scene, the Rudd Government has announced new national employment standards including maximum weekly hours, redundancy entitlements, notice of termination and leave including parental leave and related entitlements, annual leave, personal carer and compassionate leave, community service leave, and long service leave.

Public holidays are also covered in the new arrangements.

Mr Rudd said yesterday the new standards would be fairer for workers and simpler for employers.

He said the 38-hour week was one of the national employment standards, but he acknowledged there would be different circumstances in various workplaces. Perhaps he was thinking of his own office when he made that remark.

Employers will welcome any streamlining of workplace regulations. It was a great irony of the so-called industrial reforms under John Howard that in many cases the paperwork actually became more complicated.

If Mr Rudd really wants to make progress however, he will honour election commitments to modernise the myriad of industrial awards.

MICHAEL GOREY

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