This article appeared in the Australian today (22/3 - page 4)
comradely,
Kim B
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SUPPORT IN WINGS FOR REITH REFORMS
-Michael Bachelard –Workplace relations writer
The Australian Democrats are preparing to deal with the Coalition on its second
wave industrial reforms in an attempt of cripple the militant Victorian
manufacturing union’s push to reinstate industry wide deals.
The move would also block union attempts to have GST compensation clauses
inserted in enterprise agreements.
A Democrats source told The Australian yesterday they were prepared to deal on
pattern bargaining, despite last years ruling out any but technical amendments
to the Workplace Relations Act. Pattern bargaining involves a union enforcing
an identical industrial agreement across an entire industry with many different
employers.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union’s (AMWU) Campaign 2000-2001 is an
attempt, due to begin in Victoria in June, to coordinate industrial action
across the manufacturing industry to undermine enterprise bargaining and
achieve an industry wide wage outcome.
Pattern bargaining is also standard practice in the construction industry.
The Australian understands the Democrats amendments would be identical to those
proposed by the Australian Industry Group, the employer body fighting Campaign
2000. They would allow common “site agreements” in the construction industry
to remain.
The amendment would remove the standard legal protection for striking workers
if they were pursuing certain types of pattern agreements, rendering the
strikers liable to be sued for loss and damage. An amendment outlawing unions
seeking standard GST clauses in agreements could also be dealt with in pattern
bargaining section of the act, the source said.
Unions have adopted a policy of seeking extra pay for the GST, but the
Democrats fear pre-emptive pay rises could cost 150,000 jobs.
The Democrats’ move is likely to delight Workplace Relations Minister, Peter
Reith, who until now has been facing almost total rejection of his second wave
industrial reforms.
But the minor party will seek to balance its move with a new provision that the
union movement has lobbied for – that employers be required to bargain
collectively if a majority of workers demand it. “We are seeking a balance
bill that seeks to deal with rogue unions and rogue employers”, the Democrats
source said.
Mr Reith would strongly oppose such a provision.
The pattern bargaining proposal also faces trouble in the Democrats party room,
which overruled industrial relations spokesman, Andrew Murray last year and
rejected almost everything but technical amendments.
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