Workers on war path

LOCAL workers took to the street in protest to the Federal Governments new Industrial Relations changes yesterday, with Shellharbour City Council unanimously opposing the changes also at its last general meeting.

Council has resolved not to use Australian Workplace Agreements or Individual Contracts with its employees, instead relying on the Local Government Act 1993 to set wages and conditions.

This would exclude manager positions as defined by the act.

Cr Tom Hawker put forth the motion not to introduce AWAs or individual contracts.

I think we can safely say that councillors disagree with the Federal Governments IR changes, he said.

In the rally held in Wollongong yesterday members of the community voiced their individual concerns and objections over changes to Industrial Relations legislation.

Liberal Senator for NSW Concetta Fierravanti-Wells slammed the rally organised the South Coast Labour Council secretary, Arthur Rorris, claiming it would not help its members.

Im not sure how he thinks this is helping his organisations members or the Illawarra, she said.

The demonstration was part of a series of solidarity rallies held across the country in support of 107 West Australian workers facing prosecution for going on strike.

The workers fronted court yesterday each facing fines of $28 600 plus legal fees.

According to a leaflet endorsed by South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris the Australian Building and Construction Commission prosecuted the workers following industrial action after site safety delegate Peter Ballard was sacked by Leightons management.

These workers are examples of any worker in the Illawarra, he claimed.

We want to make people aware this could happen to them for something as straight forward as sticking up for a mate.

He said new laws sought to criminalise what most people think to be legitimate action taken by employees.

We are asking for the laws to be reviewed and the new approach to be dismantled.

Senator Fierravant-Wells said the case was being prosecuted under the old laws by a body independent of the Australian Government.

The strike that is the subject of the protest actually occurred before WorkChoices commenced, she said.

The Office of the Australian Building Construction Commissioner proceedings rely on pre-WorkChoices legislation.

Senator Fierravant-Wells said the Australian Government has no control over prosecutions brought against the 107 workers.

The government did not make the decision to prosecute these workers and has no power to intervene.

Member for Cunningham, Sharon Bird attended the rally to express her concerns.

This is not the Australia we fought so long for, she said.

Danna Nelse, of the Albion Park Rail Neighbourhood Centre, said she believed workers rights were being eroded.

These are things we fought for long and hard and to see them disappearing is a worry, she said.

Warilla resident Jim Mcguiggan expressed concern for minimum wage earners.

If nobody says anything now things arent going to get any better, he said.

John Cooper from the United Services Union said he believed people had lost their freedom of speech and their right to silence.

He said his main concern rested with the next generation of workers who, he feels, would not have the same rights as people employed now.

One Port Kembla resident fronted the rally with his wife and daughter Bonnie.

He said he attended the rally because he was worried about what the future held for his daughter.

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