Penalty rates retained
BRISBANE — An employers' attempt to abolish penalty rates from the retailing workers' award has failed in the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission. The commission announced on September 11 that there is still an argument for compensating workers for working outside normal hours, even though late night and weekend trading are now more common. The commission said the employers should negotiate at an enterprise level instead of pushing for across-the-board award changes.
The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association state secretary, Chris Ketter, said he had no doubt the retailers would try again to abolish penalty rates.
Newcastle University elections
NEWCASTLE — In elections at Newcastle University for the National Union of Students (NUS) and the Students Association, the ALP left has improved its position. It won the position of SA president for the first time in several years. Progressive candidates won other positions against a vigorous campaign of the ALP right.
Out of six NUS delegate positions, two each were won by the ALP right, ALP left and Non-Aligned Left.
Filipino health and safety worker speaks
MELBOURNE — Rhea Reyes, a doctor with the Philippines Institute for Occupational Health & Safety Development, spoke to a workers' meeting in the Casselden Place Tax Office on September 8. She was brought to Australia by APHEDA, the ACTU's overseas aid agency.
The institute trains workplace OH&S committees, researches OH&S problems and offers health services to workers and their families in a wide range of industries. It also has mobile clinics that go to remote areas and to picket lines.
Reyes spoke about the conditions of retail workers, who are forced to stand for eight hours a day, causing varicose veins, back problems and miscarriages in pregnant women. The workers also suffer a high rate of urinary tract infection due to restrictions on going to the toilet. She also described the government's push for privatisation and deregulation. Its rationale — the "need to compete in the global market" — was familiar to the audience.