Talking union
- A parliamentary inquiry into the status of women has recommended changes to the Affirmative Action Act, including tougher penalties for companies not complying with the act. At present, compliance is voluntary and the stiffest penalty is being named in parliament. The inquiry, chaired by Michael Lavarch, found that women still faced widespread indirect and systemic discrimination in the workplace. The inquiry also recommended a tougher stand on sexual harassment in the workplace.
- Trouble is brewing at aluminium transnational Comalco's Australian operations as it attempts to install New Zealand-style individual contracts, particularly at its Bell Bay (Tas) and Boyne Island (Qld) smelters. Using the anti-union Employment Contract Act, the company recently signed up most of the workforce in its New Zealand operations on individual contracts, excluding unions from all discussions.
- Waterside workers are in dispute with employers over the waterfront surplus labour fund. The WWF says companies must provide additional funding for the fund, which is presently supporting about 400 workers, or offer extra voluntary redundancy packages.
BRISBANE — The Queensland government has promised legislation eliminating penalty rates in the tourist industry. The main impact of the new law, based on a recent AWU award at two Gold Coast fun parks, will be a slightly higher standard rate of pay for all working hours, including weekends, overtime and shifts.
PERTH — The Australian Workers Union is close to agreement with management at Western Mining's Kambalda nickel operations over continuous rostering. The issue has been central to a long dispute involving several strikes and a number of sackings. The deal, which will clear the way for amendments to state mining regulations, involves retraining, immediate re-employment of 27 retrenched mineworkers and offers of jobs to all workers sacked last November.
SYDNEY — A threat of strike action by rail workers on the Eastern Suburbs line has forced CityRail to postpone plans to eliminate ticket collectors at the central-city Martin Place station. Transport minister Bruce Baird denied claims based on leaked CityRail documents that CityRail had discussed plans to replace rail staff with private security guards. The Labor opposition claims to have letters discussing the possibility of having police, transit police and security guards inspecting tickets.