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NICE PLAN, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WORKERS?
17 February 2006
SA Unions is encouraged by Business SA's blueprint but fears it lacks one vital element - a sound industrial basis on which to make the ideas work.
SA Unions secretary Janet Giles says many elements of the plan reflect concerns that the union movement has been promoting on behalf of its worker members for many years.
"Most important is the focus on improving state infrastructure, as well as the need to leave behind old debt fears and undertake a program of prudent borrowing to be invested in our future", she says.
"We also welcome things such as improved childcare to make workplaces more family friendly, and initiatives to keep skilled workers here."
"Business SA has also tackled some of the big picture issues on which we all collaborated so well during the Economic Summit, such as improved technological precincts, promoting education, and developing new energy technologies."
"However, there's one significant flaw in the proposal - the lack of industrial certainty."
"By supporting a federal Industrial Relations system and seeking the abolition of unfair dismissal laws, Business SA has condemned its blueprint to failure."
"By pushing for such backward changes, Business SA is effectively alienating the very people who make South Australia the success it is - the workers."
"South Australia has the best industrial relations system in Australia. Victoria found its move to the federal system was not a success. Why should we destroy a success simply to appease an ideology? It makes no sense", Ms Giles says.
And removing unfair dismissal protection is by its very nature an unfair thing to do. Business SA is advocating a system where workers can be unfairly sacked and where they have no rights of appeal."
"Our states successes have been built upon the constructive working relationships between employers and employees. The changes Business SA is advocating risk destroying that good working relationship," MS Giles says.
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