SA UNIONS WANT CHANGE OF DIRECTION AS WELL AS CHANGE OF LEADER

8 August 2011

South Australian unions say they look forward to a new and more cooperative working relationship with the State Government under the next Labor Premier Jay Weatherill.

SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles says the change in leadership should bring about a different style of government, one in which the Premier and Ministers reconnect with the community.

"When he becomes the leader, Mr Weatherill will need to work to regain the trust of South Australian working people and prove he will stand up for Labor values and support community services."

"Premier Rann has become disconnected from the community and people have stopped listening to him."

"People in the union movement, who represent 180,000 South Australians, have been ignored and sidelined by Premier Rann, to his detriment."

"We want to see a leader who will listen to the community - including union members - and include them in decision-making processes."

"We issue a final challenge to Premier Rann as he negotiates the BHP Billiton Roxby Downs deal."

"He must make sure that the economic benefits of this deal, which is so crucial to the future of South Australia and our economy, flow to the whole community."

"The deal over Roxby Downs must include apprenticeships and traineeships for young South Australians, and provision for the local employment of South Australians, including Aboriginal people."

"Premier Rann must demand that the deal creates local jobs, not "fly-in-fly-out" jobs in other parts of the country, and it should be a catalyst for a stronger and more sustainable manufacturing industry in this State."