SA
UNIONS -
TEN
PRIORITIES
FOR
ELECTION
2010
Ten
priorities
we
believe
should
be "must
do's"
for
Election
2010.
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GROWTH INDUSTRIES - MINING AND DEFENCE
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Mining and defence expansion and Government funded projects should directly benefit the community. We seek a range of conditions to be written into mining lease agreements, procurement agreements and tender documents including: |
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- increase mining royalties to 7-10% (currently just 3.5%)
- decent wages, top safety standards and collective agreements
- 10% target for training and Aboriginal employment in all projects
- Royalties to be spent to benefit the community
This would generate much needed income for social programs and reduce the burden on the public purse. State Governments need to ensure that companies profiting from our natural and human resources are good corporate citizens which give back to the communities in which they operate.
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PUBLIC SERVICES |
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SA Unions believes the provision of high quality services should be a government priority and should be viewed as a social benefit rather than a cost.
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We are seeking political commitments to end outsourcing and privatisation of public services. The community demands and deserves improvements, not cuts, to community services, health and education.
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WAGE SETTING |
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SA Unions supports the creation of a fair and simple bargaining process for government worker wages. This could be achieved by having an agreed framework for public sector bargaining.
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SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES |
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SA Unions supports new investment in green industries and green jobs to put South Australia at the forefront of this growth sector and create long term, sustainable economic benefits.
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This required the development of industry hubs, supporting innovation in industry and improved backing for research and development.
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ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES |
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Sustainability is vital for our future if we are to meet the challenges of living on the edge of a desert and at the end of a river. Environmental efficiency should be mandatory, not optional. There should be a requirement to include carbon reduction measures and best practice water management for all new projects.
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SKILLS DEVELOPMENT |
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A well skilled workforce is vital for our economic and social progress. We believe all workers should be supported to improve their skills, rather than the state relying on importing skills from elsewhere. We seek guaranteed funding for all South Australians for training to certificate 3 level.
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SA Unions believes this would be best achieved through a properly resourced five year training plan that: |
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- addresses areas of shortage
- provides recognised qualifications for workers
- increases workforce participation, particularly for Indigenous people
- includes a state women's employment strategy
- requires binding commitment from employers to take on apprentices
- actively includes unions.
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FAIR WORK LAWS |
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SA Unions wants political commitments in support of the new federal fair work laws including protection against unfair dismissal, no individual contracts and the right to join a union.
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CHILD LABOUR PROTECTIONS |
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Introduce Child Labour laws to protect young workers and fund the "Passport to Safety" program to educate all year 10 students about safety at work. This can be delivered for just $10 per student, making the total to the state about $200,000 per year - a paltry amount to stop our children being injured and to save young lives.
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WORKERS COMPENSATION |
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SA Unions seeks to restore balance and fairness for injured workers by amending the Act through proper consultation with unions.
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We can work out a fair and balanced system that delivers a reduction in the unfunded liability, treats workers fairly and also reduces employer levies.
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WORK/LIFE BALANCE |
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SA Unions strongly advocates restoring the balance between work and family life. People report working longer hours, taking less leave and sacrificing their family responsibilities, fearful that they could otherwise lose their job or not make ends meet. Overwork has been shown to diminish productivity and increase the burden on the health system.
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We believe our state should establish and fund a work/life unit to improve the lives of working South Australians.
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