Labour Sweeps to Power in Australia Elections. Congratulations to Australian Labour Leader and Prime Minister elect Kevin Rudd. He has put to an end to 11 years of right wing rule. Former Prime Minister John Howard is thought to have even lost his own Parliamentary seat.
I am sure that the whole Australian Labour movement deserves praise for what appears to have been a well thought out and united sensible political campaign.
However, is also good news for the trade unions in Australia who have been at the receiving end of some pretty vicious anti-union government policies in recent years.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) have just published some interesting research on the result which suggest that Industrial Relations (IR) was amongst the most important issue for nearly 80% of Labour voters (45% said it was their single most important issue). The Unions also appear to have played a major role in mobilising their members to come out and vote.
Hope Brown has a read.
11 comments:
Hi John.
I am not convinced at the moment that Rudd is going to remove all of the WorkChoices legislation. I fear he is going to do a 'New Labour' on working class voters and just file down some rough edges.
This would be a huge mistake as it appear like you infer that Howards repressive employment legislation was the main reason for his un popularity.
Ian
Hi Ian
Yes, I don’t think that the honeymoon will last that long. Rudd is clearly New Labour. That is one of the reasons why he won
Yes, I would be very sceptical of any claim that anti-trade union legislating was the main reason for Howard’s unpopularity. But I think it was important and even more crucial were the unions ramming home this message during the elections. This is our victory. Discuss.
Hi John
Of course its a brilliant and a deserved victory for working people in Australia. I believe that the turning point for Howard was a few years back when they brought in the anti union workchoices. The way the Unions, in the most difficult of circumstances mobilised and campaigned to get Labor elected was incredible. Rudd has to remember this.
If Rudd just tinkers with the anti union laws, like Tony Blair did in the UK , it will backfire. Rudd should have the courage to dump workchoices completely in the shortest time possible.
Its a tragedy that in the UK, after MPs consistently voting against Thatchers anti union laws for 18 years, the come in on a huge landslide and, well, only get rid of the rough edges. We now see a Labour party with a chasm between the interests of the trade unions and the new Labour leadership, bigger I think than at any time in Labours history.
Its ok saying that the alternative of the Tories will be worse but as I have told our three MPs down here in Southampton/Portsmouth, that message isnt washing anymore with our trade union supporters.
So John, unless Rudd legislates within the next couple of months, to dump workchoices, he will be facing similar problems as Howard, whether he signs up to Kyoto or pulls out troops or not.Dont alienate your natural supporters.
Ian
Hi Ian
I am not sure that the situation in Britain is that straight forward. I don’t think that there is a “chasm” in the relationship. Even though there are obviously real problems (victimisation of trade union activists a topical one).
I am conscious that I belong to a public sector trade union not manufacturing. So I suspect we have a lot more to be grateful than you guys?
I think (hope?) that Brown will be more sympathetic than Blair. I am waiting to see what will happen over Agency workers employment protection (the official response - not private members bills). Mind you Gordon seems to have other things on his mind at the moment.
so three Labour election victories shows your out of touch ????
The problem about anti TU laws is nobody cares, unless your being sacked or in a dispute at work
Of course we need more TU power but the way we say it is having no impact on our members, the public or politicians.
because its put forward by a load of bald, male TU leaders
We just seem to push the issue of secondary action (as vital as this is)
we look like and sound like a load of dinoasurs
Hi Anon
So apart from having more young female union leaders with full sets of hair (good idea of course) your solution is....?
what ever legal changes we want need to be reduced to say 5 key points
ie The right to have your union recognised
The right for your rep to attend disaplianry and grievance hearings and speak on your behalf
The right to a union notice board
The right to annual pay negs
that would be a start
anon.
We have the 'right' to these points already.
Hi Ian
Dont think so
can you point to anything in Law re this certainly not in ERA
no automatic right to have your union recognised, size and membership being key factors (apart from victimisation)
no right to annual pay negs (unless european wide)
no right to have a rep at grievances
I think you will find that in in the Private sector you dont have these rights
and not in the ERA as I state
uless you know otherwise
Anon.
Notice I put rights in 'inverted' commas?
The rights we have are very weak. But there certainly rights to recognise TU representation at disciplinaries and/or grievances, something I have been doing for the last four to five years.
Most private sector industries in my experience have the right to be represented at grievances.
Recognition isnt automatic but the procedure is there only it is easier to get a staff ctte set up than it is to get the union recognised.
The rights are weak but a litle stronger than pre 97. The current government seems to feel that the rights as they stand are enough.
This needs seriously addressing. I would put the next election on it.
Hi Anon
I think that Ian is right, but I also thought that all trade union members have “rights of representation” (at grievances/disciplines etc only) regardless of TU recognition?
(Not sure about election thingy, but at the present moment God knows! Still, we were reliable informed that a week never mind 2 years is a long time in politics)
Post a Comment