By Melanie Sjoberg

ADELAIDE -- Two hundred people attended a SA United Trades and Labor Council (UTLC) public meeting on May 21 to hear Jennie George, ACTU president, speak on the latest round of changes to the federal industrial relations laws proposed by the federal minister Peter Reith. She referred to Reith's assurance to a recent meeting of business leaders, “We are on the side of profit, we are on the side of the people making profits”.

George outlined how that the proposed changes would require greater worker “flexibility” -- growing casual employment, longer working hours and work intensification. She said this undermining of workers' conditions would further fill the pockets of those with whom Reith sides.

George compared the Reith laws to the current attacks in South Australia. She said the John Olsen Liberal government agenda was “more draconian” than the federal government's. The proposals for SA include the removal of casual workers, and those in businesses with less than 15 employees, from any established industrial relations processes or award safety net.

The SA changes will also enforce secret ballots for industrial action, prevent unions accessing workplaces and remove confidentiality for union members.

The state industrial relations laws were passed by the lower house of parliament on May 26, but have still to pass the upper house. The UTLC campaign against the laws includes lobbying the independents and Democrats with the balance of power in the upper house.

George urged union members and others to join the rally against the SA laws on June 3 at Parliament House, and to mobilise again in August against the latest federal attacks.

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