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Unions rally to save WorkCover

Simon Butler, Adelaide

5 April 2008

After a spirited march through the Adelaide CBD, 1500 unionists rallied on the steps of the South Australian parliament on April 1 to protest the state Labor government’s plans to dismantle the workers’ compensation laws.

SA Unions called the demonstration in response to the Rann government’s support for recommendations to cut injured workers’ payments to 80% of their weekly average earnings after 13 weeks off work and end payments altogether after 130 weeks regardless of the nature of the injury.

The rally was chaired by independent state MP Kris Hanna. Hanna warned that the changes to state workers’ compensation legislation will punish injured workers and leave them without necessary income support.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union state secretary Martin O’Malley lambasted Premier Mike Rann for slashing WorkCover despite opposing similar proposed changes when he was in opposition. SA Unions secretary Janet Giles argued that the campaign to stop the attacks on workers’ compensation must continue. She urged unionists to protest again at the May Day march, organised for May 3.