Workers left between a rock and an AWA

James Caulfield, Canberra

Despite making several other "rock solid" promises about what the ALP would do on industrial relations if it wins the next election, opposition leader Kim Beazley failed to mention the repealing of Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs — individual contracts) in his address to a rally on August 9.

The rally, organised to mark the sitting of the new Senate, was attended by more than 600 trade unionists, students and other activists.

In his speech, Beazley promised that the next ALP federal government would ensure that awards are real safety nets and that the Industrial Relations Commission can operate as an independent arbiter, guarantee unions the right of entry to workplaces and reinstate penalty rates.

Beazley also said that an ALP government would favour awards and collective agreements, but stopped short of pledging to stop AWAs. As he spoke, sections of the rally chanted "No to AWAs!" and "AWAs, no way!".

Representatives of the Greens; the Australian Council of Trade Unions; the Australian Education Union; the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; and Unions ACT also spoke. Incoming Greens Senator Rachel Seaworth described the government's industrial relations plan as an attack on workers' human rights and argued that community action would be more important than parliamentary opposition to stop Howard's plans.

From Green Left Weekly, August 17, 2005.

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From GLW issue 638