SA UNONS WELCOMES STATE GOVERNMENT POSITION ON FAIR WORK AUSTRALIA

9 June 2009

SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles today welcomed the decision of the State Government to be the first state to formally adopt the new Fair Work laws made by the Federal Government to replace Workchoices.

"They have done it in a way that guarantees South Australians will continue to have a say about industrial laws for our state", she said.

"The Minister of Industrial Relations, Paul Caica, has listened to views of unions in SA and has adopted a practical and workable approach for our state."

"On 1 July, we will have a set of Federal IR laws that reinstates fairness for workers, reintroduces the right to collectively bargain, protects workers against unfair dismissal and confirms the important role of unions in representing workers."

The State Government position will also mean

• it will be "text based" referral of powers allowing our state government to continue to have a say about IR law into the future

• dual appointments of state Industrial Commissions so they can deal with federal and state matters

• State Government employees and Local Government employees will continue to be governed by state IR law

• Young people and apprentices will still be protected under state law

• the health and community services sector will be able to decide the best jurisdiction for their needs through continued negotiations with the Commonwealth.

"The State Government position is in line with the wishes of unions in SA and ensures that we have a new fair work law system that also takes into account the local needs of our state," Ms Giles says.