UNIONS FEAR UNFAIR LAWS COULD BE FORCED THROUGH

1 April 2008

SA Unions has warned the government not to gag debate on its controversial WorkCover legislation by guillotining it through the lower house.

"We will be watching this law like a hawk - especially given the latest bit of extremism from Business SA and its blatantly excessive ambit claim of amendments", SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles says.

"This law is already demonstrably unfair.  Now the business lobby is trying to shore up that position by proposing changes that make it even worse.  It's a tactic to try to avert positive amendments.  The Bill must not pass in its current form - but it must be made better, not worse."

"Mike Rann is supping with the devil.  He's sat at the table with Business SA and tried to satisfy their appetite - and now they want even more.  He must put an end to business gluttony and ensure working families aren't starved."

"It's been suggested to us that the government may try to shut down debate and push it through the Lower House with minimal scrutiny.  If that's the plan, then they ought to think again.  Such a sneaky tactic would provoke widespread community outrage and intensify the union-driven campaign for a fair fix for WorkCover."

"This is deeply flawed legislation that demands proper scrutiny, debate and negotiation.  It's not fair, nor does it get to the heart of the problem, which is an overhaul of the rehabilitation system to get workers back to work faster and safer."

"As revealed by CFMEU Secretary, Martin O'Malley, the WorkCover Bill is a Trojan horse; on the outside it is presented as reform, but in its guts is a massive windfall to business.  In as little as 6 years business will pocket $860 million from these changes - that's more than the scheme's unfunded liabilities of $843 million.  And it's hurt workers who are paying for it."

The warning comes as unions stage the first in a series of rallies and public actions, marking the resumption of Parliament and consideration of the WorkCover Bill.

"Today's rally of CFMEU members and their supports is a taste of what's t come.  These are the people who work in arguably the most dangerous jobs in our state and who have the highest levels of death and injury.  They absolutely need a fair WorkCover system.  What's more, they deserve it.  They're putting their lives on the line only to see their support kicked out from under them by government MP's with the luxury of a limitless compo scheme."

"We will have some form of action for every day that Parliament sits, leading up to a community rally on 3 May.  We will closely scrutinise every single word of the WorkCover debate on behalf of the working families of South Australia, for whom WorkCover is the only safety net in the event of being hurt at work", Ms Giles says.