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SURVEY
REVEALS
WORKCHOICE
PAIN
8
July 2007
Evidence
of how
life has
become
harder
for
South
Australian
workers
under
the new
federal
IR laws
has been
revealed
in a
survey
conducted
by SA
Unions.
More
than 360
people
took
part in
the
online
survey
and
phone
in,
painting
a stark
picture
of the
struggle
to make
ends
meet
under
the
unfair
WorkChoices
system.
SA
Unions
Secretary,
Janet
Giles
says the
survey
will be
important
evidence
to the
SA
Industrial
Relations
Commission
Inquiry
into
WorkChoices,
which
began on
the 4th
of July.
Key
findings
include
-
-
86.2%
of
workers
received
no
compensation
for
entitlements
lost
to
AWA's
-
66.7%
had
no
choice
in
the
content
of
the
AWA
-
Respondents
reported
loss
of
entitlements
including
unfair
dismissal
(26.9%)
less
flexible
leave
(25.4%)
overtime
and
penalty
rates
(24.9%)
and
difficulty
accessing
union
representation
(40.6%)
-
Of
respondents
who
had
been
dismissed,
50%
believed
they
had
been
unfairly
sacked
-
46.5%
noticed
a
change
in
their
employer's
attitude
under
the
new
laws,
including
increased
aggression
and
bullying
-
34.5%
said
WorkChoices
made
it
harder
to
balance
work
and
family
life
-
48.7%
doubted
their
pay
under
WorkChoices
would
keep
up
with
the
cost
lf
living
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"It is clear
that life is
tougher
under
WorkChoices",
Ms Giles
says.
"Pay is
down, rights
have been
lost,
employers
are able to
be harsher
and more
intimidating,
and workers
live in fear
of
dismissal."
"SA Unions
fears that
the state
economy is
in jeopardy
because of
WorkChoices.
With wages
repressed
and hardship
increased,
there's less
disposable
income to
maintain
economic
growth, and
an increased
reliance on
welfare as
families
struggle to
keep food on
the table,
pay
mortgages,
educate
kids, and
pay their
bills."
"This week's
outrageous
miserly
minimum pay
decision is
further
evidence of
the
unfairness
of
WorkChoices." |
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Community Meetings:
Regular community meetings are being held in the areas of Makin, Wakefield or Kingston. Come along, bring your friends and family to discuss issues facing workers today.
Contact SA Unions for the dates of the next meetings
saunions@saunions.org.au
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