|
Anzac Day is not protected under IR laws: Govt statements are misleading says ACTU
The Federal Government is misleading the public over the status of Anzac Day and other public holidays which are not protected under the new IR laws says the ACTU.
Previously confidential statistics from the Office of the Employment Advocate (OEA) released this week and published in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday (21/4/2007) show that:
- More than half (52%) of AWAs registered under the new IR laws have abolished public holiday pay; and
- More than one in five (22.5%) AWAs have axed declared public holidays — including Anzac Day.
At the same time, there is no indication that workers are being compensated for the loss of these formerly protected award conditions.
The OEA data show that one in three (33.9%) AWAs provide no wage rise for the life of the contracts — some for up to five years — and a further 42.1% of AWAs only offer a wage rise that is dependent on various criteria being met. This leaves less than one in four (24%) AWAs providing any guaranteed pay rise.
ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:
“Federal Minister for Workplace Relations Joe Hockey is being disingenuous.
The plain fact is that the Anzac Day holiday is no longer protected.
The RSL is right to express the concern it has today.
These IR laws provide employers with so much power they even threaten our national icons such as Anzac Day,” said Ms Burrow.
The ACTU has welcomed the Labor Party’s commitment that was announced by Kevin Rudd at the National Press Club last week to restore the right of Australian workers to public holiday pay.
ACTU Media Release
23 April 2007
|
