Circular 21-2011 - Union Dues Tax Year 2010-11

Australian Council of Trade Unions

Media Release

Thursday, 24 February 2011

New mothers’ connection with the workplace will be protected following the rejection by Parliament today of a Coalition attempt to weaken the Paid Parental Leave scheme, say unions.

A bill introduced by Liberal MP Bruce Billson, which would have turned paid parental leave from an employment entitlement to a welfare payment by removing business’s role in administering the payment, was defeated in the House of Representatives today.

ACTU President Ged Kearney said the Bill would have undermined one of the key objectives of the PPL scheme: encouraging women's participation in the workforce by maintaining a connection to their employer during the period of leave.

In December last year the Barnett Government released a report containing 193 recommendations to change workplace laws in Western Australia.

The report was written by a former Howard Governmetn industrial relations lawyer and could affect up to 300,000 WA workers.

These changes pose a serious threat to people’s rights at work. If implemented, they will greatly undermine many WA workers and strip away employment conditions that have been hard fought for.

In a letter to WAPOU Secretary John Welch, Premier Colin Barnett has has ruled out the privatisation of Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison Staff.

Not only is this a victory for WAPOU members working at EGRP, but a victory for all members throughout WA and a victory against privatisation.

It is clear that the Premiers intervention represenents the crucial recognition of the role of Prison Officers and confirms how effective Respect the Risk  community campaigning continues to be in making sure the voices of Prison Officers are not forgotten.

 We hope that this decision shows that the government is hearing the voices of Prison Officers and the wider community loud and clear in defending the jobs of officers and ensuring that they remain in public hands.