Fireproof NSW workers from WorkChoices

Greens industrial relations election platform

Greens MP and NSW Upper House candidate Lee Rhiannon today launched the Greens Protecting NSW Workers from WorkChoices bill, as the key plank of the party's industrial relations election strategy.

The Greens private members bill will be introduced in the next session of parliament. If passed this bill would provide the most expansive state legislation to date to protect NSW workers from WorkChoices.

"The Greens bill would give unprecedented protection from WorkChoices to all workers in the public sector, in local councils and in companies that contract to the government", said Ms Rhiannon.

"The Iemma Government has made good inroads into protecting some public sector workers in NSW. But Labor voted down Greens amendments to extend this protection to all workers in state owned corporations and local government.

"Employees of the RTA and TAFE Commission are now protected but employees at Sydney Ferries, Rail Corp, Sydney Water Corporation, Hunter Water Corporation and Energy Australia are not.

"Rather than hand-picking individual public sector organisations, the Greens bill changes the employment status of workers of all state owned corporations and local government workers.

"This change would shield over 50,000 local council workers and many thousands of workers in state-owned corporations from the damaging impact of WorkChoices.

"The Greens bill would also require that private companies tendering to the NSW government must pay wage rates and provide working conditions that are no worse than the state award.

"Restricting government contracts to companies that do not infringe workers rights should be at the top of the 'to do' list for a government opposed to WorkChoices.

"WorkChoices is anything but choices at work. ABS data released last week showed that non-managerial workers on individual contracts typically work longer hours and are paid 90c less an hour than workers on collective agreements.

"The NSW government has the legal ability to stand up to the Howard government and draft legislation that fireproofs NSW workers from WorkChoices.

"There would be nowhere to hide from WorkChoices in NSW if Mr Debnam is elected. We need strong and comprehensive protection for workers in NSW.

"Premier Iemma and all Labor MPs can show their commitment to fireproofing more NSW workers from WorkChoices by committing to support the Greens' bill after the election," Ms Rhiannon said.