Winter Issue 2009 - cfmeu

G E N E R A L N E W S
Complaints from workers rise
Unions needed more than ever in troubled times
As the downturn hits and companies cut costs, more WA workers are being exploited,
with complaints to the workplace watchdog soaring 26 per cent.
Western Australia had the biggest increase in complaints in the first three months
of this year, with complaints rising to 555 from 440 in the December quarter last
year, according to figures from the Workplace Ombudsman.
The jump in complaints from WA workers was much higher than the 15 per cent
average national rise in the last quarter to 6094 complaints from 5292 in the
December quarter.
The jump indicated that the impending recession was driving
companies to unlawfully cut employees’ wages and conditions.
A Workplace Ombudsman spokesman said the number of
complaints had been rising for a number of years.
If you’re being exploited or nor getting your entitlements contact
the union office on 9221 1055 or call your CFMEU Organiser.
Royal Commissions:
A BIG WASTE
OF MONEY?
The high cost of Royal Commissions...versus
cheaper, less formal alternatives...will be a major
focus of a federal review into the inquiries.
Attorney-General ROBERT McCLELLAND announced a
review of the 107-year-old Royal Commissions Act...
which has witnessed little change since its inception
during the first Australian parliament.
The Australian Law Reform Commission has now issued
a list of 49 questions to be canvassed in the nationwide
inquiry... due to report back to Government in October.
A major focus will be the high cost of Royal Commissions
.. and whether taxpayers are getting value for money.
In today's dollars the 2003 Royal Commission into the
Building and Construction Industry cost taxpayers about
$70 million...the HIH Royal Commission $47 million...and
the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
more than $50 million.
NOTE: The Cole Commission led to the establishment of
the ABCC which has an annual budget of at least
30 million dollars – a huge on-going waste of taxpayer’s
money!
Construction Worker – Winter 2009 Page 45
CFMEU