WaterNews Issue 1 2011 - ASU NSW

The ASU has written to Labor, Liberals
and The Greens asking them for their
positions on the following:
1. Funding the Equal Pay Case, when we win it
2. Keeping Sydney Water and Hunter Water in public hands,
including keeping the maintenance functions of these Utilities
in public hands
3. Keeping RailCorp, Sydney Ferries and STA in public hands
Here are their responses, in the order of when
we received them.
FUNDING OUR EQUAL
PAY CASE
The Greens are fully committed to the ASU’s Equal
Pay for Equal Work campaign, particularly that
the NSW Government must fund its share of the
outcome of the ASU Equal Pay case before Fair
Work Australia.
The Greens believe that equal work deserves equal pay. We believe
that the social and community services sector represents some of the
finest and most committed workers in our society, and that without full
government support for the cost impact of the equal pay case, the very
principle of equality will be lost. Services will be dramatically reduced
because the cost impact of that wage increase will fall on the social and
community sector employers and their clients.
The Government supports the ASU in making its
application to Fair Work Australia. ––-Community
and disability workers perform important services
for some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable
members of our community. I believe that generally,
pay rates for these workers do not adequately reflect
the value of the work that they do and I am confident
that Fair Work Australia will award fair wage increases
to them.
As the ASU is aware, final submissions in the
case are scheduled for April 2011. The proper
management of public finances does not allow a
commitment to an unknown result - but if Labor is re-elected you can
be assured of a prompt and practical response to the decision of Fair
Work Australia. I would also note that the NSW Government has acted
to fully fund the last two SACS award increases, well before the former
federal government responded.
The NSW Government also has a strong record in the area of
community services, including providing record funding for disability
services, community services, homelessness services and in domestic
violence assistance. These services are delivered by highly skilled and
committed workers who deserve a fair wage increase and I wish the
ASU every success in their case.
In relation to the issues of wage increases
for non-government social and community
services workers that arise out of the ASU case
before Fair Work Australia, the NSW Liberals
& Nationals are paying attention to this
case – and will make a decision based on the
outcome.
KEEPING SYDNEY WATER
AND HUNTER WATER
IN PUBLIC HANDS,
INCLUDING KEEPING
THE MAINTENANCE
FUNCTIONS OF THESE
UTILITIES IN PUBLIC
HANDS
The Greens believe that keeping all of the state’s water assets in public
hands is crucial to controlling household water bills and protecting
jobs, working conditions, communities, water quality and reliability and
the environment. We are committed to opposing any sell-off of Sydney
Water and Hunter Water.
Our fear is that Sydney Water and Hunter Water will die the death
of a thousand cuts as activities such as maintenance, operations and
information technology are outsourced and key assets such as supply
and sewer mains are leased to the private sector.
We are also concerned about the continued private involvement in
the operation of the water filtration plants in Sydney’s supply system.
We believe these plants should be publicly owned and operated and
will continue to work for their return to public control.
The Greens will also continue to oppose the Coalition’s plan to lease
the Kurnell desalination plant to the private sector.
Labor will keep essential water in public hands. Fairness for Families will
protect Sydney Water, Hunter Water and State Water as public utilities
by law, as well as the desalination plant. This will mean that it will
take an Act of Parliament to sell, transfer or otherwise privatise these
essential services. This will stop the price gouging that has been seen in
other jurisdictions as a result of water privatisations.
The NSW Liberals & Nationals have no plans to privatise either Sydney
Water or Hunter Water.
The NSW Liberals & Nationals will enter into a long-term lease
contract for the Kurnell Desalination Plant. The proceeds from the lease
will be transferred to the Restart NSW fund.
The Greens oppose the privatisation of public utilities, services and Labor will support local jobs and keep public transport services in
The NSW Liberals & Nationals have no plans to privatise RailCorp or
other essential infrastructure, including transport. Public ownership public hands.
State Transit Authority (STA). In relation to Sydney Ferries, it will remain
protects the public interest. Privatisation places at risk the environment, More than 31,000 workers are employed across the NSW public
under government control and will have a private operator managing
KEEPING RAILCORP,
employment, working conditions, safety, services and, in some cases, transport system - driving buses, cleaning stations, serving customers the service delivery.
SYDNEY FERRIES AND
revenue streams for government.
and keeping our rail network running 24 hours a day, seven days a
The NSW Liberals & Nationals have committed to an Integrated
The privatisation of RailCorp, Sydney Ferries and STA would deliver week.
Transport Authority. It will improve the delivery of public transport
STA IN PUBLIC HANDS
profits for corporations at the expense of the NSW taxpayer, increase The last time the Coalition was in power in NSW they slashed more services by better co-ordinating different transport modes, and
fares, reduce services and cause job losses.
than 8,000 transport jobs. The Opposition has now revealed they will enabling more efficient delivery of major transport infrastructure
The Greens will introduce legislation to stop any government selling, privatise Sydney Ferries, putting 600 local jobs at risk, and Mike Baird projects.
leasing out or disposing of an asset or service without the approval of says CityRail will be next.
The NSW Liberals & Nationals will be releasing more practical and
both houses of parliament and a substantial public debate.
Labor will keep Sydney Ferries, the STA and RailCorp in public hands positive policies in the coming weeks.
WATERNEWS and protect local jobs.
WWW.ASUMEMEBRS.ORG. Authorised By Sally McManus, Branch Secretary, Australian Services Union NSW & ACT (Services) Branch
WATERNEWS WWW.ASUMEMEBRS.ORG. Authorised By Sally McManus, Branch Secretary, Australian Services Union NSW & ACT (Services) Branch
4 SACSNEWS WWW.ASUMEMEBRS.ORG.AU Authorised By Sally McManus, Branch Secretary, Australian Services Union NSW & ACT (Services) Branch
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