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POLITICAL IMPACT Photography: Getty Images mining and resource sector contributing to low levels of unemployment and higher than average wages, but a recent slowing down Western Australia Branch of the sector is Secretary Stephen Price starting to create some difficulties. “One of the big issues that’s happening here is the issuing of jobs to foreign workers, so it’s a lot more difficult than it should be for the locals to get employment on construction and mining projects,” says AWU WA Branch Secretary Stephen Price. Stephen says that foreign workers were encouraged to come to Western Australia to Þll an employment shortfall, but the slowdown – in part due to the strong Australian dollar and price ßuctuation in iron ore – has seen jobs become less available. “There may be a need for skilled migrants and the people that come are an additional resource, but they should not be a substitute labour resource or used as an excuse not to train our kids.” However, Stephen says this doesn’t mean the AWU is against immigration. “The AWU supports immigration absolutely,” he says. “There will always be a need for immigration and the people who come are an additional resource, but they should not be a substitute labour resource.” On top of this, the resources boom has created a two-speed economy, and the cost of living in Western Australia is high. An international study last year ranked Perth the 13th most expensive city in the world, and Stephen says some members are struggling to keep up. “We have a lot of people who beneÞt from the resources boom, but unfortunately we also have a lot of people that don’t.” TASMANIA Tasmania Branch Secretary Ian Wakefield AWU Tasmanian Branch Secretary Ian WakeÞeld says the Island State has suffered from major cutbacks to health, education and police over recent years. “Tasmania has suffered from the Global Financial Crisis, and it has not shared in the beneÞts of the resources boom,” Ian says. “As a result, the Labor state government has pushed through some tough and unpopular cost-cu#ing measures, with around 1000 jobs lost from the public sector in the past year. The health sector has been hit very hard, while the prospect of school closures remains on the agenda.” He says police officers have also been running a very determined campaign against cuts to resources and staff levels. At the same time, the Liberal opposition has been promising even more savage cuts to public service spending and jobs. “According to its alternative budget, the Liberal Party would cut an extra $480 million out of the public service, which would leave a massive hole in state government departments,” Ian says. “An international study ranked Perth the 13th most expensive city in the world, and Stephen says more members are struggling…” REMEMBER: HOWARD’S WORKCHOICES MEANT NO CHOICE Under WorkChoices, Australian workers faced losing numerous rights: • Protection from being sacked unfairly was stripped away from more than three million workers. • Employers had the power to put workers onto AWA individual contracts that cut the award pay and conditions of employees. • The award safety net was effectively abolished and there were changes to minimum wages to drive down the pay of low-income workers. • Young workers, women and casuals were the most vulnerable to WorkChoices and ended up being its worst victims. • More than a million low-paid workers suffered real pay cuts of up to $90 a week from changes to minimum wages. • Thousands of workers were pushed onto AWA individual contracts and 70 per cent lost shift loadings, 68 per cent lost annual leave loadings, 65 per cent lost penalty rates, 49 per cent lost overtime loadings and 25 per cent no longer had public holidays. Source: ACTU 18 THE AUSTRALIAN WORKER www.awu.net.au
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Page 1 and 2: THE AUSTRALIAN www.awu.net.au $4.50
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Page 10 and 11: INDUSTRIAL REPORT “I feel proud w
Page 12 and 13: INDUSTRIAL REPORT “There’s a lo
Page 14 and 15: POLITICAL IMPACT With rumours that
Page 16 and 17: POLITICAL IMPACT • The removal of
Page 20 and 21: POSTCARD FROM QUEENSLAND “I remem
Page 22 and 23: POSTCARD FROM QUEENSLAND LEFT: Jimm
Page 24 and 25: POSTCARD FROM QUEENSLAND to where w
Page 26 and 27: Australia’s Fund of the year 2012
Page 28 and 29: REPORT stymie the ability of many A
Page 30 and 31: REPORT AWU MEMBERS RECOGNISED FOR B
Page 32 and 33: FRONTLINE NEWS ► NATIONAL NATIONA
Page 34 and 35: FRONTLINE NEWS ► NEW SOUTH WALES
Page 36 and 37: FRONTLINE NEWS ►NEWCASTLE/PORT KE
Page 38 and 39: FRONTLINE NEWS ► VICTORIA VICTORI
Page 40 and 41: FRONTLINE NEWS ► SOUTH AUSTRALIA/
Page 42 and 43: FRONTLINE NEWS ► TASMANIA/WESTERN
Page 44 and 45: MEET THE OFFICIAL Words: Laura Macf
Page 46 and 47: WORLD AT WORK HELMETSTO HARDHATS 46
Page 48: WORLD AT WORK ABOVE: The World Trad
Page 51 and 52: Prime Super Proud to have won Roy M

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