Abbotts IR plans will hit workers pockets

• General News
• 15th July 2013

Tony Abbott has been reluctant to say much about his industrial relations policy going into the September election but alarm bells should be clanging in workplaces around Australia.

The Howard government got smashed in the 2007 election thanks to its Workchoices laws and you won’t hear Abbott utter the word in public.

But privately it will be a different matter because his mates in the blue pinstriped suits are screaming for a rewrite of the Fair Work Act.

And Abbotts IR policy which he released On May 9 said enough to send a shudder through unions.

Of particular concern is his statement that, "Workers will be able to trade-off entitlements more easily"

That’s Liberal Party code for, "we'll take away your entitlements and pretend we are giving you something in return.

Make no mistake Abbott and Co will be all about pushing down the cost of labour. And that will be at your expense.

Abbott also says unions will face increased hurdles in entering worksites.

That will limit the ability of unions to recruit members and maximise union strength.

This will diminish unity amongst workers and make it easier for bosses kick people around, cut their pay rates and rob them of their entitlements.

And this attack on union rights won’t just impact on union members. It will also hurt those who are not in unions.

It's a fact that unions set the pay and conditions standards for all workers.

Drag the unions down and it’s a lot easier for employers to drag down the cost of labour.

People have short memories. Many have forgotten that unfair dismissal laws were virtually non-existent under Workchoices.