Australian Workplace Agreements

Australian Workplace Agreements:

AWAs, Collective Agreements and Earnings: Beneath the Aggregate Data --
Video Clip

"KNOW WHERE YOU STAND?"

"In July 2007, Industrial Relations Victoria released a report entitled 'AWAs, Collective Agreements and Earnings: Beneath the Aggregate Data.'"

"The report shows that employees on Australian Workplace Agreements are worse off than those on Collective Agreements."

"FACT: AWA employees in the majority of industries received a lower hourly rate than their counterparts did on Collective Agreements."

"FACT:
AWAs paid well below Collective Agreements in:
Manufacturing (14 per cent)
Construction (17 per cent)
Transport and Storage (22 per cent)
Health and Community Services (14 per cent)
Property and Business Services (5 per cent)
Personal and other Services (34 per cent)"

"FACT: Between 2004 and 2006, average earnings of employees on AWAs grew by only 5.9 per cent, whereas average earnings of employees on Collective Agreements grew by 11 per cent."

"FACT: The typical (median) Victorian on an AWA earned 23 per cent less than the median Victorian on a Collective Agreement."

"The report also shows that AWAs serve two main functions; they help companies to develop union avoidance strategies and minimize labour costs at the expense of employee entitlements."

"FACT:
90% of AWAs abolished or reduced penalty rates;
88% abolished or 'modified' overtime rates;
89% abolished or 'modified' shiftwork loadings;
82% abolished or 'modified' public holiday pay;
83% abolished or 'modified' rest breaks.

"FACT: A number of federal government agencies require the signing of an AWA as a precondition to advancement in the organization."

"FACT: The impact of the AWAs is worst for women and people without unique skills who have little or no bargaining power in the labour market."

"FACT: According to the data the position of workers on AWAs is worse than previously believed. They show that the typical (median) employee earns 16.3 per cent less than a typical worker on a collective agreement."

"The workplace relations system, KNOW WHERE YOU STAND?"

References:
Peetz, D. and Preston, A., 'AWAs, Collective Agreements and Earnings: Beneath The Aggregate Data', Industrial Relations Victoria, July 2007

Wilson, I., 'New report shows Howard Govt AWAs are used to cut workers' pay & avoid unions', ACTU Website, 17 July 2007

Written, Filmed, Edited, Produced and Directed by Adam Basile.

Extra keywords: Labor Federal Election 2007 Liberal Fascist Dictator Dictatorship Totalitarian Democracy Democratic Worker Labour Labourer Censorship Slavery Exploitation Union Boronia Grass Roots Campaign Anti Establishment Politicians Police Local State Federal Government Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard Australianlabor Australia Experimental Short Film Making Documentary Guerilla Filmmaking

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ACTU
• AMWU
• AWA
• AWAs
• IR
• Unions
• Workchoices
• Labour
• Industrial
• Relations
• Workplace
• Workers
• Rights
• John
• Howard
• Dissent
• Adam

[cliptwingz]

How long before we see a deadlock between The House of Representatives and The Senate over this issue? As far as I understand it, the AWAs removal was an inappropriate kneejerk reaction from the Rudd/Gillard Labor party, immediately on entering office to a legitimately introduced workplace protocal, that was well regarded within the constraints of contract law. Anyway, hasn't Labor had their day, much like the union movement that they purport to support?

[liber8me]

no, see unlike bush or obama our prime minister actually manged to run the economy effectively.

[liber8me]

actually AWA's were the reason for the employment of over 100,000 people.

you know why the economy was such a mess when keating was last in? because the labor party and the unions make workplace agreements so rediculous that employers are scared to EMPLOY ANYONE because they're afraid they'll get sued if they person isnt suitable

[aanas1]

yeah howard u cheap rat u want all the money

[doristhepig]

Bye Bye howard you lying rat ,good fuckin riddance.

[JasonWest92]

bogans...

[brennus78]

Bye bye Howard you traitor - your not Australian - stop looking to the US for your extreme right-wing ideologies - the US has poisoined the world and all us taxpayers are paying at the bowser for it - fucken murdering scum = US

[Gaialovesbenny]

Sounds like our government is taking advise from the Bush President

[MayWeSay]

AWA's are a curse to our society, and ultimately, our economy. Not only are they unfair, but they reduce productivity, and it is illogical, and foolish for anyone to think that removing hard-fought workplace rights will result in higher productivity in the workplace??! Fact - AWAs have failed in the economies of other countries, and they will fail here too.