Labor to change the rules on sham agreements
Wednesday 18 October, 2017
The ACTU welcomes Brendan O’Connor’s announcement that the Australian Labor Party will act to address
the use of non-representative agreements if it forms the next government.
The dispute at Carlton United Breweries drew national attention to the use of non-representative
agreements – which are signed by a handful of workers who are often completely disconnected from the
workplace the agreements govern.
In the case of CUB, maintenance workers were forced onto an EBA which had been signed by three workers
in an office in Perth.
This practice gives employers too much power. We need to change the rules to give working people back
the power they need in the bargaining process.
Quotes attributable to ACTU President Ged Kearney:
“We need to change the rules to restore balance to the bargaining process, and this is a welcome
commitment from the ALP.”
“The use of these sham agreements have become a massive problem under the Turnbull Government,
which has actively participated in undermining the rules which were put in place to protect working people.”
“The Turnbull Government has cut pay for low-paid workers, while refusing to address casualisation,
underemployment, unemployment, sham contracting, improper use of ABNs, labour hire, stagnant wage
growth and a minimum wage which leaves full time workers in poverty.”
“Australia deserves a government which will act on the systemic issues facing working people, and the
commitment today from Mr O’Connor, alongside the commitments already given by the ALP on penalty
rates, are extremely welcome.”
Media contact: ACTU Media 03 9664 7315 or Peter Green: 0400 764 200
http://www.actu.org.au/actu-media/media-releases
