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Resources Sector Welcomes Opposition Amendments

Providing Influence and Industry Advocacy since 1918

Contact AREEA to find out more. When it comes to workforce & workplace relations advocacy, AREEA is right there with you.

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The peak national industry body representing Australia’s resources sector, the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AREEA), has welcomed the Opposition’s decision to oppose various union power grabs proposed by the Government; powers that were not part of the ALP’s pre-election policy.

AREEA Chief Executive Steve Knott said the extraordinary increase in union powers buried away in the Fair Work Bill was rightly being challenged by the Opposition and various non-government Senators.

“AREEA supports today’s analysis by Senator Fielding that the so-called Fair Work Bill ‘is anything but fair, it stinks’,” said Mr Knott.

“The Senator’s comments reflect the growing concern that the Government is giving union powers priority ahead of helping employers and workers to keep jobs.”

“Some of these powers totally override individual rights and are almost police- like, such as the right of unions to access the personal records of non-union members,” said Mr Knott.

A recent survey of AREEA members on anticipated redundancies highlighted a bleak outlook for 2009 with a staggering 55 per cent of companies planning more job cuts this year and another 21 per cent reporting possible redundancies in the next 12 months.

“While we’re hearing a lot about international economic forces, we still need to work on the domestic front to help the resources sector to improve productivity and to reduce the cost of doing business”, said Mr Knott.

“If the Fair Work Bill is left unchanged, it will increase business costs and lead to more job losses.”

Mr Knott said the Fair Work Bill currently proposed to facilitate industrial tribunal capacity, on application by unions, to impose unsustainable wages and conditions on employers.

“This is something the Government specifically denied they would do pre- election.”

“Given the current economic environment, such a 180-degree policy change is going to have catastrophic employment consequences for industry.”

Mr Knott said the Prime Minister’s stimulus package would be threatened and infrastructure projects delayed by cumbersome agreement-making processes for new projects.

The process would be impeded by a public interest test announced today by the Government and would involve both industrial tribunal and multiple union interventions in agreement making.

“Transfer of business law changes, also not announced pre-election will stop employers from hiring employees who have previously done similar work for another company.”

“The time for the Senate to act is now. In the national interest, AREEA supports the Coalition’s and key Independent Senator’s opposition to the anti- employment/union power grabs that did not form part of Labor’s IR election platform.”

ENDS

Download AREEA Media Release here

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