Industrial Relations uproar

The recent protests opposing the federal governments changes to industrial relations laws show that many Australia's are upset with the way the Government is treating its citizens in this regard. What is even more surprising is that many people who may not normally support the Labour movement are also unsettled by the lack of legislative safety nets for workers who are in a significantly exposed position when negotiating terms and conditions with their employers. This trend is highlighted by recent comments from Australian Democrats senator Andrew Murray.

"The new federal IR regime is unfair, un-Australian and unwise, and is to the detriment of Australian fair-go values."

There are some workers whose skills are in high demand that can benefit from an individually negotiated settlement, but the vast majority of salary earners cannot. The Government points to the exceptions to try to prove the rule, they also hope that they have encouraged enough workers to set up a small businesses themselves that the constituency for Trade Unions has been undermined. The Australians Democrats have a long history of supporting the rights of workers to fair IR laws, even though they are often more well known as a party that supports small business. A measure of the broad agreement that the current IR laws go beyond a test for reasonable fairness are responses from all areas of the community that the Government is undermining Australia's egalitarian values with such legislation.

Technorati Tags: Australian politics, Australian Democrats, industrial relations