IR LAWS UNDERMINE MAY DAY VISION

1 May 2007

The hard won balance of work and family life represented by annual May Day celebrations is largely a thing of the past under the federal government's unfair IR laws.

SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles says May Day celebrates the 8 hour day - 8 hours of work, 8 hours of rest and 8 hours of play.

Ms Giles says that under the new laws, some 120 years of fairness has been jettisoned, with rights fought for and won in the late 1880's one of the first victims sacrificed to John Howard's harsh industrial ideology.

"Australians are working longer for less. Our society is under pressure because families are under pressure. Workers have less time with their loved ones and friends because AWA's see them working longer hours to keep their jobs and maintain their income."

"John Howard has shown himself to be particularly out of touch in his criticism of the ALP's IR policy, with its family friendly measures. Of special concern is Mr Howard's suggestion that young women will be disadvantaged in the work market. This is arrant nonsense - in fact, it's his laws that have made it increasingly difficult for women to maintain a job while raising a family."

"Apart from Korea, Australians work the longest hours of OECD countries."

"Our family time, along with our time for community activities such as sport, recreation and volunteering, is being steadily eroded. That's why this year's 2007 May Day celebration is more important than ever. It's a chance to show that we value fairness and will take a strong stand at the impending federal election", Ms Giles says.

May Day celebration highlights include :

• 1 May History of May Day public display in the Rundle Mall
• 1 May May Day Dinner - guest speaker Julia Gillard
• 1 May Catholic Church Feast Day of St Joseph the worker - a pastoral letter calls on a better work life/balance - www.acsjc.org.au
• 6 May Family fun day celebration with music and free rides at the Semaphore foreshore