MEMBERS AND DELEGATES DELIVER MESSAGE TO PREMIER AS HE CHOOSES ATTACKIGN WORKERS RIGHTS OVER CONTROLLING VIOLENT CRIME

6 May 2008

This morning over 40 rank and file members from unions representing over 140,000 workers in the South Australia met at Old Parliament House this morning and unanimously passed the motion below which was delivered to this office by a delegation of people from the meeting.

Janet Giles, Secretary of SA Unions reported to the meeting that it was at the same time that "Mike Rann decided to rip off workers entitlements in preference to dealing with the urgent matter of controlling violent crime following the shooting incident this weekend."

"Members and delegates were angry and disappointed that a Labor Premier would ram through legislation in the Parliament without the opportunity for meaningful negotiations to be held with their representatives," Ms Giles said.

"They also congratulated Mark Parnell from the Greens and Independent Anne Bressington for they way they were supporting workers by ensuring the Bill is properly debated."

Motion

Delegates and members of all unions in South Australia urge the Premier to reconsider the current Bill before Parliament which amends the Workers Rehabilitation & Compensation Act.

In particular we are concerned that :

• The step down in wages after 13 and 26 weeks will unfairly impact on the lowest paid workers leaving them to live on a wage below the minimum wage.
• The 130 week work capacity review ill mean most workers will be kicked off WorkCover payments without any demonstration that there has been a genuine attempt to employ them or provide them with re-training.
• The use of medical panels as outlined in the Bill is more extreme than in any other state.  If they are to be used then, as in Victoria, they need to be a voluntary part of the system, attached to the conciliation progress with agreement of the parties as a mechanism to resolve medical issues.
• The suspension of pay of workers who wish to dispute decisions in the Tribunal is not a significant saving to the scheme is unjust and should be removed.
• Access to common law is necessary if there is an end point in entitlements.  This is in line with every other state in the country.
• There is likely to be a reduction in payments to workers for loss of body function and capacity.
• There is a lack of focus on employers and their obligations to make workplaces safer and treat their injured workers fairly.  Instead the Bill will continue to be a situation where SA has one of the lowest levy caps in Australia and a levy reduction will provide a bonus for employers at the expense of workers' entitlements.

We call on Mike Rann to urgently establish genuine negotiations with the representatives of working people in South Australia to develop proposals which will address the financial issues facing WorkCover in a way that minimises the impact on injured workers.