GILES RESIGNS FROM WORKCOVER BOARD - 18 FEBRUARY 2008

18 February 2008

SA Unions Secretary Janet Giles says she can not fight for the rights of injured workers while she remains on the WorkCover Board and is resigning, effective immediately.

“I’m resigning from the Board because it’s my job to defend workers – and I cannot do this with the restrictions placed on board members.”

“I also will not be gagged from scrutinising the motives of the business lobby, which seeks to cut their levy rates at injured workers’ expense.  The challenge that some employers continue to avoid is to ensure workplaces are safe and assist in the safe return to work of their injured workers.”

 “It’s no secret that union representatives dissented from last year’s board report which recommended cuts to injured workers entitlements. Now the government is considering a report which could well contain similar options, and I need to be in a position where I can put workers first and defend their rights without the limitations imposed by being on the board.”

“It is socially, politically and morally indefensible to attack people who’ve been hurt, in order to satisfy business’ bottom line.”

“The challenge is to address the structural and management issues surrounding WorkCover’s performance, not add further pain to the injured and vulnerable.”

Unions in SA have met and determined that they will publicly campaign to ensure that working people in SA are protected when they are injured, but also are returned to work safely as well as quickly.

“We call on the state Labor Government to remember their core values of representing the interests of working people in our state and not support a reduction in injured workers entitlements.”

“Unions in SA have successfully campaigned for the last three years to protect workers rights against a hostile Federal Government. We will be disappointed if now we are forced to campaign against our state Labor Government to protect the rights of injured workers but if we need to, we will.”  Ms Giles said