Unions have forecast a fresh round of confrontation with the NSW government over its contentious workplace reform agenda, reports the SMH.
Slashing workers compensation benefits is not the way to go forward in this country
Unions warn over NSW govt workplace agenda
The warning came as hundreds of public sector workers marched through Sydney on Sunday as part of national May Day rallies promoting workers’ rights.
The march was the latest in a series of high profile events directly addressing the workplace reform agenda launched by the NSW coalition government last year.
Among changes since taking office in March 2011, the state government has introduced a 2.5 per cent cap on public sector wages, stripped powers from the Industrial Relations Commission and restricted police compensation payouts.
Premier Barry O’Farrell has also foreshadowed an overhaul of the WorkCover compensation program.
“So we’re prepared to give it to him”
And so are we, Barry Boy !“I’m hoping it won’t come to that. But certainly the way it’s running at the moment there’s bound to be some more confrontation between the state government and the public sector unions.”
NSW Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) secretary Brian Parker said he was concerned about attempts to slash his members’ injury compensation.
“We have one death per week in this country and obviously that is a big burden on families and a burden on society in general,” he told AAP.
Mr Parker also predicted further confrontation with the state government over the issue.
There were also a handful of single issue campaign groups at the march, including pro-democracy movements and one aiming to help free accused WikiLeaks whistleblower Bradley Manning.
[Source: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/unions-warn-over-nsw-govt-workplace-agenda-20120506-1y6nb.html]
Shortlink: http://aworkcovervictimsdiary.com/?p=7645
Union involvement is long overdue – however, I remain skeptical that they even understand the issue. They need to get educated quickly.
Wow John that’s very nice of you to term your words about the lack of Union involvement in WorkCover issues. I’m more blunt, they just piss in the pocket of workers, pay lip service and do sweet F.A. about the issue.
I doubt they will do anything at all other than chest beating. All they want are financial members who pay every fortnight their Union Fees so the Union Management can go on junkets.
WorkCover and it’s variants in the various states have put shame on all the Unions. The Unions have forgotten all those workers in history who fought hard and some who died before proper conditions were given to them only to have various State Governments roll injured workers rights back into the 18 century. Many workers were injured and died over the decades until a proper workers compensation system was set in place and over the last two to three decades Governments have rolled all the rights back, what have the Unions done in that time? Nothing.
@4Q2x
Tried to say what you are saying in more diplomatic terms. Truth is, I like your comments better. They are a shameful bunch!
Cheers
John Mc
Hey, John, have a read of @4Q2X’s most enlightening article about unions here – and savour every word
Absolute gem! I cannot believe that unions don’t understand that this is now very much the popular opinion. Hint: major membership decline!
@4Q2X’s pull me into line if every I revert to diplomatic responses where unions are concerned.
The assumptions and motivations driving government decision making can be found in the government’s concerns about premiums, actual benefits and the claims process itself. Obviously there is a gross imbalance – I think it will be of benefit to approach the analysis of these issues in a systemic way (THIS IS THE MODEL BEING USED BY GOVERNMENT). It helps to build a strong case as to where the real deficiencies in the system are.
The government strategy has been spelled out very clearly - The latest actuarial report identified three options to reduce the Scheme’s growing deficit:
1. increasing premiums,
2. reducing benefits, and/or
3. improving claim management outcomes.
I think that 3 is the major issue and is really costing the whole system dearly. 1 probably needs to be considered for rogue employers who fail to protect the health and safety of workers. However, the central issue is poor (and hostile) claims management – this is where insurers need to be held more accountable ! However, it is more likely that this government will focus heavily on 2.