NSW govt blamed for lost days of work



    September 06, 2012



UNIONS NSW has blamed an eight-year high in the number of days of work lost to industrial disputes to the scrapping of workplace rights.    

Secretary Mark Lennon said Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released on Thursday indicated stoushes between governments and unions has reached an eight-year high in the June quarter.

He blamed the increase in lost days on state government policy, including sacking thousands of public sector workers, capping wages and removing the right to appeal to an independent umpire.    

"It's little wonder that we are seeing an upsurge in the number of days lost to industrial disputes," Mr Lennon said in a statement.

"That's what happens when you remove conditions that have been won over generations in the space of 18 months.

"(Premier) Barry O'Farrell's continued attack on the rights and conditions of nurses, teachers, firefighters and others is creating industrial mayhem."    

Mr Lennon said for a government that claimed it would improve frontline services, it has shown no willingness to talk with unions.

"Instead they have simply slashed wages and conditions," Mr Lennon said.   

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/nsw-govt-blamed-for-lost-days-of-work/story-e6frfku9-1226466726340#ixzz25kcl7nHY

Amongst O'Farrell's latest round of proposals are:
< Cutting leave loading;
< Cutting penalty payments for shift workers;
< Cutting allowances for living in remote areas;
< Winding back carers' leave; and
< Tightening rules around parental leave to exclude long-term foster carers, surrogate parents and kinship care arrangements.

Quote:


It's the 'others' who are the problem.  If whoever the turkey that preceeded him (and the turkey before that and the turkey before that...) didn't insist on creating bogus positions like 'deputy vice assistant to chief paper shufflers offsider' you wouldn't be in this mess.

Busy work is great for massaging employment figures, but deadly poison to productivity and efficiency.  The gravy train has derailed you leeches - time to contribute soemthing, or FRO.

John Smith wrote on Sep 7^th, 2012 at 3:47pm:



No need for some bigshot to be paid $500K to do it - it's something the work experience kid, or even trained chimps could do.

Credentialism is the scourge of mdoern times.  Have I ranted about how you're expected to have a masters degree to serve coffee lately?

... wrote on Sep 7^th, 2012 at 3:42pm:


'deputy vice assistant to chief paper shufflers offsider'

It only works when you make it up - try to build the case with facts and you are in trouble.

cods wrote on Sep 7^th, 2012 at 5:34pm:


isn't that what everyone looks out for? why do you begrudge the unions the same thing?