Dear Members,
Thank you for all your support Over the last 12 years. I have just been re-elected unopposed for a further 4 year term, and look forward to working with you all in this harsh industrial climate under John Howard's WorkChoice legislation.
What a year it has been. Get ready for the federal election next year I am sure John Howard will do and say anything to get re-elected. So far Workchoices has caused workers to become fearful of losing their jobs if they stand up for themselves or their workmates. What chance have you got negotiating your own pay increase under these conditions? Under John Howard's Workchoices we are under more pressure now than ever before. If John Howard gets re-elected in 2007 there will be a whole new meaning for the term "working poor". Workers will be put on contracts or become sub-contractors when the independent contractor's bill goes through. Be very careful, there are some bad bosses out there who will do almost anything to rip off workers. On a brighter note factories where the TCFUA has negotiated EBA's for the next 3 years have done the right thing by their workers ...so far.
While many workers are struggling to survive, executives of large companies are lining their pockets with million dollar deals and bonuses. In fact the average executive salaries have risen by 396% since 1992 while the minimum wage has increased by only 34.7%. If John Howard had his way with minimum wage increases since 1992, workers would be $50 a week or $2,600 a year worse off. Now John Howard has sacked the Federal Industrial Relations Commission who used to issue a living wage increase in June of every year and appointed his own so called Fair Pay Commission made up of business people.
The Queensland labor government has supported a $20.00 wage increase in theQueensland Industrial Relations Commission. In fact all state Labor governments around Australia have supported a $20.00 wage increase for Australian workers. But not the Federal government, the only thing they have supported is a wage increase for themselves and an increase to 14.5% super for first year politicians.
No wonder so many are rushing to become politicians. The ACTU is demanding a $30 pay rise for all employees under the Federal system, which includes all Pty Ltd companies. The Australian government is going through the final report from the Award Review Taskforce on rationalization of wage and classification structures. This leads the way for John Howard and Kevin Andrews to remove all or most of your conditions the union has fought for and won over many years including your skill levels and penalty rates and loading. This is a government hellbent on putting working Australians and their families on their knees begging. They want AWA's in workplaces so you have no choice in what you earn.
We will soon have to compete with China and India for a bowl of rice. Show Johnny and Kevin where to stick their Workchoices and vote them out of office. Don't believe their spin doctors when they say that these changes are good for the country. How can it be fair for the CEO of Macquarie bank to earn $25,000 per hour while John Howard delays a minimum wage increase for workers who struggle to make ends meet?
I might sound bitter but I hate to see Australia develop a class system where those at the top have everything and those at the bottom are picking up the crumbs. Most workers are intelligent and know how they feel about these changes.
Don't be fooled or threatened by Industrial terrorism. Australia has not been attacked by any extremist from outside but its people are being attacked from within by our own liberal government. Kevin Andrews will attempt to play up Workchoices but it is all a gimmick, they are getting desperate because the ACTU television advertisements are working. Australians are beginning to wake up to John Howard and his lies.
Jack Morel
State Secretary
