Microcosm
If there was one government department that should be a “model workplace”, showing everyone how industrial relations ought to be done, it would have to be the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
So if you wanted to see what the Howard Government had planned for Australian workplaces, you might start by looking at DEWR’s practices, right?
Nine months of negotiations due to deliberate stalling by management. New staff forced onto AWAs, even if they prefer the EBA… So much for “choice.”
The Federal Government is one of the few areas outside mining and communications where AWAs have any great penetration. Sure isn’t because public servants are queuing up for them.
This is going to get even more fun when combined with the removal of Unfair Dismissal…
Don’t like your AWA? Go find another job.
The fundamental problem with the Lib’s IR is that it is based on principles that generally work in high skill professional jobs, much like the ones I enjoy. It naively presumes that employers and employees can come together as equals in all jobs, and negotiate a good, fair deal for all. In effect, for lower pay and award dependent employees, it means effective erosion of pay and conditions. Thankfully for the Libs, their limited experience of working at their mates parents legal/IT/consulting firm allows denial on a phenomenal scale of how the other half lives. Besides, if all else fails, you can always blame the victims.