WorkChoices springs a leak
What’s this? Could it be the WorkChoices hotline script? It includes gems like:
How do I know if I’m employed by a Constitutional Corporation?
ANSWER
If you are not sure about whether or not your employer is a Constitutional corporation you should first ask your employer whether they know if their business is a Constitutional corporation. If your employer is also unsure about whether their business is a Constitutional corporation then they may seek independent legal advice on this matter.
Does that clear it up for you?
And then there’s the claim that the No Disadvantage Test “creates uncertainty for … employees”, and “fails to provide a consistent minimum standard which all agreements must meet”.
Or this one:
How often will the minimum wages be increased?
ANSWER
The Australian Fair Pay Commission will set and adjust minimum wages periodically.
That often, huh?
Will people still be paid overtime if they work more than 38 hrs per week?
AnswerThe reforms won’t affect an employee’s current right to be paid overtime… unless an employer and employee agree to alternative arrangements.
How will penalty rates for weekend work be affected?
The proposed reforms will not affect an employee’s existing right to be paid penalty rates for weekend work… unless an employer and employee agree to alternative arrangements.
Oh, and I love this one, too:
What is the total spending on Communication campaigns?
At this stage, the planned scope and form of the information campaign has not been finalised. So, no precise figures are available as to the total amount of money that will be spent on the campaign.
Really? I’ve heard it will cost another $20 million over the next ten days…
Each page of the script is marked, “CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, DO NOT REMOVE FROM THE WORKPLACE”, so I guess the Government didn’t want us to see it — but then, what did they expect when they hired people to tell us how well employees would be treated under the new package, and then sacked them at short notice?
What a joke. This is absolutely disgraceful.
PS. I’ve linked here in a left-ish community at Live Journal.
I know this is a relatively frivolous suggestion given the contents of the script, but am I the only person who feels a compulsion to ring up, ask a question and then read along with the operator, in much the same way as Jim Hacker does to Sir Humphrey in the “Big Brother” epsiode of Yes Minister?
hehehe. I’m so going to do that, Evan.
Rob – this is gold.
Thanks so much for that Rob. Your blog is doing such a great service with the Roundup. I’ve sent a link to it, and the PDF, to my union (CPSU). I also sent the leaked draft anti-Terror bill to my entire address book – I’ve had a seditious week all up. Keep up the good information gathering work.
Good idea, Helen. I have done likewise and emailed the USU.
PS. I love the evasiveness of the answer about minimum wages being set periodically. I mentioned this to a workmate. He said it was like asking someone, “what time are you having lunch?”, and getting the reply, “whenever I feel like it.” Real nice.
very good work Rob, keep at ‘em.
Thanks :) that document is proving very useful! :)
Oh well if we’re going to use metaphors the leak has to be viewed in the context of the New Orleans of the entire package.
What are the chances of our lovely commercial media kicking up a stink about the disgraceful IR propaganda campaign when they are the chief benificiaries of all that lovely taxpayer’s money?
The Age has done a story on it (naming RedRag as the source), and Triple J’s Hack program yesterday used the script to try out the answers from the call centre. Sure enough, spot on between the script and the answers given.
It’s getting some exposure at least. Keep it up!
My favourites are the answers about unfair dismissal… Actually, if you ever call up and get me, I would not read the answers at all – being the leftist law student that I am. I wonder why they haven’t fired me. It’s very strange.