GOVERNMENT PROPOSES REVISED LABOR LAWS FOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 001222 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ELAB AS SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT PROPOSES REVISED LABOR LAWS FOR AUSTRALIA REF: CANBERRA 182 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Labor unions are generally happy with the Rudd Government's major industrial relations bill, introduced on November 25. This bill proposes a new labor relations scheme for Australia, providing stronger collective bargaining rights, easier worksite access for union officials, the ability to negotiate multi-employer agreements, access to compulsory arbitration for low paid workers, and strengthened unfair dismissal laws. The Rudd Government consulted extensively with business, which although concerned about increased union power, has publicly expressed qualified support for the legislation. Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull, against the wishes of some of his colleagues, said Howard's WorkChoices was "dead" and that the Coalition will support the bill in the House of Representatives. END SUMMARY NEW LAW: "FAIR WORK AUSTRALIA" ¶2. (U) The Fair Work Bill 2008, drafted in consultation with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and business, provides that it will take effect on July 1 2009. Provisions include: -The creation of "Fair Work Australia", to commence in January 2010, which will absorb the functions of the independent Industrial Relations Commission, plus all current government agencies (the Workplace Authority, the Workplace Ombudsman and Employment Advocate). - Ten national employment standards (there are five under WorkChoices),which will provide the basis for a modern industry award system. These are essentially minimum conditions that will be required in all workplace agreements. The new conditions will provide more job security and increased compensation to the worker. - Unfair dismissal protection for workers in businesses with fewer than 15 employees. Under WorkChoices, employees in businesses with up to 100 workers were exempt from unfair dismissal laws. -"Majority support orders" which will require an employer to bargain with workers if there is majority support for a collective agreement. -"Good faith bargaining", which includes requirements that employers hold meetings at reasonable times, and respond to proposals in a timely manner. -Unions will be able to enter worksites containing no union members, provided at least one employee approves this. -Allowing multi-employer bargaining. As is the case under �00A;WorkChoices, legal industrial action by unions will be unavailable in this situation. -Making compulsory arbitration available to low-paid workers negotiating multi-employer agreements. UNIONS GENERALLY HAPPY ¶3. (SBU) While not going as far as it would have liked, the ACTU was generally pleased with the Bill. During the consultation process, the unions persuaded Deputy Prime Minister and Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard to include compulsory arbitration for workers in low-paying industries; Gillard had previously ruled out compulsory arbitration except in extreme circumstances. Another concession made by Gillard was the provision enabling union officials to visit worksites containing no union members. She had previously maintained the Australian Labor Party (ALP) would retain the Howard's government's right-of-entry laws. The unions also convinced Gillard to make it possible for union officials to inspect the records of non-union employees. One prominent union official told us the proposed law was a "tremendous step forward," citing a provision that will allow Fair Work Australia to make a "scope order" to Qwill allow Fair Work Australia to make a "scope order" to determine the extent of coverage of a proposed agreement. He said telecommunications giant Telstra, for example, splits employees into small groups as part of a "divide and conquer" tactic. ¶4. (SBU) Some left-wing unions are upset that the Rudd government is retaining the Howard Government's industrial watchdog in the construction sector and virtually all the Howard Government's laws relating to strike action, including CANBERRA 00001222 002 OF 002 secret ballots. Despite this criticism however, Gillard's office told us that "sensible union leaders" are happy with the new law, notwithstanding "niche issues." Her office expected the bill would pass the parliament early next year, following a Senate inquiry. BUSINESS NOT SO HAPPY ¶5. (SBU) The reaction of the Australian Industry Group (AIG), representing manufacturing, was the most upbeat. Its Chief Executive, Heather Ridout, said the bill was "workable" and acknowledged that the government had "listened hard" to employers. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI),which represents large and small companies, while generally accepting, pointed out that allowing arbitration in low paying industries was "dangerous and a form of pattern bargaining." ACCI also criticized the increased union right of entry powers. On the other hand, the Australian Mines and Metals Association, the Master Builders Association, and Australian Hotels Association were extremely critical. Gillard's office noted to us that business was part of the process "so they knew what was coming" but it also acknowledged that business was unhappy over the increased union right of entry and greater access to compulsory arbitration. TURNBULL: "WORKCHOICES IS DEAD" ¶6. (SBU) Shortly after Gillard's introduction of the new law, the Coalition parliamentary caucus met to determine its response. There was an argument, broadly between moderates and conservatives, over whether to take a stand against the bill's increase in union rights and the changes to unfair dismissal. Later that day, Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull announced the Coalition would not oppose the bill in the House of Representatives but reserved the right to offer amendments in the Senate after the Senate committee process. He said the Howard government's unpopular WorkChoices was "dead," noting that the ALP had a mandate for its reforms, and the Opposition had been advised by industry that the bill provided enough capacity for individual flexibility in agreements. A Liberal Party MP familiar with his party's thinking on the legislation told poloffs that it was very difficult for the Opposition to take a stand against the legislation if key industry groups like the AIG and ACCI were not prepared to take the lead publicly in opposing the changes - something he hoped they would do during the Senate committee process. PLENTY OF PRIOR CONSULTATION ¶7. (SBU) COMMENT: Several months before last year's election, Gillard, as Opposition Spokesperson for Industrial Relations, announced a new ALP workplace relations policy that had been drafted after only consulting the unions. The howls from the business community forced Rudd to step in and craft a new, more business-friendly policy. Rudd and Gillard could not back down from their pre-election commitments to the business community, and Rudd's tendency would be toward a centrist policy in any case. Gillard also made sure she consulted widely on the policy. The Rudd Government probably delivered the unions as much as it could without clearly breaking the policy it brought to the election. Unions here cling to the belief that WorkChoices affected their ability to recruit new members but union numbers had been steadily declining even before the election of the Howard government. Politically, Turnbull made the right move by essentially supporting the bill. WorkChoices was political poison for the Coalition and Qbill. WorkChoices was political poison for the Coalition and it does not need another fight on workplace relations. Economically, there is a strong case that reducing labor market flexibility and raising labour costs will curtail jobs growth, particularly in a slowing economy, an argument that a prominent labor law professor has said could cause the Senate to claw back some of the more pro-union positions. MCCALLUM