Howard Government To Ban Industrial Action

Media Statement - 15 October 2003

The Howard Government is on the verge of banning teachers, nurses and university staff from taking industrial action, according to a report in today's Sydney Morning Herald.

This is an astounding attack on the basic right of teachers, nurses and university staff to fight for improved working conditions.

The Government is introducing a bill to expand the power of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) as part of its proposed higher education changes.

"The Howard Government wants to strip hard-working teachers, nurses and university staff of one of their most fundamental rights," Jenny Macklin said.

"We desperately need more teachers and nurses. The Government's absurdly heavy-handed tactics will only make it harder to attract and retain great teachers and nurses for our lecture theatres, classrooms and hospital wards."

"Teachers and nurses do not take industrial action lightly. They work hard and only leave their posts as a last resort," Craig Emerson said.

"The AIRC is already able to intervene if health is at risk during industrial action."

Tomorrow university staff around Australia will take national industrial action in protest against the Howard Government's unfair university changes, including coercive and untenable industrial relations conditions that have been placed on $400 million of desperately needed university funding.

The Howard Government has even more draconian industrial relations conditions in store for our universities.