Union leaders plan to protect workers

A meeting of union leaders in Melbourne has backed a plan to ensure workers are
protected under the federal government's award modernisation regime, with a strong
focus on collective bargaining to safeguard existing pay and conditions.
ACTU secretary Jeff Lawrence says unions are closely monitoring the implementation
of the new awards and are determined to ensure that the existing rights and
entitlements of workers are preserved under the new system.
"It has been our position since day one that the modernisation of the award system
should improve labour standards and must not result in a reduction of take-home pay
or overall conditions for employees," Mr Lawrence said.
The union plan seeks to preserve existing pay and conditions and to improve on the
new award safety net that began operation in January.
Mr Lawrence says workers will benefit from the federal government's streamlined
award system, which provides a stable and secure safety net.
He said the legislation made it clear that it was not intended that any current
worker ended up worse off.
"If employers dodge this commitment and go ahead undercutting wages and conditions,
we will vigorously pursue collective agreements, take-home pay orders and other
legal remedies," Mr Lawrence said in a statement
Federal Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard told the National Press Club in
February the process to streamline 4000 state awards in 120 national standards had
concluded.
The award streamlining process was finalised in January, but the changes do not come
into effect until July 1.