NSW; Govt-Labor Council deal makes it tough for shonky operators
SYDNEY, April 26 AAP - A deal struck with the NSW government would make it tough foremployers wanting to drive down wages and conditions, the state Labor Council said today.
The deal, struck after 15 months of negotiations and meetings, requires businessesthat win government contracts to pay award wages and accept union representation in theworkplace.
The Memorandum of Understanding binds the government to deal only with operators whocomply with the code and sets out their enforcement responsibilities.
Labor Council secretary John Robertson and Public Works Minister Morris Iemma signedoff on the memorandum this week.
According to the Labor Council, contracting in some sectors has become a synonym forrorts, from slashing wages to avoiding tax and discriminating against people with unionaffiliations.
These new provisions would "make it tougher for shonky bosses to participate in thelucrative race to supply goods and services to state government", the council said ina statement.
Council deputy assistant secretary, Chris Christodoulou, said the memorandum was expectedto apply to tens of thousands of people employed in occupations such as cleaning, security,couriers, IT and garment manufacture.
"The key part of the exercise is to get out and organise in those companies the governmentdeals with," Mr Christodoulou said.
"From here, it has to be monitored and driven by rank and file members in their workplaces.
"What the memorandum does is remove a significant impediment to doing that.
"You would think that bona fide companies wouldn't be going in to slash wages or exhibitanti-union tendencies but, unfortunately, that has not always been the case," Mr Christodoulousaid.
AAP hn/arb/ldj/de
KEYWORD: CONTRACTS
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