industrial relations reform: social and economic dimensions barbara pocock brotherhood of st...
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Industrial Relations Reform: Social and
Economic Dimensions
Industrial Relations Reform: Social and
Economic Dimensions
Barbara PocockBrotherhood of St Lawrence Conference, Tuesday 11th October 2005 University of
Melbourne
Barbara PocockBrotherhood of St Lawrence Conference, Tuesday 11th October 2005 University of
Melbourne
The Howard Industrial Plan:
A 20 year old vision, unfit for a 21st Century working family:
Anti-family and unfair
The Howard Industrial Plan:
A 20 year old vision, unfit for a 21st Century working family:
Anti-family and unfair
The measures: a weaker safety net
The measures: a weaker safety net
minimum pay rate and classifications4 weeks Annual leave 10 days Personal/carer’s leave 12 months Parental leave 38 ordinary hours, annual average
AWAs override agreements and awards
The Case of Billy/Bettina
minimum pay rate and classifications4 weeks Annual leave 10 days Personal/carer’s leave 12 months Parental leave 38 ordinary hours, annual average
AWAs override agreements and awards
The Case of Billy/Bettina
The measures: Tilts bargaining
The measures: Tilts bargaining
‘Fair pay Commission’ weak unfair dismissal protections More anti-collective than US law AIRC neutered
‘Fair pay Commission’ weak unfair dismissal protections More anti-collective than US law AIRC neutered
AIRC and work/familyAIRC and work/family Maternity leave (1979) Adoption leave (1984) Parental leave (1990) Carers’ leave (1994/95) Right to refuse unreasonable overtime (2001) Right to request part-time employment (2005)
All opposed by coalition and employersHow will any new advances be made?
Maternity leave (1979) Adoption leave (1984) Parental leave (1990) Carers’ leave (1994/95) Right to refuse unreasonable overtime (2001) Right to request part-time employment (2005)
All opposed by coalition and employersHow will any new advances be made?
Overall Impact…Overall Impact… Low paid workers will be lower paid
$44 lower if government had had its way since 1996 AWAs on ‘take it or leave it’ basis for new employees or on promotion etc
Collective agreements and awards irrelevant over time
Union access to workers more limited and difficult
(eg 24 hours written notice and reason, only once every 6 months for recruitment, no entry if covered by AWAs, individual worker who seeks help from union will be identified to boss, no chance to check non-members paid correctly, complex ballots for industrial action)
Low paid workers will be lower paid $44 lower if government had had its way since 1996
AWAs on ‘take it or leave it’ basis for new employees or on promotion etc
Collective agreements and awards irrelevant over time
Union access to workers more limited and difficult
(eg 24 hours written notice and reason, only once every 6 months for recruitment, no entry if covered by AWAs, individual worker who seeks help from union will be identified to boss, no chance to check non-members paid correctly, complex ballots for industrial action)
Impact…Impact… Widening wages dispersion Same workers, different rates Tougher for the weaker
young people people returning to work casuals working carers immigrants
Profit not productivity Even good bosses are forced to compete on
cut price wages and conditions
Widening wages dispersion Same workers, different rates Tougher for the weaker
young people people returning to work casuals working carers immigrants
Profit not productivity Even good bosses are forced to compete on
cut price wages and conditions
Impact on workers and families?
Impact on workers and families?
Shift to AWAs, and stripped back awards will increase:
hours of work unsocial working timewage inequality the working poor
Shift to AWAs, and stripped back awards will increase:
hours of work unsocial working timewage inequality the working poor
The evidence: AWAs and pay
The evidence: AWAs and pay
Pay levels and pay rises are lower for workers on AWAs (Peetz 2005)
Even though workers on AWAs, work longer hours
And have less access to penalty rates for unsocial hours and overtime
AWAs much more likely to reduce or abolish pay for working overtime, nights or weekends
Pay levels and pay rises are lower for workers on AWAs (Peetz 2005)
Even though workers on AWAs, work longer hours
And have less access to penalty rates for unsocial hours and overtime
AWAs much more likely to reduce or abolish pay for working overtime, nights or weekends
AWAs and payAWAs and pay
women on AWAs paid 11% less than women on collective agreements in May 2004
Casuals on AWAs lower by 15%, Permanent part-timers by 25%. These are all groups with
disproportionate responsibilities for families
women on AWAs paid 11% less than women on collective agreements in May 2004
Casuals on AWAs lower by 15%, Permanent part-timers by 25%. These are all groups with
disproportionate responsibilities for families
AWAs: less family friendlyAWAs: less family friendly In 2001 12% of all AWAs had any
work/family measures 2004 DEWR report:
only 8% of AWAs had paid maternity leave (10% collective agreements)
5% had paid paternity leave (7%) 4% unpaid purchased leave
Those who need it most, get it least: 14% more men than women on AWAs had
any family leave in their AWA
In 2001 12% of all AWAs had any work/family measures
2004 DEWR report: only 8% of AWAs had paid maternity leave
(10% collective agreements) 5% had paid paternity leave (7%) 4% unpaid purchased leave
Those who need it most, get it least: 14% more men than women on AWAs had
any family leave in their AWA
Time: A critical work and family issue
Time: A critical work and family issue
QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
AWAs will see more control of time by
employers
AWAs will see more control of time by
employers 54% of AWAs do not provide penalty
rates 41% don’t provide annual leave
loading 41% don’t provide allowances 34% don’t provide paid annual leave 28% don’t provide paid sick leave 25% don’t pay extra for overtime
54% of AWAs do not provide penalty rates
41% don’t provide annual leave loading
41% don’t provide allowances 34% don’t provide paid annual leave 28% don’t provide paid sick leave 25% don’t pay extra for overtime
Unsocial time and familiesUnsocial time and families 64% of Australian employees already work
either sometimes or regularly outside standard times
‘Consistent body of international evidence’ finds that unsocial work time affects social and family time (Strazdins et al, 2004)
Evening and night work is especially stressful for parents, increasing depression, affecting sleep and reducing parental responsiveness to children
Positive associations between shift work and marital discord and divorce
64% of Australian employees already work either sometimes or regularly outside standard times
‘Consistent body of international evidence’ finds that unsocial work time affects social and family time (Strazdins et al, 2004)
Evening and night work is especially stressful for parents, increasing depression, affecting sleep and reducing parental responsiveness to children
Positive associations between shift work and marital discord and divorce
Night work and familyNight work and family
Night work combined with parenting is most harmful for marital stability (Presser 2000; US study)
Night working parents have two to six times the risk of divorce compared to those working standard daytime hours
Transmission effects to children
Night work combined with parenting is most harmful for marital stability (Presser 2000; US study)
Night working parents have two to six times the risk of divorce compared to those working standard daytime hours
Transmission effects to children
Unsocial hours and careUnsocial hours and care
All kinds of unsocial routines (weekend, afternoon, evening and night) can disrupt families and reduce parent-child time
Such parents spend less time reading, playing and helping children and are less satisfied with the time available with children
Many parents compensate by taking less time for themselves
All kinds of unsocial routines (weekend, afternoon, evening and night) can disrupt families and reduce parent-child time
Such parents spend less time reading, playing and helping children and are less satisfied with the time available with children
Many parents compensate by taking less time for themselves
New research: effects on children
New research: effects on children
Recent analysis of Canadian data by Strazdins et al (2004) shows that children of parents who work non-standard hours are more likely to have emotional or behavioural difficulties
Independent of socio-economic status and childcare use
Other kinds of disadvantage can compound this effect
Recent analysis of Canadian data by Strazdins et al (2004) shows that children of parents who work non-standard hours are more likely to have emotional or behavioural difficulties
Independent of socio-economic status and childcare use
Other kinds of disadvantage can compound this effect
Long hours of workLong hours of work
International research about health & long hours (Spurgeon, 2003) Increases risk of mental health
problems Increases risk of cardiovascular
disease Adverse effects on family
relationships
International research about health & long hours (Spurgeon, 2003) Increases risk of mental health
problems Increases risk of cardiovascular
disease Adverse effects on family
relationships
InequalityInequality Inequality amongst wage earners has
increased in recent years A growing body of international
research suggesting that inequality is bad for societies and families (Wilkinson 2005)
More unequal societies: violence, poorer community relations and worse health.
Inequality amongst wage earners has increased in recent years
A growing body of international research suggesting that inequality is bad for societies and families (Wilkinson 2005)
More unequal societies: violence, poorer community relations and worse health.
A family unfriendly, unfair agenda
A family unfriendly, unfair agenda
With very negative consequences for the low paid,young and disadvantaged
Will create more pressures in many families for children and other dependents for relationships
Long lived social consequences for inequality and unfairness
With very negative consequences for the low paid,young and disadvantaged
Will create more pressures in many families for children and other dependents for relationships
Long lived social consequences for inequality and unfairness