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Abbott’s wage cuts makes life unbearable: ACTU
by Carla De Campo 2 June 2014
A
response to the troubling social and political direction that Australia is heading under the direction of the Abbott Government – and the consequences for workers – may form part of the future agenda for the International Labor Organization (ILO). Speaking at the International Labour Conference, ACTU President Ged Kearney said the Abbott Government is flouting its international obligations on the rights of workers with its attacks on Australia’s workplace relations system, including going after individual workers for taking industrial action. “The Abbott Government’s attacks on Australia’s workplace relations system are part of
Prime Minister Tony Abbott with Warren Mundine.
their plan to cut the wages and conditions of hard working Australians, Ms Kearney said. “I chose to make an intervention speech about Australia and the path we are heading, the attacks on our safety net with cuts to Medicare, education, pensions and welfare and the Government’s latest attacks on the rights of workers and young people” Ms Kearney said. “Commentary from many of my peers here is that Australia is heading down the wrong road. Nation after nation spoke up to say that the policies being played out in Australia don’t work. “Also under discussion was the plan being considered by the Abbott Government that will see Australia’s minimum wage reduced to only 44% of average weekly earnings, wiping off $136 per week in today’s dollars, taking the
minimum wage down to around $480 per week, or just $12 per hour. “After ten consecutive years of real wage cuts, Australia’s minimum wage would end up as one of the lowest in the OECD. “Cutting low paid workers’ wages does not create jobs, it just makes life unbearable, unaffordable and creates an underclass of working poor. “And all this at a time when our economy is strong. “Few people are buying the Abbott Government’s arguments that run down our strong economy.” Ms Kearney said there was also discussion around the global problems of casualization, underemployment, discrimination and social protection. “These discussions are vital because the outcomes will form the future agenda for the ILO.”
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