Zomg! AWAs will be banned by MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!!

[chicky_pie]

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THE first of the former Howard Government's industrial reforms will become history tomorrow with the outlawing of new Australia Workplace Agreements (AWAs).

Governor-General Michael Jeffery today made the formal proclamation of an act of parliament banning AWAs from midnight.

The move coincided with the second anniversary of the former Coalition Government's controversial Work Choices reforms, but comes some 12 years after it introduced AWAs.

Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard, who was at Admiralty House in Sydney for the event, described the proclamation as a big step towards ending former prime minister John Howard's workplace reforms.

"On this two-year anniversary of Work Choices, we are here to start burying Work Choices," Ms Gillard said.

"Today, the Governor-General has proclaimed Labor's Transition to Forward with Fairness Bill.

"It will come into effect at midnight tonight. That means from midnight there will be no new Workplace Agreements."

Federal Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson said the coalition had no intention of trying to resurrect AWAs, introduced in 1996.

"I made it clear on behalf of the Coalition prior to Christmas that Work Choices is dead," Dr Nelson said.

"We did not oppose the Government's changes to workplace relations.

However, he said the Rudd Government's legislation effectively allowed for AWAs in a different form.

"I mean, you've got individual statutory agreements with a no-disadvantage test embedded in the Government's legislation.

"It is very, very important for us that there continue to be the opportunity for Australians to be represented by a union or represent themselves."

Despite the resources industry's strong support for AWAs since they were first introduced in 1996, the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) today said they won't be mourned.

"AMMA won't be holding a wake for AWAs today," spokesman Christopher Platt told AAP.

"Employers in the mining industry have recognised the changed political environment."

The new laws allow for Individual Transitional Employment Agreements which provide employers with a short-term alternative to AWAs.

The onus was on the Government to ensure that common law agreements would be a genuine alternative to AWAs in the highly-paid resources sector, Mr Platt said.

He said the Government needed to ensure the second tranche of industrial legislation, due later this year, put in place a system which makes common law agreements accessible and able to provide the flexibility available under the previous industrial arrangements.

"Only then will common law agreements be a genuine alternative to AWAs," Mr Platt said.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23440705-2,00.html

So, what your opinions on AWA, the first of Howard's IR laws that was introduced back in 1996? Good idea or Bad idea? Lets hope Labor fucks up this country like the Keating's years.

[scarybunny]

In theory, AWAs work. But in practice, the vast majority of them didn't pass the fairness test.

I have no strong feelings.

[chicky_pie]

Originally Posted by scarybunny

In theory, AWAs work. But in practice, the vast majority of them didn't pass the fairness test.

I have no strong feelings.

You must be unemployed.

[scarybunny]

Technically not, it's just veryvery seasonal casual work.

Work Choices is like... DeliChoices, yes?

[chicky_pie]

Originally Posted by scarybunny

Technically not, it's just veryvery seasonal casual work.

Work Choices is like... DeliChoices, yes?

How dare you say I work at DeliChoice, you're a very very mean BOS person

[chicky_pie]

Originally Posted by Malfoy

Workchoices was bad because it was anti-federalist and wasn't really constitutionally valid, but I do like the idea of a system whereby you can negotiate whatever you want with an employer. If it's mutually beneficial, why not? Especially since I'd be happy to work flexible hours (I'd love to work evenings instead of during the day), which is one thing that I could use to my advantage in an individual system.

I don't like collective bargaining - how is a union to know what I want to do? A lot of the things enshrined in this kind of bargain are things I wouldn't care to keep. For example, what use do I have for maternity leave when I'm not actually intending on having children? I'd rather bargain that away for something else.

The very name of this bill smacks of ridiculous notions of social justice, to be honest, and I think this is a backwards step for industrial relations. I also sincerely hope the unions don't gain any more influence - but of course that's very likely to happen, so industrial relations is going to be even more of a mess.

If we could have a system that abided by the Constitution and principles of federalism while allowing for individual negotiation, contracts and flexibility in all facets it would be wonderful. I'm just unsure as to how that would be implemented given the massive anti-Workchoices scare campaign means any changes to industrial relations legislation are going to get beaten down regardless of merit for the next decade or so...

This is NOT about workchoices, it's about AWA, that was introduced back in 1996 to help the country's work force, to reverse something that was in place to improve this country's working force is like taking a step back to the Keating years (which I hope would come true) Even low income people was better off under Howard than Keating or even Rudd.

[mr_brightside]

THEY'LL BE OUT THE DOOR BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. YES THAT'S RIGHT, MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
COME DOWN AND GRAB YOURSELF A BARGAIN,
BUT GET MOVING SO YOU CAN MAKE IT BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

k

[surjulz]

If you believe in free markets then AWA's were the right policy.

I think work choices left poorer people vulnerable, but I'm making up my mind about AWA's

[Triangulum]

Originally Posted by Malfoy

A lot of the things enshrined in this kind of bargain are things I wouldn't care to keep. For example, what use do I have for maternity leave when I'm not actually intending on having children? I'd rather bargain that away for something else.

The new act instructs the workplace authority (or whichever of the ~50000 IR quangos is responsible for it) to build a flexibility clause into the new federal awards, which will allow workers to individually negotiate with their employers to customise the award conditions as long as the no-disadvantage test is satisfied.

[MaNiElla]

Originally Posted by mr_brightside

THEY'LL BE OUT THE DOOR BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. YES THAT'S RIGHT, MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
COME DOWN AND GRAB YOURSELF A BARGAIN,
BUT GET MOVING SO YOU CAN MAKE IT BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

k

Exactly what i was thinking.

[jb_nc]

Originally Posted by mr_brightside

THEY'LL BE OUT THE DOOR BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. YES THAT'S RIGHT, MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
COME DOWN AND GRAB YOURSELF A BARGAIN,
BUT GET MOVING SO YOU CAN MAKE IT BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

k

It's our final chance to rip you the fuck off. So come quickly!

[surjulz]

Originally Posted by mr_brightside

THEY'LL BE OUT THE DOOR BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. YES THAT'S RIGHT, MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
COME DOWN AND GRAB YOURSELF A BARGAIN,
BUT GET MOVING SO YOU CAN MAKE IT BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

k

mate they would have heard that down in Canberra! actually I do wonder if any last minute AWA's were taken tonight!

[breaking]

Originally Posted by mr_brightside

THEY'LL BE OUT THE DOOR BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. YES THAT'S RIGHT, MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
COME DOWN AND GRAB YOURSELF A BARGAIN,
BUT GET MOVING SO YOU CAN MAKE IT BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

k

hahahaha fuck


anyway im on an awa (just went on a new one today LOLZ) and its fairly fucking shit, we get a considerably higher rate of pay than the award rate however dont get paid any extra for weekend work, public holidays etc....

[Nebuchanezzar]

Originally Posted by Malfoy

but I do like the idea of a system whereby you can negotiate whatever you want with an employer. If it's mutually beneficial, why not?

I would also like that, if it were to work fairly and such.

[williamc]

Originally Posted by zimmerman8k

I don't see how its possible for a worker in a role that can be performed by pretty much anyone to exercise any meaningful bargaining power.

.