O'FARRELL TO RIP AWAY CONDITIONS AND FAMILY LEAVE FOR 80,000 WORKERS

Media Release | Wednesday, 29 August, 2012

John Robertson MP, NSW Opposition Leader
Sophie Cotsis MLC, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations

O'FARRELL TO RIP AWAY CONDITIONS AND FAMILY LEAVE FOR 80,000 WORKERS

Premier Barry O'Farrell is sending the rights of workers in NSW back to the dark ages with his plan to dump leave loading, family leave and other basic conditions for 80,000 workers across the State.

The O'Farrell Government has applied to the Industrial Relations Commission seeking to change 98 workplace awards - to cut leave loading entitlements, parental leave, sick leave, penalties for shift workers, regional allowances and flexible work arrangements.

"The O'Farrell Government's move to cut conditions and leave entitlements is a direct attack on the rights of workers in NSW," Opposition Leader John Robertson said today.

"The O'Farrell Government is obsessed with ripping away the rights of working people in NSW.

"Aged care nurses, child protection caseworkers, teachers' aides, public school workers, hospital staff, national park rangers and librarians will all see their conditions slashed under Barry O'Farrell.

"This plan to strip workers in NSW of conditions and family leave entitlements is an insight into the real values of the O'Farrell Government.

"This is a cruel decision by a government completely out of touch with the challenges that face working parents every day in NSW."

Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Sophie Cotsis said: "The move to dump leave loading and family leave entitlements comes on top of Barry O'Farrell's decision to sack 15,000 workers from NSW hospitals, schools, child protection and fire stations."

"These workers are already stretched, and Barry O'Farrell's cuts will only put more pressure on the people we rely on to deliver frontline services in NSW.  

"Earlier this year, the O'Farrell Government ripped away workers' compensation protections for every single worker, so if you are unlucky enough to be injured at work in NSW, you and your family now face being left destitute.  

"The O'Farrell Government can’t sack thousands of workers from our hospitals, schools and emergency services without impacting on the basic services the people of NSW rely on every day."

Job cuts already confirmed by Barry O'Farrell include:

·         3,600 workers from hospitals;

·         2,400 workers from schools;

·         968 workers from child protection services;

·         881 workers from courts and prisons;  

·         681 workers from road safety and maintenance;

·         430 workers from national parks and environmental protection;

·         300 firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW;

·         120 firefighters and workers from the Rural Fire Service; and

·         106 workers from the NSW Police Force, Crime Commission and Police Integrity Commission.