Australian unions, community and church leaders met in Melbourne on Oct 7 for the inaugural World Day for Decent Work.

Against a backdrop of global economic turmoil ACTU and ITUC President Sharan Burrow said workers deserved assurances that secure, decent work underpins economic and social stability and should not be the first casualty of the current financial market woes.

“Today is about standing up for decent work, for job security, for a fair globalisation, against poverty and in the interests of much greater equity and justice,” said Ms Burrow.

“We have seen the global economy go off the rails because of corporate investor greed.

“Real wages fell or stagnated while profit shares have reached record levels.

“We have an opportunity now to relaunch globalisation along a path of sustainable and just development with fairness, equity and rights at work at the centre of public policy so globalisation works for all, not just a privileged few.”

This morning, the ACTU met with public sector union members to raise awareness about World Day for Decent Work. Through collective bargaining, the Community and Public Sector Union has just delivered a pay rise and workers in human services were receiving the first installment under the new pay deal today.

Ms Burrow also met with local firefighters who are still negotiating their collective agreement with the State Government. They expressed solidarity with firefighters around the world and said that health and safety, underpinned by decent working conditions, were critical to their survival at work.

A joint national media conference by the unions and churches was well attended ahead of a forum where unionists, academics, community representatives, labour lawyers and church leaders discussed the global campaign for achieving decent work and how unions are responding to the specific realities in Australia, across Asia and our Pacific Island neighbours.

October is “Your Rights at Work: Decent Work” month for Australian unions and the ACTU. Television and internet advertising has been launched. Other workplace meetings have been held where updates on the “Your Rights at Work” campaign were provided to delegates including news on the last month of political lobbying before new workplace laws go before the national parliament.

October is Your Rights at Work

Following a 3 year campaign to change the national government and see rights at work restored, October 2008 is the final month of consultation before seeing the legislation for a new rights-based system introduced into parliament.

The focus for unions will be the right to collectively bargain, a good faith bargaining system that can deliver wages and conditions for working Australians. In addition to a safety net, unfair dismissal rights and dispute settlement procedures it is collective bargaining that will deliver not just wage justice but a more equitable society.

Television and internet advertising, community events, workplace meetings and parliamentary lobbying will frame the campaign plan for decent work activities.

On October 7 the ACTU will integrate a national and international perspective with a media focus on ‘decent work everywhere’ . Specific activities will focus on;

A media event highlighting Decent Work with Union, Community and Church leaders

Workplace meetings to hear updates on the Australian legislation and sign on to the “Decent Work Charter”

A seminar/forum on Decent Work

Sharan Burrow

ACTU Video on Collective Bargaining - WDDW

ACTU Video 2 on Collective Bargaining - WDDW