BOB McMULLAN MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS MEMBER FOR CANBERRA
IR43/97 13 August 1997
LABOR WILL DELIVER A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: McMULLAN
The approach of the next Labor government to industrial relations will be distinctly and noticeably different, the Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Bob McMullan, said today.
Addressing the National Council of the National Union of Workers, Mr McMullan said that Labor's approach will not only be different to John Howard's approach, it will also be different to the approach of the last Labor Government.
"Our policy will be different to John Howard's because we've been listening to Australian workers in their workplaces, " Mr McMullan said. "We know they don't want the increased pressure from enterprise bargaining which John Howard is forcing upon them.
"In fact, workers are telling us they are sick of enterprise bargaining.
"So, while John Howard will be proposing more enterprise bargaining, we will be proposing less.
"But we won't be looking back to 1993. We will be looking forward .
"Therefore our approach to industrial relations will also be different to the approach of the last Labor Government.
"And of course we should be different because we'll be facing different challenges - and because we've learnt some lessons from our defeat at the last election.
"Some of the notable differences will be a greater emphasis on job security, and greater emphasis on the traditional award system and industry wide arrangements as means to deliver decent wage increases to workers. "
For further information: David Fredericks 015 497 974
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