Election 2007 - The Choice Is Clear - Universities

Work Choices has been the biggest setback for working Australians in modern times. These laws are the worst set of workplace laws in the developed world. They are eroding penalty rates, eroding overtime pay, eroding our weekends, and eroding our public holidays.

They are undermining our idea of what it is to be Australian, a sense of a fair go and a decent society.

Over four million working Australians have lost protection from being unfairly sacked. Any of us can now be sacked for operational reasons. The CPSU/PSA is fighting to bury these laws. We are campaigning for a fair and decent system where we have protection from being unfairly sacked; protection of basic rights like penalty rates and overtime rates; the right to collectively bargain; an independent umpire; and a strong safety net with a decent minimum wage and decent rights for all workers.

That is why the Federal election on 24 November will be one of the most critical elections ever for Australia. While the CPSU/PSA is not affiliated with any political party, members should be very concerned about the re election of the Howard Government.

Australian voters face a clear choice.

The return of the Howard Government that will go further with Work Choices by introducing more draconian laws designed to drive down wages and make workers a commodity, and

A Rudd Labor government that will introduce a fairer system where there is protection from being unfairly sacked; protection of basic rights like penalty rates and overtime rates; the right to collectively bargain; an independent umpire; and a strong safety net with a decent minimum wage and decent conditions for all workers.