Australian Unions Secretary Sally McManus updates us on discussions between unions and employer groups in the context of COVID-19.
You might have seen today in the news that working groups on industrial relations (workers rights) have formally wrapped up but there is now a new phase of discussion between employers and the Government.
The union movement has stuck to the confidentiality agreement covering the discussions and we won’t be discussing them until they are finished.
But there is something we won’t be staying quiet about.
It has become obvious that a number of employer lobby groups no longer wish to respect the confidentiality agreement or engage with in good faith discussions.
Some employer lobby groups came into this process not wanting to reach common ground or to advance the national interest.
Instead, they want to use the opportunity to undermine working people’s rights at a time of unprecedented national crisis.
The union movement is committed to ongoing discussions on behalf of working people.
We’ve said throughout this process that the national interest will be served by ensuring workers have decent rights and secure jobs in a growing economy.
We won’t accept any outcome that leaves working people worse off and we believe agreement could be reached if employers also looked to find common ground.
Our message to employer groups is this: put the national interest first.
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