Australian Unions Secretary Sally McManus writes about the very current attacks on workers rights – and why we need to urgently move to action.

A few weeks ago, I went out to alert working people and the community of the risks that employer lobby groups were pressuring Scott Morrison and the Liberal Government to weaken workplace laws.

If the employer lobbyists were successful, it would mean that they would be able to keep wages low and jobs insecure.

Yesterday evening, we got the breaking news.

News outlets have reported that Scott Morrison gave a speech at an employer lobby group event that he decided to push forward with changes to our rights at work that could remove fundamental protections for working people.

“The Prime Minister hinted the changes would allow a more flexible interpretation of the BOOT…” (AFR, 19 Nov 2020)

What is the BOOT? It’s the “Better off overall test”, one of the key laws that ensures that employers can’t cut wages or working conditions below minimum standards.

The employer lobby groups are hoping that this seemingly minor change will be easily passed through the Parliament early next year.

The employer lobby groups are hoping that workers and the community – who relied on workers to carry Australia through the pandemic – will ignore this change.

The employer lobby groups are hoping you won’t care and they are given even more power.

The employer lobby groups are hoping that people will forget that Scott Morrison promised that we “are all in this together”.

I’m asking you to prove them wrong.

We need to stand up against these anti-worker proposals and we need to do it now.

Punishing workers won’t heal the economy. Add your name right now to send the employer lobby groups and Scott Morrison a message.