Iemma govt has power to protect NSW local council workers from WorkChoices

"Premier Morris Iemma needs to introduce legislation to protect NSW local government workers from the push by local councils, backed by the federal Coalition, to transfer their employees into the WorkChoices system," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Queensland Premier Peter Beattie today hinted he will challenge this attempt to shift local council workers to WorkChoices.

"There are 50,000 local council employees in NSW that would be worse off under WorkChoices.

"Local council workers are not well paid. They would not fare well under the federal industrial relations system as their employer – local councils and shires – would want to lower costs by cutting back on their pay and conditions.

"If local council workers end up under the federal industrial relations system they face reduced holidays and penalty rates.

"The Iemma government has the power to protect these workers.

"The Greens introduced a private members bill that would protect local council workers from WorkChoices in November last year. This bill was based on advice from the Greens' industrial relations legal adviser, barrister David Shoebridge.

"Last year when Industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca introduced the Protecting NSW Workers from WorkChoices Bill into parliament I moved amendments to extend the protection against WorkChoices to all NSW state and local government workers.

"Unfortunately the Minister rejected our amendments.

"Now there is an urgent need for the Iemma government to reverse this decision and ensure that the federal government cannot move in and support local councils push to put their workers under the federal system.

"If the Iemma government does not introduce legislation to provide this urgently needed protection the Greens will pursue our private members bill that will quarantine all state and local government workers from WorkChoices.

"The Greens bill changes the employment status of workers of state owned corporations and local government workers. These workers would no longer be employees of a corporation but of a natural person in the form of the CEO or General Manager. This would protect state and local government workers in NSW," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information:   Lee Rhiannon    9230 3551