Thousands of workers marched on State Parliament today to tell the state government that proposed changes to OHS laws were
Not Good Enough!
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Workers Rally at State Parliament |
Health and safety reps, job delegates and union officials urged Premier John Brumby to resist any watering down of the rights of OHS reps. They called on the Brumby ALP Government to ensure the strongest OHS laws possible in the national ‘harmonisation’ process. This process is being undertaken to make a common OHS law across all states and territories.
Union leaders, including VTHC Secretary, Mr Brian Boyd, told the rally that Victorian workers and unions would accept no watering down of the rights of reps. The Rally marched to the steps of State Parliament.
Other speakers included ACTU Secretary, Jeff Lawrence, ASU Secretary, Ingrid Stitt, and CFMEU Assistant National Secretary, Martin Kingham.
Maitea Medina also spoke about her husband, Tony, who was exposed to asbestos dust when he worked for an asbestos removal company prior to Victoria’s first OHS laws in 1985. Maitea’s message was clear – we can not afford to go back to pre – 1985 OHS laws. Tony would be alive today if existing OHS laws had been in place.
Hundreds of empty shoes and boots were put on the steps of Parliament to commemorate those who are killed as a result of their work.
A protest letter from the VTHC was given to a Parliamentary representative by a delegation from the rally.
What’s at stake
Occupational Health and Safety Representatives are recognised all around the world as crucial to genuine workplace safety. Victoria’s democratically elected Health and Safety Reps currently have some of the strongest rights and protections in Australia. They play an important role in improving the safety of all Victorian workers. Victorian OHS reps stand to lose some of their most important rights and protections under proposed changes.
Particularly at issue are:
- Changes to training rights for OHS reps,
- Reduced rights to exercise powers such as the right to issue a PIN (Provisional Improvement Notice)
- No right to seek assistance,
- Disqualification of OHS Reps under significant broader circumstances than is currently the case and
- Reduced rights of worker to raise issues anonymously
Read more about the National Model OHS Laws
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