“This is not only harsh and unfair – it is criminal,” said Brian Boyd, Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council.
“Workers are protected by occupational health and safety law. Our Victorian law says that the employer has to provide a safe system of work – and that includes decent rest breaks. It’s not good for us to work without any break. We aren’t machines and employers shouldn’t treat us as such,” said Mr Boyd.
“This is just another example of how harsh and unjust John Howard’s workplace laws are. Howard isn’t content with helping employers slash the family pay packet and time with our families. Now he is encouraging employers to break health and safety law. Employers think they can do what they want under Howard’s laws, but they are forgetting that State based OHS laws still call them to account,” added Mr Boyd.
The VTHC was commenting after The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age obtained statistics collected by the OEA from a sample of 5250 Australian workplace agreements lodged between April and September last year.
Brian Boyd, Secretary – 9662 3511 or 0418 587 461
Helen Atkinson 9662 3511