OHS REPS @ WORK

The Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Council Leigh Hubbard today slammed a newspaper advertisement regarding union right of entry placed by some Victorian employer organisations as a `gross over-reaction' and `totally misleading'.

According to the advertisement in today's Herald Sun, the new right of entry will 'risk industrial chaos'.

'The Victorian government has not given unions the right to enter workplaces suspected of breaching OHS laws lightly,' Mr Hubbard commented.

'This provision was recommended after a thorough enquiry and is a right that unions in a number of jurisdictions have had for many years. It will give Victorian workers a higher level of protection.'

'The new right simply allows union officials authorised by the Magistrates' Court to enter a workplace, inspect and observe the work, consult with workers and the employer - unfortunately they will not be able to stop a job, even when there is an immediate risk.'

Employer groups are claiming that because of this new provision and the introduction of more sever penalties including jail terms, the proposed Act is 'Unreasonable, Unfair and Counter-productive'.

'We believe that unsafe and unhealthy workplaces which kill, injure and maim workers are 'unreasonable and unfair' and we will do everything we can to protect workers.'

'International and Australian research confirms that workplaces with union involvement are safer. If employers are genuine about improving health and safety they would have spent the $7,000 on getting the facts, not peddling fears.'