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Ah, interesting subject you pick.
Firstly, I used to be the President of our Union's local Locomotive Division and thus found myself at the for front of these discussions and arguments with the Government of my state that was trying to ram these agreements down our throat.
Before I go deeper into this issue, let me say this, and make no mistake about it, THE WORKER DOES NOT BENEFIT IN ANY WAY from the introduction of these things.
Secondly, the last I heard, our economy was doing very well indeed, just as it is, so the question I ask, is if the ecomony is doing so well, why the haste to impose these AWA's upon the Australian worker, who it would appear, is doing a bloody good job as it is ???
Unfortunately, the sychophant arse licker has so far failed to answer that question, as have his ministers.
Getting back to the AWA, when these things were first hoisted upon us, they had to reflect everything the Award covered, to make them attractive, they sweetened them a little by increasing the hourly rate just a tiny bit, the greedy ones, grasped them in glee.
Ten months down the track, I was approached by some of our members who were trying to obtain housing loans and car loans who had been rejected by their finance institutions on the basis of their AWA's were considered a CONTRACT, and the AWA's were for a period of TWO years only, thus the banks were NOT going to lend money on the basis of such a short contract.
I brought this up with discussions with the Government representatives, who expressed surprise, though when given details of the cases, could not dispute them.
I also pointed out, that in their haste to implement these AWA's, this matter should have been foreseen and resolved, as the only people who stood to lose the most, were the ones forcing these agreements upon us, if we couldn't borrow funds, the lending institutions were the ones who would miss out,as would the share holders involved with said institutions, who were at the end of the day, the driving force behind these things.
Well wouldn't you know, consternation reigned, no comment was made, and they left with theirtail between their legs, after comments made like killing the goose that laid the egg, ect.
From that day on, the steam seemed to evaporate from the drive to force everyone onto AWA's.
Though I now hear, the FEDERAL AWA's are being pushed just as strongly.
I'd suggest, EVERYONE give the utmost thought to what I've already brought to attention, and ensure with your lending institutions that they will still lend you funds despite the AWA only being for two years, ONLY AFTER obtaining that confirmation in WRITTING, would I consider looking at such an agreement.
All these agreements, WILL MAKE YOU WORK LONGER HOURS FOR LESS MONEY,REDUCE YOUR ENTITLEMENTS SUCH AS LSL, ANNUAL LEAVE, SICK LEAVE AND EVEN LUNCH BREAKS/MORNING/AFT TEA BREAKS, INCREASING WORKING WEEK, INCREASING RETIREMENT AGE.
They CLAIM you can alter/add/takeout/negotiate components of your AWA, however the facts are, in EVERY CASE I was aware of, IF YOU WANT THE JOB, YOU'LL SIGN HERE, NO SIGN, NO JOB, despite this being illegal, it was done as normal, not ONE individual was ever allowed to make an alteration to his agreement.
I'm now retired and out of it, and very glad to be so too, I assure you, but the workers who still have to work, must not let themselves be bullied and forced coherced into accepting these agreements, YOU WILL SURRENDER YOUR FUTURES, make no mistake about it.
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