Submissions

Submission to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee, May 2008

Click here to download a printable version of this submission (MS Word 271k)

Summary

The CTU strongly supports the re-establishment of rest and meal breaks in law in the main framework of employment relations – the Employment Relations Act (ERA).

Access to regular rest and meal breaks is a basic health, safety and well-being requirement. There is a need for certainty on rest and meal break periods and for these requirements to be explicit in minimum employment legislation for awareness and enforceability purposes.

Re-establishing rest and meal breaks in minimum employment law is part of rebuilding decent and basic employment rights legislation which was radically and deliberately destroyed by the Employment Contracts Act (ECA) 1991.

Submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committe, May 2008

Click here to download a printable version of the submission (MS Word 268k)

Summary

The CTU has consistently raised the risks of a free trade agreement with China. However we have also recognised that the overwhelming majority of the countries in the world are negotiating free trade agreements and already some 2000 have been signed.

The CTU is opposed to a neo liberal approach to free trade that seeks to break down any barriers to the unfettered access by multinational corporations to land, resources, workers, culture, plant life and so on. We oppose a globalisation agenda that treats labour as a commodity, weakens food security and prohibits nations from controlling their economies in the interests of their people. 

Download the CTU's February 2008 submission to the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill as a PDF or Word document below:

Submission to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee, February 2008

Click here to download a printable version of this submission (MS Word 101k)

Summary

In general the CTU believes that the current exemptions to shop trading and sale of liquor restrictions on Easter Sunday under their respective pieces of legislation have become too broad to ensure retail and hospitality workers, at least, are guaranteed the opportunity for holidays they can share with their community, other workers, friends and family.

The CTU submits annually to the Department of Labour on the review of the minimum wage.Download the CTU's submission from October 2007, as a word document or PDF below.  The introduction and executive summary are also below on this page.

Submission to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committee, December 2007 

Click here to download a printable verision of the submission (PDF 202k)

Summary

The CTU supports the Public Transport Management Bill and believes it will help to achieve an integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable land transport system – as stated in the purpose of the Bill.

 In particular the CTU welcomes the proposals to allow regional councils to coordinate commercial and subsidised public transport services, advance the adoption of integrated ticketing and require greater investment in vehicles that meet emissions standards. The CTU also welcomes the greater statutory role for regional public transport plans and the opportunity that they present for greater input from the public on public transport policy.

However, the CTU is concerned that the matters that must be taken into account, and the consultation that must be done, before a regional council can adopt a regional public transport plan under this Bill, are deficient.

Submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee, May 2007

Submission to the Transport and Industrial Relations Select Committe,  October 2007

Submission to the Foriegn Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee, December 2001

Download a copy here (MS Word 120k)