Employers getting taxpayer support for the CPRS cannot demand pay cuts from their workforce

03 February 2009

The Federal Government should tell corporations who receive Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme support that they cannot also demand pay cuts from their workforce while getting taxpayer support, the Australian Workers Union conference was told today.

The AWU will never support a position that sees employers paying for emissions permits to meet the requirements of the Scheme by pushing through a pay cut involving my union's members - or even worse, laying workers off completely," Paul Howes, AWU National Secretary, said.

The union leader made the comments after the 300 delegates and observers at the AWU National Conference meeting in Queensland discussed the Climate Change resolutions.

New Climate change position paper

At the end of the AWU National conference discussions Paul Howes launched a new AWU Policy Position Paper: Over the CPRS Horizon.

The AWU can't accept companies accessing taxpayers money to get through the needed environmental change process then turning around and campaigning for my members to take pay cuts.

" We want to see the Federal Government provide guidance on the criteria to be used by the Productivity Commission in the assessment of the profitability of EITE industries to ensure fair treatment of the workforce," Paul Howes, AWU National Secretary, said.

" The AWU will insist on an open and transparent consultation process with industry and unions on the criteria to be used by the Productivity Commission."

Assistance is vital to ensure investment and jobs

Mr Howes said the union recognised the importance of the assistance to emissions-intensive, trade exposed (EITE) industries such as aluminium, iron and stell, cement, plastics, paper, oil refining and LNG.

" During the transition to a global carbon trading marketplace and world price on carbon, this assistance is vital to ensuring the investment and jobs stay in Australia rather than risk being shifted to countries which may not have a carbon price for many years," Paul Howes said.

Climate change video

The AWU National Conference

For more information about the AWU National Conference visit the AWU's special National Conference website.