Generating good jobs for Kalgoorlie - making the new work laws work for the region

05 March 2010

The Australian Workers' Union is hosting its first community seminar on how the new work laws affect working people in regional Australia at the Kalgoorlie Town Hall on March 8, 2010.

The national leader of The Australian Workers' Union, Paul Howes will be available to answer questions from the community at the Kalgoorlie event.

The AWU has taken out a full-page advert in the Saturday issue of the local paper to promote the seminar to the whole Kalgoorlie community.

AWU seminar on fair work laws

Date:  Monday, March 8, 2010

Time: 7pm

Place:  Kalgoorlie Town Hall

New resource boom should deliver good jobs

" As Western Australia prepares for a new resources boom the new arrangements for workplaces will guarantee working people a fair say in what happens to jobs during the boom," Paul Howes, AWU National Secretary, said.

" The new work laws will help workers concerned about harassment, bullying and unfair dismissal .

A right to be represented and have a say in the future

" Mining is a tough industry - but the legislation introduced by Federal Parliament will ensure workers have a right to be represented, a right to have a say in the workplace; a right to be in the union.

" That means the AWU can insist on members being treated with a heck of a lot more respect, especially if a mine goes down the gurgler - or a fly-by-night operator tries to skip town," Paul Howes said.

Seminar to make sure the Fair Work Act delivers for Kalgoorlie

AWU Western Australia Branch Secretary, Stephen Price, said the Kalgoorlie AWU office is there to make sure the Fair Work Act delivers for the town's workers.

" As a response to that we've decided to put on a special community seminar about what the new Fair Work Act means for locals.

What can be done to secure good jobs and build the regional economy

" We want the Town Hall meeting to provide a good forum for discussion about what we can do to secure jobs, good jobs which can help to build the regional economy," Stephen Price said.

" There is great potential under the new arrangements for enterprise bargaining to plan long term for a positive relationship which ensures jobs stay in town, stay in the region; we want to use these new laws as an opportunity to generate jobs and ensure fairness."