industrial relations

Here is the media release from Shadow Minister for IR and Women Sophie Cotsis:

O'FARRELL MUST SUPPORT NSW SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKERS

The NSW Opposition has called on the O'Farrell Government to work with the social and community services sector on Fair Work Australia's landmark equal pay ruling - as more than 3,000 workers protested outside Governor Macquarie Tower today.

Deputy Opposition Leader Linda Burney and Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations and Women Sophie Cotsis attended the rally and listened to worker's concerns about the O'Farrell Government not recognising their equal pay case.

More than 30,000 social and community sector workers in NSW are affected by the case.

For the first time since 1906 the Liberal/National Party with the
support of the Christian Democrats and the Shooters and Fishers has shut
down debate on the Industrial Relations Bill that strips the rights of
public sector workers in NSW.

To shut down this bill they this week the Government have resorted to:

- cancelling parliamentary business for opposition and cross bench members during the week

- filibustering on a 56 word bill to do with libraries

Opposition Leader John Robertson said the proposed changes are worse than the Howard Government's WorkChoices laws.

"The Premier has outdone John Howard and Peter Costello with this unprecedented attack on the rights at work of nurses, teachers and police," he said.

"Barry's O'Farrell's bill is worse than WorkChoices.