kiwi_child

Sadly this is what it has come to in OZ now that we no longer have unfair dismissal rights to protect us. All I can say is let's hope Labor wins the election this year so this crap can be fixed and workers protected from bosses who are pricks, like this one.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=261175

DrWho

Agreed the boss is a complete twat... But does anywhere give protection to a casual employee that has only worked for their current employer for a short time...?

GinaUK

Doubt it. In the UK you need to have worked for an employer for 12 months before you get unfair dismissal protection. Until the 12 months mark, the employer can sack you without needing to give a reason (1 week statutory notice period).

Gina

kiwi_child

Casual employment screws workers. Part-time work at least had protections in it. The point here though is that this creep suddenly discovers there's no more work for this employee just as she announces her intention to go public to help the police catch the offender. Smells in my opinion.

Siren & Brian

and a union bloke has got involved so must be true. There is always more to a story than one side. Specially if its a union side.

DrWho

But would she have had protection if she was part time but had only worked there for a couple of months...? The boss is just an arse and any excuse would do... She was probably out of a job come what may anyway... Just don't think it's due to there being any crazy IR laws... There has to be a certain qualifying period for employers to keep/reject employees... There'll always be twats like this bloke just as there'll always be idiot employees...

NKSK version 2

I blame the unions.

I blame the unions anyway...for everything wrong in life....but in this case if it wasn't for their over the top selfish attitude to the workplace, Howard wouldn't have brought in laws which could be used in extreme ways by unscrupulous employers.

Siren & Brian

Whats half of the Federal Labor party made up of???? Union leaders.

NKSK version 2

Don't get me started.

I'm now resigned to having a Labor government.

Nothing it seems can be done about it. The best received budget in history, an opposition consisting of Julia Gillard (only slightly to the right of Lenin) and ex-union leaders, and the coalition still can't make a dent on the opnion polls.

After seeing the dreadful state of Britain after being ravaged by the unions and a complacent (complicit?) government in the 70s, I'm dreading what's going to happen to Australia after October...

kiwi_child

Howard has for decades wanted this sort of legislation. he was considered by his colleagues too right wing back then and quietly ignored. Infact some stated on record that they thought he was an idiot. And these were his own party's senior parliamentary figures.

If it wasn't for unions we'd still have kids cleaning chimneys and dying of TB.

kiwi_child

A Labor gov will mean a more balanced outlook on social justice issues and a fairer deal for those on benefits, the working poor and middle income earners. About time I say.

Vegemite

Great post! It's something all expats should be aware of.

COME ON AUSTRALIA LETS KEEP FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHTS AT WORK. OUR WAY OF LIFE IS AT STAKE HERE. LETS STAND UP FOR WHAT WE ALL LOVED ABOUT AUSTRALIA - A FAIR GO FOR ALL.
THIS ELECTION IS CRUCIAL TO THE FUTURE OF THIS NATION, YOUR LIFESTYLE, AND YOUR CHILDREN.
VOTE FOR YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK - COMPLACENCY NOW WILL NOT PAY.

For all the facts about this legislation, go to:http://www.rightsatwork.com.au/thefacts/

Do you know that the current campaign against IR law has been the biggest in Australian history?


COME ON AUSTRALIA! RISE UP!

youngy73

do you really think rudd will change things. thats what they thought about tuscany tony and what did he do? all pollies are the same.

aussietobe

Unfortunately for many to contemplate, capitalist/right wing economic policies work. That's why even good ole Tony is a right winger on economic policies. You only have to look at France, who hold on to socialist principles and protectionism to see this - a once grand power is now an economic basketcase. Thats why Britain had to have Margaret Thatcher and Howard in Australia. What a lot of people do not realise is that the best thing a worker can hope for is strong economy, if you are a good worker then the boss wants to hold onto you and it also provides more opportunities for small buisness owners to operate and working for yourself is the most liberating thing (I know cos i do it myself.) Australia had a very poor reputation in the late 70's/80's because the unions had so much power and strikes were so common. The simple fact is that many lazy/unmotivated/incompetent people hide behind employment protection policies - and it can be next to impossible to get rid of them. Why should they be allowed to keep receiving a wage if they are not up to the job?

Rudd will probrobly be the next PM. I think it will be a case of - "you don't know what you have got till it's gone."

aussietobe

Unions were a good thing back then. They were needed but we have come a long way since. Unions hold back the economy, create inefficient workplaces and industries. Think about New Zealand, your home country. Why does everyone want to leave this so called "worker's paradise" run by a socialist, left wing government?? Why do so many brits complain about the poor wages? The economy is not competitive, simple.