Labor says the New IR reforms will INCREASE wages
 

In the latest twist to information about the, as yet, unspecified new Industrial Relations Reforms...........

In an unusual admission for a state Labor leader, Mr Beattie told a business forum that workers on federal awards were generally better paid because their awards were structured to take into account the higher cost of living in southern capital cities.

The Howard Government's plan to abolish state awards and shift all workers to the federal industrial relations system would force employers to pay Sydney and Melbourne rates of pay, damaging Queensland's employment and economic growth.

"Cost structures in Sydney and Melbourne are higher than ours . . . meaning that over a long period of time employees under state awards are paid less than those under federal awards," Mr Beattie said

http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/c...5E3102,00.html

Re: Labor says the New IR reforms will INCREASE wages
 

No doubt federal awards will be scrapped along with long service leave and overtime penalty rates. Everyone will end up on employment contracts and an employer biased referree re:negotiation and mediation.

Collective bargaining will be weakened to the point it becomes ineffectual and relegated as a curious relic of a bygone era. :scared:

Re: Labor says the New IR reforms will INCREASE wages
 

But it's the State awards that are being talked about being scrapped, and replaced with Federal Awards. That's part of the whole IR reform, isn't it ?.

That's what the QLD labor leader appears to be complaining about.