Communist Party of Australia

The LHMU, the hospitality union, has called on the government to protect low-paid workers by ensuring they can access the new industrial relations laws even if they are covered by unfair, old or rushed agreements. The call follows the Senate Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Workplace Relations’ recommendations on the new Fair Work laws.

“The LHMU welcomes the Senate Committee’s recommendation that Fair Work Australia be given the power to terminate or vary sub-standard agreements,” said Louise Tarrant, LHMU national secretary.

“Luxury hotels across Australia are rushing to push through non-union agreements in a last-ditch effort to get around the Fair Work Bill which comes into effect on July 1. The Committee’s concern that employees should not be unfairly excluded from accessing the low-paid bargaining stream is especially timely for tens of thousands of hotel workers.

“We’re talking about an industry which has more low-paid workers than any other industry, where 65 percent or workers are employed on a casual basis and where 9.7 percent of workers are injured every year - an injury rate that’s only marginally behind the notorious construction industry.”

She said that rather than attempting to get around the provisions of the new laws by racing to impose new non-union agreements before July 1 the industry should take a long hard look at itself and clean up its act.

“Marriott and Starwood hotels appear to have embarked on the route of imposing non-union agreements, despite the fact that workers in two hotels have already voted down union-busting agreements.”

Workers at Brisbane’s Treasury Casino and Hotel voted against the management’s non-union deal, overwhelmingly rejecting attempts to force through an agreement.

“Treasury must be regretting their decision to force workers to vote on a non-union deal now that a massive majority has rejected it. Their achievement is a workforce united, a union-busting campaign in tatters and a worker campaign to win a better agreement that’s gaining momentum.

“Hotels thinking of adopting this strategy should be aware the LHMU will focus on organising hotel workers in workplaces where sub-standard agreements have been rushed through.”

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