Abbott's employment minister Abtez (another bitter old white man) seems to be caught in the same self delusion as Abbott; that by doing a little slight of hand nobody will notice. Seriously, how much are we paying these fuckwits?
Anyway, so the senate overturns some gov decision that would've seen commonwealth cleaners wages drop by as much as $172wk. These are people who already aren't exactly rolling in it. What does employment minister Abetz do? From the United Voice cleaners union:
Federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz has committed an act of political bastardry by back-flipping on Government commitments with his deceitful attempt to betray Commonwealth cleaners.In short he tried to subvert the process of parliament and the decision it was making.
This week the Senate voted to protect the Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines, which ensure fair pay and working conditions of cleaners working in Commonwealth buildings.
But at the same time, Senator Abetz secretly moved to abolish the Guidelines and rip away more than 20% of the cleaners’ wages by reducing their minimum wage from $22.02 per hour to $17.49 per hour.
This means some Commonwealth cleaners could lose up to $172 a week.
David O’Byrne, Acting National Secretary of United Voice says “United Voice is taking advice on what seems to be a deliberate attempt by Senator Abetz to subvert the parliamentary process.
“While the Parliament was debating this matter, there was not a hint from the Government of what they were doing secretly behind closed doors.
“This makes a mockery of Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s statement in Parliament on 16 June when he said ‘I want to make it absolutely crystal clear that no cleaner's pay is reduced.’
“We call on the Prime Minister to do be true to his word.
“Tony Abbott needs to pull his Employment Minister into line, to do the right thing by the Parliament and by the cleaners who work so hard to make sure the Governments’ buildings are clean and safe.
“The past 24 hours have been bitter for cleaners. Yesterday they celebrated the Senate’s recognition that the Guidelines are essential to ensure fair and reasonable working conditions. Today they face the future with anxiety and uncertainty,” says David O’Byrne. link
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