NSW: Labor won't allow low-wage replacements for sacked workers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2007
NSW: Labor won't allow low-wage replacements for sacked workers

The federal opposition says a Labor government won't allow a worker to be sacked and
replaced by someone at a lower wage.

Industrial relations spokeswoman JULIA GILLARD says a decision by the Australian Industrial
Relations Commission .. allowing a company to sack a worker and readvertise his job at
lower pay .. is deeply disturbing and unfair.

Ms GILLARD says under a RUDD Labor government and its new industrial relations system
.. workers will be able to complain if that happens to them.

The AIRC has heard the case of 42-year-old ANDREW CRUICKSHANK .. who was employed at
the Priceline retail chain until he was made redundant last November.

His salary package totalled 101 thousand dollars but when the job was subsequently
readvertised .. a salary package of only 75 thousand dollars was offered.

The AIRC yesterday found the company had terminated Mr CRUICKSHANK as a result of its
financial difficulties .. and a subsequent decision to reorganise its structure.

It ruled the grounds for sacking workers under Work Choices legislation for "operational
reasons" were much broader than the grounds that existed under the previous legislation.

AAP RTV acb/wjf/af/bart

KEYWORD: WORKPLACE GILLARD (SYDNEY)

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