The New South Wales industrial relations bill is expected to pass the lower house today, in the wake of a major protest outside the NSW Parliament in Sydney's Macquarie Street yesterday.

 

Unions NSW Secretary Mark Lennon said the rally by thousands of public service workers showed the level of anger about the changes introduced by the new laws.

 

A poll released yesterday, commissioned by Unions NSW, found  that 78.65% of respondents do not think the State Government has a mandate to remove the rights of nurses, ambulance officers, teachers, fire-fighters and prison officers to have wages and conditions determined by the independent umpire, the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.

On the question of whether nurses, ambulance officers, fire-fighters, teachers and prison officers are overpaid, 93.82% disagreed.

 

The survey also asked if respondents agreed with a 2.5 per cent cap on pay rises for these public sector workers, with 59.83% disagreeing.

 

“This is a horrendous vote of no confidence in Barry O’Farrell’s unfair attack on the rights of NSW public sector workers,” Unions NSW Secretary, Mark Lennon said.

 

Mr Lennon said that unions would continue their campaign against the bill, with rallies and events planned for the two month winter recess of parliament.

 

ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence has warned Premier Barry O’Farrell that the entire weight of the union movement will support public sector workers in NSW in opposing the proposed new laws.

 

In a letter to Mr O’Farrell, Mr Lawrence wrote: "If passed, the Bill would allow the government to impose its wages policy on its employees, and remove their right to bargain or take industrial action to secure better wages," Mr Lawrence wrote.
 
"This would not only be unjust, but it would be a clear breach of international law and Australia’s obligation to respect human rights, which include labour rights.
 
"It will mean that public service workers, who work everyday to provide the people of NSW with vital services, could have their pay and important conditions cut without consultation, and without remedy."