Police remain for prison guards

UNIONS have accused Tasmanian Greens leader Nick McKim and corrections Minister-that yesterday was below prison officers and replaced them with the police-behaving like John Howard and Peter Reith in beira-mar 1998.

Mr McKim yesterday defended his actions, accusing unions planning a blocking illegal "wild" prison Risdon Hobart for the ninth time in four years.

"It is unacceptable, and we are not running a prison so on my watch," he said. "Enough is enough. Unions need to understand that they cannot run prisons. The prison is performed by the prison management and, finally, for me as a Minister. "

Federal Greens leader Bob Brown defended his counterpart of the State. "Nick is a very competent Minister, treatment of a very difficult issue," said Senator Brown.

Mr McKim accused a head of Union of public sector senior planning a lock.

However, the Union of the public sector and Community leader involved Secretary Mat Johnston, denied.

Instead, Mr. Johnston has accused the Minister to provoke a great dispute in an action of "unprecedented, draconian" on par with the Howard Government in beira-mar 1998.

Prison officials, becoming for work at Risdon, main chain of State yesterday were stood down if they refused to guarantee to all its functions.

This followed a resolution by prison officers on Saturday they would force a lock, where prisoners remain in their cells, when a group of tactical response unit was removed from the maximum security prison.

The TRG Risdon had been to protect the prison staff since last September, when a major disruption led to prison six agents, several seriously injured.

Mr McKim said that a risk assessment had found the continued presence of TRG unjustified.

At least 26 agents prison were stood down without paying, while the police at least 10 and up to 16-told by a source for special operations-took its place.

The COMMUNIST PARTY believes that the dispute will increase and could spread to all prisons of the State as prison officers refuse to be transferred to do the work of those who was down.

"The Minister's action is very surprising, given their rhetoric around being a friend of person working in Tasmania," said Mr Johnston.

"What we saw here is the introduction of the police to fill the posts of people who are willing to do their jobs.

"The last people to do this in Australia was the Howard Government-Patrick Reith in dispute.

"Even Prime Minister Howard and (labour relations) Minister Reith police used in an industrial dispute existing-we've seen the Minister today is actually bringing in an industrial dispute through the use of police".

Mr Johnston, said a blockade the Union would not have occurred without a vote on the site yesterday morning and that Mr McKim had "hasty" industrial action.

Randolph Wierenga, President of the Police Association of Tasmania, said that the involvement of the police was regrettable, but they had the obligation to maintain order.

"Isn't an ideal situation and will impact the provision of service in other areas, Mr Wierenga said.

Liberals face State with the Union, with the corrections spokesman, Vanessa Goodwin accusing McKim Lord have a style of "dictator" and "hop ... the extreme action".

The dispute is before the Tasmanian Industrial Commission.

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Evans probes foreign labour exploitation

Workplace relations Minister Chris Evans has sought an urgent briefing of fair work Australia and Australia building watchdog to ensure employers who exploit foreign workers are being investigated.

Senator Evans said he was increasingly concerned by reports of companies trying to exploit overseas workers and undermining wages and conditions of Australian workers.

Senator Evans "Australian workers have priority for the Australian employment," he said.

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Employers can sponsor workers under 457 visas if Australian workers are not available to fill those jobs, but visa rules are clear.

"Employers may face penalties for contractors who do not have rights to work in Australia or overseas hiring workers under conditions not equivalent to Australians," Senator Evans said.

The Minister said that he would meet with Nick Wilson of Ombudsman fair working Australian building and construction Commissioner Leigh Johns in the coming days to ensure the reported incidents are being investigated properly.

Senator Evans said that "the Government will not tolerate Australians being forced out of work as a result of illegal and abusive practices,".

Foreign workers played a key role in meeting skills shortages, but could not be used as a cheap source of work and were offered the same protections against Australian exploitation as workers under the law.

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AAA appoints Clarke to go

The underlying connection was closed: a connection that was expected to be kept active was terminated by the server. The Accommodation Association of Australia's industrial relations unit will be led by Ross Clarke, the former Queensland barrister with management and consulting experience in the workplace relations area.

Commenting on his appointment, Clarke said an initial focus for his unit would be to speak to the Accommodation Association's membership about their key issues and how they would like to address them.

"What I hope to achieve at the Association is increased collaboration between all major stakeholders as a way to increase permanency, productivity, compliance and skills.

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Vague qualifying fall 1.2%

Qualified job vacancies fell by 1. 2 per cent in February from the previous month, national data shows.

The index of vacancies qualified Department of education, employment and workplace relations in February was 40. 4 points, 11. 1 per cent lower than in February 2010.

Internet wave index climbed by Department of 0. 5 percent for the month of January for 92 .7 points, 15.3 per cent higher than in January 2010.

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Vacancies in February fell in all three occupational groups monitored by the Department.

Professionals were down 0. 7 per cent, associated fell 4 professionals. 8 per cent and trades decreased by 1.7 per cent.

The largest decrease was recorded for construction workers, down 6. 0 percent, while the biggest increase was in electrical and electronic, climbing 4. 7 per cent.

Skilled vacancies fell in all Member States during February, South Australia, where they increased by 0.6 per cent.

The largest decreases were recorded in the Northern Territory, to 3. 6 percent, followed by victory, out of 3. 0 percent.

Throughout the year, Western Australia was the only State to record an increase by 7.2 per cent.

The largest declines were observed in Queensland, down 30. 1 per cent.

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Main index of employment falls again

Main index of federal government employment fell for a third consecutive month in February, but it is too early to suggest employment growth has been slowing.

The Department of education, employment and labour relations, says its monthly leading indicator of employment was 0.089 in February compared with 0.096 in January.

The Department "is too early to confirm that the pace of job growth fell to below its trend rate of 2. 3 percent per year, because the indicator fell to less than six consecutive months ", said on Wednesday.

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The main indicator of jobs anticipates movements in employment growth cycle, with a turning point confirmed after six months consecutive moves in the same direction.

The weighted indicator has four components-newspaper job ads ANZ, Dun and Bradstreet employment expectations, Westpac-Melbourne Institute leading index of economic activity and the consumer sentiment index of Westpac-Melbourne Institute.

Workforce data official January will be released on Thursday.

Center economists forecasts an increase of 20000 employment with the unemployment rate remaining at 5. 0 percent.

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Backpay requests loading vacation feared

Employers fear hit by significant backpay declarations after the Government Gillard companies must pay annual leave loads into opportunities when workers resign or are made redundant.

Accusing the Government to deliver a victory to the unions, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and industry said yesterday evening employers left decision through a variety of industries potentially responsible for significant extra payments to employees who resigned or were dismissed since 2009.

Peter Anderson, Chief Executive of the Chamber, said that the move by the Ombudsman's job fair, based on the opinion of the Australian Government Attorney, was in disagreement with decisions by former Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

According to match vista by The Australian, the Ombudsman indicated previously considered that employers were not required to pay leave loading after termination, except for a lease agreement or workplace.

However, the Ombudsman has written for the camera, saying that the AGS now has "indicated a contrary opinion" and the Ombudsman was "currently persuaded by his reasoning".

Mr Anderson said that employers faced paying loading even in cases where a premium modern considered loading does not apply, or was silent on the issue.

"If this interpretation is correct is an interpretation which applies the national employment standards came into operation in 2009," he said. "Potentially Employers will face retrospective backpayment applications by persons who resigned and were dismissed and do not receive your 17.5 per cent load".

Mr Anderson has written for the workplace relations Minister federal, Chris Evans, asking him to intervene and remedy this situation "unacceptable".

But Senator Evans night stayed with the decision.

"The Government believes that employees should not be disadvantaged for not taking their accumulated annual leave before finishing his work," he said.

"National employment standards provide that when an employee's employment that must be paid for any accrued annual leave entitlements at the rate that would have been paid had the annual license.

"The Ombudsman fair labour recently consulted stakeholders because there was some uncertainty among parties on the national minimum standard for calculating an employee's right to the payment of accrued annual leave when your employment ends.

"This problem has now been resolved. FWO recommended parts that annual leave loading is paid when accrued annual leave is paid when employment ends. "

Mr Anderson said last night that the Government's position was "regrettable".

He said that "the Government is prepared for a legal interpretation substitute your own industrial relations court,".

"To raise costs and do anything about it-that is very timely. He will hand the trade union movement a win that (he) could not achieve the industrial tribunal, and if the Union sometimes the agreement wouldn't request loading of the Court.

"I think is a very unsatisfactory and opportunistic approach to industrial relations."

In a statement, Chief Executive of Ombudsman work fair Michael Campbell indicated employers couldn't be processed retrospectively.

"The FWO recognizes that some parties have a vision which is contrary to their interpretation that charging an annual license is any right of accumulated annual leave on termination of employment, where it is otherwise paid during employment," he said.

"The FWO is taking and will take a common sense approach to deal with cases of non-compliance, we can identify.

"Where can we find an employer in the future depend on good faith opinion earlier, we are going to be fair and flexible and deal with the issue through voluntary compliance.

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Warning about rates of pay credits 24pc

The Union of the largest building will pay increases of up to 24 per cent in four years, triggering warnings employer salary boost creates inflationary pressure and force the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates.

The construction, forestry, mining and Energy Union yesterday revealed he would seek annual salary increases averaging 6 per cent on behalf of construction workers at national level, with the Union to seek agreements for three and four years throughout the industry.

Dave Noonan, National Secretary of the Union's construction Division, said that its members will not accept any conditions being traded off in exchange for amounts payable. "Is a highly productive industry and there are very healthy profits," said the Australian weekend.

But the master builders Australia said that the payment request was not sustainable, which threaten investment and increase the pressure on interest rates if it was successful.

"The claim of the CFMEU comes as no surprise, but it is clearly disappointing for a number of reasons," Chief Executive MBA, Wilhelm Harnisch said. "The first is the unwillingness of the Union to discuss the productivity offsets. Clearly, there is room for it. Without it, increase wages by 18 percent over three years, or 24 per cent in four years is not sustainable.

"The claim is far ahead of where the economy and building and construction industry is in. All this will do is tent investment in this sector.

"The need for unions to accept their responsibility not to raise labour costs to the point that the investment is reduced because everything this can lead to a reduction of jobs".

He said the stimulus program from the federal Government had attended the construction industry.

"The feedback we received from our members is that the claim is not sustainable," he said. "Conditions are mild. The BER program has supported the activity, but there's little about books. This could cause inflationary pressures and forcing the Bank to raise interest rates ".

But Mr Noonan rejected the criticism. "We do not accept the usual hysteria of master builders. I call them the wailing widows of job options. Is entirely predictable.

"We have no doubt that they have an ability to pay. The results of profit are very strong and there are a lot of work getting in the industry.

Mr Noonan said that workers had incurred the cost of living increases, as well as increases in interest rates.

He said that the allegations that vary between different sites and different States.

"There are a number of ongoing discussions, but you can say that our claims are approximately 6 percent per year," he said. "There are some discussions going on for three-year agreements and some discussions going on for four-year agreements".

He said that the granting of credit could not be interpreted as a threat to a leakage of wages.

The Union will push the inserted clauses in agreements that seek to eliminate the so-called "bogus contractor", saying that the practice was threatening the jobs of the members of the Union.

But Mr Harnisch said that employers wanted the Union to be more flexible about rostered days off for workers.

In evidence before the Commission of economy of the House of representatives last week, Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens warned that labour shortages likely to emerge over the next few years would be a test for the Government's labor laws.

The President of the Commission, Craig Thompson, tried to get Mr Stevens said that industrial relations laws of Government were causing any leakage of salary. But Mr Stevens said it was too early to tell.

Mr Stevens "test will come as labour market tightens," he said. "If it does, how we think maybe in the next two years, the question is: come through that reasonably well, as I think I've done primarily on the earnings front two or three years ago? We, as well as that with the changes in the regulations have been made in the meantime?

"The evidence is not really available to give an answer yet.

"We'll find out over the next two or three years".

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