“This federal election is about the rights of all working Australians and the threat of a future return to WorkChoices under the Coalition.” Paul Howes, AWU National Secretary said.
“The AWU will be campaigning right up to August 21 to ensure our members know the facts about the Coalition’s record of attacking workers’ rights and putting jobs and services for working families at risk.
“In this election working Australians have a clear choice between the Coalition and a rebranded WorkChoices and Labor which restored rights and protected jobs during the GFC.
“The 2010 election will be a referendum on the rights of people to have job security and decent working conditions.
“Australia’s economy is the best-performing in the developed world and 1000 new jobs a week have been created since the end of WorkChoices and the introduction of Labor’s Fair Work laws.
“Real wages have grown with low paid workers gaining a $26 a week pay increase and productivity is almost four times higher than under the Liberals’ last year in government.
“The Labor Government deserves credit for making a very solid start considering the difficulties of the GFC and working Australians and unions will expect more from its next term.
“The election of a Tony Abbott government will hurt working families.
“The Coalition opposes stimulus measures that are protecting hundreds of thousands of jobs and will cut government funding for jobs, infrastructure and important health and education services that families rely upon.
“The Coalition will abandon the National Broadband Network and other infrastructure projects and skills programs that are essential to drive national productivity.
“Workers will also be denied financial security in retirement by the Coalition’s refusal to support Labor’s move to increase national superannuation to 12%,” Paul Howes said.
