ALP pledges to give protection from unfair dismissal

All Australian workers would receive protection from being sacked unfairly if Labor wins the next federal election says the ACTU.

The ACTU today welcomed the announcement by ALP Leader Kevin Rudd that Labor will restore key workplace rights take away by the Howard Government's IR laws including protection from unfair dismissal.

The ALP has today committed to:

• Provide all workers with protection from unfair dismissal after a probationary period of 12 months employment for workers in small businesses with less than 15 employees and six months for all other workers.

• The abolition of AWA individual contracts with secret Government data revealed today showing that AWAs are cutting the pay and conditions of Australian workers at an alarming rate.

• Restoring workers rights to basic working conditions like penalty rates, overtime and public holiday pay.

The ACTU also welcomes Labor's commitment to a uniform, national industrial relations system through a cooperate approach with State Governments.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:

"Unions strongly believe that no worker should be treated unfairly or sacked unfairly.

We believe that Labor's policy respects this principle and restores a key right for workers that was removed under the Howard Government's new IR laws.

These announcements by Kevin Rudd will be welcomed by working families.

What we are now seeing is a clear choice for voters at the next election."