Rural Workers' to Present Log of Cla

Date: 03 July 2003

The premier rural union, The Australian Workers' Union, will this weekend table a Log of Claims for Rural Workers to the NSW Government at the Country Labor Annual Conference in Tamworth.

The Log of Claims forms a comprehensive agenda of reforms needed to improve conditions for workers outside the major metropolitan areas that the union believes the Government has a responsibility to implement.

The Australian Workers' Union, state secretary Russ Collison said that the Log of Claims comes on the back of the worst drought in twenty years that has made life a lot tougher for the average shearer, farm hand and horticultural worker whose reliance on seasonal work has always made life a struggle.

"Government has a responsibility to the bush and a Labor Government has a special responsibility to rural workers. With the Carr Government's victory in March we have a unique opportunity to set the framework for rural NSW over the next four years with a special focus on improving the lives of average country workers, who have never done it so tough," Mr. Collison said.

The Log of Claims consists of five key demands:

- A State Drought Summit - to bring together stakeholders to guide and develop Government policies to ensure the survival of the bush.
- Reform to the Rural Accommodation Act - to ensure farm and property workers are housed in adequate dwellings when working.
- Development of a National Water Policy - all state Labor Governments working together to ensure Australia's water supplies survive.
- A new Government Purchasing code - ensuring that Agriculture Department contractors' employees have a right to organise and are protected by the relevant OHS and Industrial legislation.
- Reforming Rural Workplace Safety practices - a new focus on changing rural work practices to minimise workplace deaths and injuries.

AWU Delegates to the Conference will be moving the Log of Claims for adoption by the Labor Party as policy for implementation by the Government.

For further information

Contact:	Paul Howes
Union:	The Australian Workers' Union Greater NSW Branch
Phone:	02 9897 3644
Contact Mobile:	0425 238 901
Fax:	02 9897 1481
Email:	phowes@awu-nsw.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.awu-nsw.asn.au

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