PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING MP
SPEECH AT THE LAUNCH OF TARGET/ TCFUA DEED OF AGREEMENT,
TARGET RETAIL STORE, MARIBYRNONG, MELBOURNE
3 NOVEMBER 1995
E& OE PROOF COPY
This is a milestone indeed, a landmark deed of co-operation, signed
between a major union and a major retailing organisation. But it is more than
that it is something which is underlining what the whole spirit of co-operation
at the workplace is about, about the consensual model that we have in this
country in operating industrial relations. That is, a model where we believe
that when business and labour come together and decide to run the economy
co-operatively on a consensual basis, better things happen. We end up with
low inflation, more growth, more employment, and a better environment at the
workplace. As you know, we have had I gave some figures yesterday that
this year, we have lost 70 working days per thousand people at
work... . whereas, under John Howard, in 7 years during the period of
Government in which he was Treasurer, they lost 590 working days per
thousand. 590 compared to 70. Of course, in those days, the economy was
strike-prone, there was no co-operation, there was a conflict model. As a
consequence, we're seeing a much more cohesive, industrial scene a more
co-operative workplace, where we have got values of co-operation in the
workplace, of consultation with employers, and, of course, under enterprise
bargaining, a whole different notion of how the economy should run, how
businesses should operate, how the employees can help the businesses be
more productive, and how that extra earnings can be split between profits
and wages.
Now, that's the model that's the Accord model. What our opponents are
about, basically is back to the conflict model. They are basically back to what
they call labour market reform and flexibility, which they really mean flexibility
downwards it means losses in pay and conditions, and that's essentially
what they're about. Now, what this is about is something completely different.
It's about recognising the fact that there are 300,000 home-based workers in
the textile industry, that for every worker that works in the textile industry at
work, there are 14 that work at home. And that's an enormous workforce of
outworkers away from work and at home. And these are mostly women
mostly women from non-English speaking backgrounds, and most of them are
Asian. And they are set up classically to be exploited by unscrupulous
employers who will use them in the most unscrupulous ways to get work from
them for essentially small change. Now, what this landmark deed of cooperation
is about, is about one very large and important company Target
showing what a good corporate citizen means by writing down what the ethics
of a good employer should be. And I think Target has proved itself to be one
of Australia's best corporate citizens in both the way it's behaved, and in
doing this, it has declared that any exploitation of workers is unacceptable.
And it has told this to its suppliers, so it's saying to suppliers don't supply us
with garments which have been put together with blood money. Don't supply
us with garments which have been put together by usury and exploitation of
women at home.
Now, this is a big statement, and it says much about the ethical issues in the
labour market, and much about the ethics in the way in which the Australian
industrial relations are being transformed. Now, Target worked with the
TCFUA to develop this agreement, and Target has been recognised by the
union as an outwork best practice organisation. And that's going to matter, I
think, in terms of the industrial relations that Target has, because I think the
whole union movement appreciates this sort of sentiment, as does the
Government, and that's why I'm here to mark the event. The execution of the
deed of co-operation between Target and the TCFUA will, I think, be a
watershed. It will help bring outworkers into the mainstream labour market,
into the world of fair wages and decent conditions into the world of social
and economic justice. Now, this is what it means, and it is walking away from
the dog-eat-dog kind of labour market that John Howard and Peter Reith
want. It's walking away from the dog-eat-dog society that Jeff Kennett wants.
It's walking to decency and fairness and equity in the way we live, the way we
relate to one another, and we don't pretend we don't know there's 300,000
people working out there in sub-economic conditions. And we don't pretend
that they're out of sight and out of mind. Rather, we put them up in lights and
say that they are as much a part of the workforce as anybody else, and that
they need to be treated properly.
The Agreement, I think, is in line with the spirit and letter of the Accord, and
it's in line with the motivating ideal which runs like a seam through our
national life, and that is as I often say, reflecting what I in fact find here in
Australia that we are strongest, all of us, when we work together. When we
work together and have regard for one another, we're stronger and we're
better. So, I am very glad that the Government has been able to assist in the
promotion of this agreement and the protection of outworkers. And in
response to a request from the TCFUA, we fronted the National Outworker
Campaign through our workplace reform program, which reached into the
community. Now, John Howard attacks us giving money to unions. You will
often find the Coalition attacking the Government for so-called " giving money
to unions". But part of it is something like this the Workplace Reform
Program, and the National Outworker Information Campaign, which finds out
about the conditions people are working in at home in these circumstances,
and then tries to find out the truth about their conditions, to educate workers
about their entitlements, and employers about their responsibilities. In other
words, it's money well-spent, and money properly spent.
The result of the campaign was the TCFUA's report " The Hidden Cost of
fashion", which shed considerable light on the vulnerability of workers. Now,
in our Budget of 95-96, the Government announced a new $ 33 million
development package for the TCF industries, which includes funding for a
new Outworker Information Campaign, and research into contracting out in
the clothing sector. And Accord Mark VIII recognises special needs of homebase
workers, and committed the Accord partners including the
Government, of course to work towards ensuring that minimum standards
apply to outworkers as much as to other workers.
Now, can I also say we have acted on the social security front as well.
Employers have been known to force out workers to take the dole illegally,
saying get out there and take the dole, stay at home and make work, and we
will give you something for the piece work at home, in order to drive down
their wage bill. This is the sleaziest kind of exploitation. And they threaten to
expose their employees if they speak out, so that there are a lot of people
particularly women frightened about the fact that they might have been on
the dole, but at the same time earning some piece work income from an
employer. Now, because the situation for outworkers has been so difficult,
and because without special assistance many of them would remain outside
the mainstream, the Government has now amended the social security
legislation to provide an amnesty for affected workers. This means that the
social security debts of outworkers in the clothing and textile industries will be
waived if DSS is advised of undisclosed income between the 1st of
December 1995, and the 31st of May 1996. So, we should say to all those
people out there especially, and in the main, women who might have
picked up the dole, who may have picked up the dole, but who have been
doing piece work for an unscrupulous employer, and even perhaps been
threatened by an unscrupulous employer with being exposed, don't be afraid
any longer. You can tell DSS about it, and you will qualify under the
amnesty. So, we are very proud as a Government to have played a role in
buttressing the protection extended to home-based workers, and I think the
deed of co-operation will be good for Australian workers, and it will be good
for Australia.
It's the sort of thing let me say unambiguously that the Labor Party stands
for. I'm very pleased to see Bob Sercombe and Kelvin Thomson with us
today, our Candidates in the next Federal election. And these are the sort of
values that we stand for. I mean, the Labor Party is a community-based
party. It represents no vested interests it represents just the broad mass of
the people, and these are the things the thing we're doing today is the sort
of the thing that only Labor Governments stand for, that you will never see
from the Tories. I made this point yesterday about Jeff Kennett I mean here,
he is making the run for the bottom line of the Budget, but he never knows
when to stop. He never knows what is important to a civilised society. And
when someone has had a heart attack, or a child is threatened, there should
be an ambulance there to pick them up. There should be a hospital to
receive them. And getting to the point where we are putting chains on railway
station toilet blocks is about the bottom of the pack. And now, of course,
herding vehicles herding vehicles, funnelling vehicles, siphoning vehicles
into roads which are just a common right.
I mean, there is a thing called the social contract. And the social contract
means that you have the right of free movement, the right to do things. Sure,
we obey the laws of the nation and the state, we're all part of the contract
providing one partner doesn't squeeze it too much. But in Victoria it is being
squeezed too much the social contract is being put under threat. And when
they brazenly stare down the parliament and say things that are not true, Mr
Kennett chides journalists " well, what are you going to do about it?".
Meanwhile, the flags are hanging at 45 degrees outside the Reichstag over
there in Treasury Place. And he's for labour market flexibility, like John
Howard and Peter Reith they're for labour market flexibility. Which means
they will all see the executives taking very strong increases in pay, they all
think they should enjoy a lifestyle to which they have become accustomed.
But they would be very happy to have migrant women, from non-English
speaking backgrounds, working away at home on sub-economic rates of pay
and saying to them if you happen to be on the dole at any stage, we will
threaten you with exposure. I mean, this is the sort of ethic that comes from
the sort of " greed is good" mentality. So, there is something important being
done here today, about the values of this country the ideals of Australia,
about the egalitarianism, about the fairness. And when a big company like
Target stands up, and a big union stands up, and join hands together, in
national terms, it is entirely noteworthy. It's entirely noteworthy, and it is an
important change to the fabric of our society, and the sort of country we have
become, and I hope we will always be. So I'm very happy indeed to formally
present copies of this Deed of Co-operation to Target and the TCFUA for
execution, and with all the hopes and expectations for a better deal for
workers. And can I again extend my very sincere congratulations to John
Irish, to Tony Woolgar, to Brendan Soraghan who have been involved in the
negotiation, to the TCFUA in the broad, to Kevin Boyd as President, and just
say how different, and how nice it is, to be at a function like this, instead of
some grasping, greedy little outfit that wants to rip off ordinary Australian
people to line their pockets and make their corporate earnings just a little bit
bigger. Thank you very much indeed.
ends.