Concern for the next generation of workers dominated last week’s Secure Jobs Forum hosted by the Unions Mid-North Coast in Port Macquarie.
Over 40 locals attended the event representing a cross section of workers in education, healthcare, transport, construction, public and private sector.
At the forum Elizabeth Raine from the Uniting Church Mid North Coast Presbytery spoke of her firsthand experience with casual employment and young people.
“My son was injured at work,” she said,
“We were shocked to learn that he wasn’t being paid sick leave and that he was actually engaged as a casual on trainee wages.
“What really hurt was that despite being keen to return to work after he’d recovered we found out the boss had sacked him.
“As a casual you have no rights, we hear too often of young people being exploited as casual labour and ending up in trouble. If we want a vibrant healthy community here on the Mid-North Coast we need to think carefully about the impact casual work will have in 20 years’ time.”
NSW Nurses Association representative and Port Macquarie public health registered nurse Nola Scilinato spoke at the forum saying “casual employment isn’t working well for nursing”.
“We have a real problem attracting nurses to work in healthcare on the Mid-North Coast because the majority of positions are only offered on a fixed term or casual basis to start with,” she said.
“If you’re going to uproot your family and move for work it needs to be permanent work to give you a sense of security and that you won’t end up with no job after the expense of moving.
“We also heard last night nurses express concern that when they retire they’ll be leaving nursing in a worse shape than when they joined. There are too many casual positions for what is an ongoing demand for healthcare and aged care. Nurses want permanent jobs.”
Construction industry official Jim Hutcheon said it was good to see labour hire workers attend the Secure Jobs Forum.
“It just shows that despite being fearful of their own futures but for some workers it’s getting to a point where enough is enough,” he said.
“We’ve heard so many stories of workers doing full time hours and more, year in year out, working on road infrastructure projects up and down the Pacific Highway.
“Because construction companies engage the bulk of their workers through labour hire everyone misses out.
“Young people are missing out too because there’s just not enough apprenticeships being offered on what are Government funded projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has established an independent inquiry to examine the causes as well as the impacts of this worrying trend. In particular, the growth of insecure work and how it affects workplace rights, family finances and Australian society.
ACTU President Ged Kearney said “submissions from casual workers who told their stories last night in Port Macquarie will be important for the Inquiry to assess the situation in regional Australia and be able to make recommendations appropriate to regional economies.”
The Inquiry will tour regional Australia in February and March taking evidence of insecure work from witnesses and seeking submissions from community groups, trade unions and businesses.
Submissions to the Inquiry are accepted online www.securejobs.org.auby email or over the phone by calling 1300 362 223.
