As Sydneysiders enjoy the benefits of Labour Day four Sydney Anglicans are weighing into the debate over what effects the proposed industrial relations reforms may have on the lives of Australian Christians and critiquing the coverage that Southern Cross has given to the issue so far.
The cover story of the September issue of Southern Cross featured Linda Farrar, a working mum from Narellan, who feared that the Federal Government's proposed IR reforms would have a negative impact on her employment security.
"I would not feel as secure if I wasn't employed as I am now. I haven't had to work Sundays often and it is the only time my husband and I have together," she says.
"We could lose any leverage we might have had and lose our jobs if we don't agree to all the things our bosses ask."
To more broadly canvas the issue, a unionist, a small business owner, an industrialist and an Anglican minister are giving their opinions on the possible effects of the proposed IR reforms.
THE UNIONIST
Barrie Hadley
What Linda said was true. If you are looking for a job and they ask you to sign the contract, you have to accept the conditions they give you. What power does a mother of two have to negotiate?
If your employer wants you in of a weekend, he'll have you in. When I was working on the docks they wanted you to be at the beck and call of the employer. Sometimes a ship would come in when we weren't available. The employer wanted a clause that he could call workers in on the weekend on normal rates. It was defeated then, but now it's just a contract clause away.
THE PIZZA SHOP OWNER
Craig Schwarze
The article was quite unfair. The first line was provocative " "Linda Farrar is a pharmacy assistant in Campbelltown who thinks John Howard is about to make life harder for Christian mums." Notice that it is "John Howard" who is giving a hard time to "Christian mums". The fiend!
I'm a big believer in a personal sabbath. But there is no reason why it must be Sunday. In fact, this whole campaign about "preserving Sunday" as a day of worship is quite bizarre. Sunday has been a fully fledged commercial day for many years now. For example, many people in my church head across the road for a meal after church. The only reason we can do that is because they are open on Sunday night.
Small business is incredibly hard. Half of small businesses go under within two years. The IR changes are about giving small business owners the flexibility they need to make their businesses viable. And it's viable businesses that provide jobs.
THE FACTORY OWNERS
The Lewarnes
The Lewarne family have had an involvement with Frontline Office Furniture, since it was founded by Rick Lewarne, son of Warwick and Robyn, 10 years ago.
"We try to be as supportive of [our 50] staff as possible but this has often caused problems, which the current unfair dismissal laws have increased. The laws are extremely onerous on small to medium sized businesses. Claims by former employees take up an enormous amount of management time, especially as the claims are frequently spurious or opportunistic.
"Frontline has had to defend claims by staff dismissed for: bullying, fighting fellow employees, illegal use of company vehicles (joyride from Sydney to Newcastle), theft of tools and finished products, abusing customers, and presenting for work affected by drugs.
"Even after the employees were counselled to correct their behaviour they still claimed they were unfairly dismissed. The courts treat them extremely leniently. If they fail to show up to the hearing, the case is held over to another day.
"Good employees have nothing to fear from the legislation as employers keenly seek them."
The Lewarnes also talk about jobs they have given to untrained youth and to men with a disability. For some, the factory is their family.
"We have had to sort out various personal problems, as the guys don't have the traditional family to call on for advice and support. Some of the staff have even visited the factory when they were off sick!"
THE ANGLICAN MINISTER
Paul Sampson
What church hasn't been adversely affected by Sunday sport and Sunday trading? But these are so entrenched, that talk of resisting the Government's new industrial relations (IR) laws on the basis that Sunday is sacred just seems like rehashing an argument we lost years ago.
Christians shouldn't be worried about such changes. Theologically, we know God is sovereign. We should also resist the paranoia provoked by over-the-top media reporting (including Southern Cross) which implies that workers will be forced into unconscionable new contracts by their current employers. This can not happen.
That said, there is a great deal still to be lost on this front. And the history of IR shows that once a provision is sold, it is usually sold forever. Therefore we need to think carefully about the IR proposals.
The Bible calls on Christians to promote godly relationships. Christians should fight for a community-minded view of workplace relations, and not the individualistic model promoted by the Government.
Paul Sampson is rector of Sylvania Anglican Church. He has been an IR practitioner within the steel, food and construction industries. This is an excerpt of a longer column that appeared in Southern Cross October 2005
Drawn from Southern Cross October - read more stories…
Comment on this article for the next issue of Southern Cross
