“The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) has issued advice to its members about the ACTU “change the rules” protest rallies. Ai Group has advised that employees who fail to attend work so as to participate in one of the ACTU rallies starting would in most circumstances be engaging in unlawful industrial action. We have also reminded members that it is unlawful for an employer to pay employees for periods of unlawful industrial action,” Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, said.
“The Fair Work Ombudsman has written to representative bodies, including Ai Group, warning employees of the potential consequences of taking unlawful industrial action and warning employers of the potential consequences of paying employees for periods of unlawful industrial action. Ai Group has circulated the FWO’s letter to its members.
“The ACTU’s campaign is aimed at convincing the Labor Party to commit to making sweeping changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 if elected, which would give unions a lot more power and impose major restrictions on businesses. A lot of the information which the ACTU is distributing as part of its campaign is misleading and inaccurate.
“Ai Group has published fact sheets on numerous relevant topics to set out the facts and to emphasise the shared interests of businesses and workers in relation to:
- Casual Employment
- Part-time Employment
- Self Employment
- Labour Hire
- Productivity
- Company profits
- Migration
- Diversity & Inclusion
“There is a lot more that unites businesses and workers, than divides them. The ACTU’s disruptive and divisive campaign is not in anyone’s interests, other than the unions’ self-interests. The ACTU could have easily organised their rallies on the weekend but they have decided not to do so to maximise disruption for businesses. Union leaders will no doubt be getting paid for the days when the rallies are held, but they expect workers to attend when they know that it is unlawful for any business to pay an employee for a period of unlawful industrial action,” said Mr Willox.
Source: Ai Group