The Labor Party’s industrial relations plans may never be introduced, even if Labor leader Mark Latham defies the odds and wins this month’s federal election.
The Australian Democrats, which could hold the Senate balance of power , has vowed to block Labor’s plan to abolish Australian Workplace Agreements.
Workplace relations spokesman Senator Andrew Murray said individual agreements (AWAs) made an important contributor to flexibility, competitiveness, employment, productivity, and high real wages.
Senator Murray said his party wanted to retain a range of wage setting options.
He said four out of five employees were not members of unions and union interests do not always coincide with the interests of Australia as a whole.
Senator Murray said there was room for improvement in the current system.
“We are particularly keen to see effective remedies for reported use of duress in AWA signings.”
It is understood that one option being considered by Labor to get around the Democrats is to withhold funding from the Office of the Employment Advocate, which would make it difficult for new AWAs to be registered.
