Federal Member for Kalgoorlie and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and Resources Barry Haase has called for labour unions to take a reality check on current national and world economic circumstances.
“Unions have to be up to date,” he said. “They must reflect what’s going on in the resources industry today.
“They must prove to be far more reactive than many in dealing with the bull markets of Chinese consumption.
“We saw a tardy Labor state government fail to react to the enormous growth rate of the Pilbara iron ore industry.
“It’s important to realise that with any market downturn, job security relies on a close working relationship between the companies which invest the capital and their employees who do the work,” he said.
Haase made the comments in response to calls by the Australian Mines and Metals Association, for changes to the Rudd Government’s Fair Work Bill.
AMMA Chief Executive Steve Knott said in December that the Fair Work Bill represented the biggest increase in trade union powers since Federation, added no value, and would cost jobs.
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