Councillor resists WorkChoices

It's clear that there is a concerted effort by the Federal Government to transfer council employees to the unfair WorkChoices system.

The Federal Workplace Relations Minister is openly backing councils across the country to transfer employees to WorkChoices.

Changes proposed under some Queensland Councils will see employees working a 45-hour week which means less time with their families and increased work pressure.

This will also allow councils to trade away other entitlements such as annual leave, overtime rates and sick leave and will also eliminate unfair dismissal claims.

If the Federal Government gets their way, the working conditions of council employees will be eroded.

I will continue to lobby my fellow councilors to resist WorkChoices at every possible opportunity.

Today I call on Jim Lloyd to stand up for Central Coast families by rejecting the push by his government to attack the working conditions of local council employees.

I have invited Jim Lloyd to attend meetings with council workers in the past and to date he has failed to take me up on this offer.

I again extend the offer to convene a meeting with council employees so Jim Lloyd can publicly reject his government's attempt to force WorkChoices upon local government employees.

Jim Macfadyen Pretty Beach