Victoria – the strike capital of the nation under Brumby

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) industrial dispute statistics released today show that Victoria was responsible for more than two-thirds of all days lost due to industrial disputes in Australia last year.

More than 33,000 working days were lost in Victoria in 2007 out of a national total of 49,700 days. The second-worst state for industrial disputes – New South Wales – lost only 6,800 days.

In the December quarter the record was even worse, with Victoria being responsible for more than 86 per cent of all working days lost nationally – 21,000 days out of total of 24,400 days. Victoria has now established a new record for the highest share of the nation’s industrial trouble since the ABS first produced data in 1985.

In Parliament today Mr Brumby tried to blame Victoria’s strikes on workers protesting against WorkChoices, but an examination of the breakdown of strikes by industry shows that 19,800 days of 24,400 days lost nationally were due to stoppages in education, health and community services sectors. The ABS did not publish a state-by-state breakdown of these figures.

Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Robert Clark said despite all of Labor’s claims, the Howard government’s reforms brought about a massive reduction in industrial disputes across the nation.

“However, the standout problem-centre is Victoria, particularly in the
Victorian public sector, and the reason is clear – the Brumby government just can’t manage,” Mr Clark said.

“At a time when other states are having their lowest level of industrial trouble something different is happening in Victoria, and that difference is John Brumby. We have a Premier who has introduced a culture of confrontation and friction.

“It is the nurses, the teachers and the health professionals in our hospitals who are taking to the streets to express their frustration and disillusionment with the Brumby Labor Government.

“These workers provide valuable services to all Victorians, but they are being ignored, shunned and attacked in their attempts just to be heard by the Brumby Government.

“Neither the Premier nor any of his colleagues, or even senior representatives, will actually sit down and talk meaningfully to workers or their representatives to understand their issues and reach fair and sensible solutions to their concerns,” Mr Clark said.