WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1983
5
+EMPLOYERS MENTALITY+ CRITICISED
***
UNOFFICIAL MEMBER REV HON PATRICK MCGOVERN WAS CRITICAL OF THE MENTALITY DISPLAYED BY EMPLOYERS OVER THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY), FATHER MCGOVERN SAID THERE WAS A PRESUMPTION, SOMETIMES OPENLY STATED, BUT MORE OFTEN IMPLIED, THAT CONSIDERABLE NUMBERS OF OUR WORKFORCE ARE ONLY WAITING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN LARGE SCALE MALINGERING AT THE EXPENSE OF THEIR EMPLOYERS.
+THIS IS SIMPLY NOT GROUNDED ON FACTS UNDER OUR PRESENT LIMITED LEGISLATION.
HE EXPLAINED THAT WHAT WAS GROUNDED ON FACT WAS WHAT HAPPENED IN SOME DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. MANAGEMENT, BY CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE OF DISTRUST, OF GRUDGING RELUCTANCE TO CONCEDE WORKERS RIGHTS WRECKED THE POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING UP DECENT AND HARMONIOUS INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND DROVE THE WORKERS INTO THEIR PRESENT STATE OF APATHY OR NON-COOPERATION.
NOT TO MENTION OF COURSE DRIVING THEM INTO THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO ARE ONLY TOO HAPPY TO EXPLOIT THEIR DISCONTENT FOR THE IR OWN UNDEMOCRATIC POLITICAL ENDS, HE ADDED,
FATHER MCGOVERN SAID DEJA VU OR NOT, I REPEAT THAT OUR HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES ARE FAR FROM THAT STAGE,
+BUT IF THE PRESENT INSENSITIVE ATTITUDE OF ORGANISED EMPLOYERS CONTINUES TO IMPLY THAT OUR WORKERS ARE A LAZY LOT OF POTENTIAL MAL INGERERS, NOT TO BE TRUSTED WITH BETTER CONDITIONS, THEN THOSE EMPLOYERS DESERVE THE SORT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS THEY WILL GET.
+THEY WILL GET THEM BECAUSE, AS IN SOME DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, THEY HAVE ASKED FOR THEM, HE SAID,
FATHER MCGOVERN SAID THERE WAS A FURTHER INSULTING IMPLICATION IN SOME EMPLOYERS' ATTITUDE.+
+THE PURPOSE OF THIS BILL - TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR THE FEW WORKERS WHO MAY HAVE THE MISFORTUNE TO SUFFER A LONG ILLNESS - WAS ALMOST SMOTHERED IN AN FRANTIC ENDEAVOUR TO CLOSE POSSIBLE LOOPHOLES WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO ABUSE.
+THE IMPLICATION WAS THAT THE MEDICAL PROFESSION BY AND LARGE ARE ONLY TOO READY TO SIGN MEDICAL CERTIFICATES FOR OVER-LONG SICK LEAVE.
*THEY, NOT JUST A FEW, BUT AS A PROFESSION, ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE MEANING OF REQUIRING HOSPITAL DOCUMENTATION.+
+ IF I WERE A DOCTOR I WOULD BE VERY LOATHE TO WASTE ANY TIME COOPERATING WITH SUCH A SCHEME.+
/FATHER MCGOVERN