The Wire

Unions are up in arms around the country, and the Tertiary Education Union is set to take launch a day of action tomorrow, in response to the Industrial Relations reforms announced by the Howard Government last week. The Australian Council of Trade Unions released a survey this week denouncing the reforms, saying that most workers were against the changes and that they would have a detrimental affect on the work place and individual workers. According to the survey, 62% of respondents believe wages will be reduced under the Government’s workplace changes while 69% believe that the government’s changes will create more fear in the workplace. With the State Premiers and unions around Australia vowing to fight the changes, including in the High Court, Charles Gregory reports on the likely success of a High Court challenge and what the changes mean for relations between the states and the Federal government.