Mirabella releases ACTU strategy manual

Sophie Mirabella, the Federal Member for Indi, has today released the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ Federal Election 2007 Union Political Strategy Manual. (3.5Mb pdf file)

“I am releasing the ACTU’s political campaigning document so people are informed of the steps that the union movement is going to in deceiving people with their rhetoric on the Government’s new workplace relations system,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“ACTU president Sharan Burrow is in town today. She will talk about the rights of workers but the only thing she is really concerned about is the rights of union bosses.”

“If anyone wants to start believing the unions and their campaign of misinformation and deceit, they should take a look at a number of examples in this document where union members are forced to misinform members of the community,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“For instance, page 46 of the manual gives the instruction that when talking to members of the community about the laws, there is the invocation: “Don’t read out (Minimum wage, 4 weeks annual leave…10 Sick/carer’s leave; 38 hour week; Unpaid parental leave”).”

“In other words, this manual implores union heavies to lie about the Government’s policy and misinform.”

“And it seems that no-one is safe. ACTU President Sharan Burrow said on radio recently: ‘We’re going to work in sporting areas and volunteer organisations like Meals on Wheels’.” (3AW, 13 June 2007)

“Imagine opening your front door to Sharan Burrow and her union bosses who want to supposedly educate you about your rights at work when they give you your meal. This is from the woman who – for her television advertising – said: “I need a mum or a dad of someone who's been seriously injured or killed. That would be fantastic.” It’s a disgrace,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“This document is designed to do one thing: elect a Rudd/Union Government.”

“The union movement is not interested in workers. Its only interest lies in gaining more power for union bosses. The unions play the Leader of the Opposition like a patsy and in turn, the unions determine the policy of the Labor Party,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“More than 70% of Labor’s front bench is made up of union bosses. The unions call the shots for Labor.”

“The decent people of the north-east do not deserve to be treated like this and they do not deserve this deceitful campaign from the ACTU,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.