QUEENSLAND'S government has brought back strong pro-union policies in the public sector, which the opposition sees as creeping union control over the state. 
 
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk says the policies, uploaded to a government website last week without any other notification, will make workplaces safer.

Government agencies are required to encourage rather than "passively accept" union membership and activities.

New government employees will be handed a union application form and information about their relevant union upon induction.

Unions will also be handed the details of all new public servants.

Ms Palaszcuzk says the provisions existed for at least a decade before the previous Liberal National Party government came to power.

"The unions are there to stand up for workers in this state," she said.

But Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said the revisions showed the government was increasingly beholden to the unions.

"What we're seeing is a situation where Labor is having to pay the piper," he said.

"Those that supported them in government are going to have a free and unfettered reign in impugning the independence of the public sector."

Under the policy change union delegates will also be allowed to use state resources for union activities and paid education leave will be granted delegates studying industrial relations.

The premier strongly denied Queensland's increasingly vocal unions had requested the changes.

"No, not at all," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"But there have been discussions over the years when we were in opposition and we believe it's the right thing to do."

Mr Springborg also criticised Labor for posting the document on a website without any other notification.

"There was no media or fanfare around the release of this policy like we've seen with the other 'get-squares' this Labor government has rolled out against the former LNP government," he said.

"Queenslanders deserve better than a sneaky Labor government beholden to union bosses."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/qld-encourages-unions-in-pub...

Gee......who'd a thunk it was evah possible that a Labor Government would encourage union membership?

Bizarre isn't it!

Dnarever wrote on May 18^th, 2015 at 7:37pm:


How did the Liberals attack workers rights? Unions weren't banned from government buildings. Employees weren't banned from joining a Union. What Labor is doing is effectively trying to pressure workers (new and current) into joining a Union due to plummeting membership numbers.

Aussie wrote on May 18^th, 2015 at 7:32pm:


Encourage, eh? Yeah - like, "Okay, we can't give Tom the promotion - it's got to go to Harry." "Why?" "Because Harry's a paid-up member of the PSU, while Tom refuses to join!"

Its time wrote on May 18^th, 2015 at 7:41pm:


What a load of crap. The Unions gave me nothing. I went to University, studied hard, got my qualification, a job, worked hard and saved hard for my lifestyle. The Unions can go jump if they expect a thankyou from me - I got where I am today all by myself.

Aussie wrote on May 18^th, 2015 at 7:41pm:


"Unions will also be handed the details of all new public servants." Why would you do that if not to pressure new employees to join a Union?

Armchair_Politician wrote on May 18^th, 2015 at 7:42pm:


Geez you must be the only person that relinquinshed his penalty rates , weekends, sick leave and a plethora of other conditions and entitlements , but we both know you did no such thing , or did you think it was the company owners that gave this all to you out of the genorosity of their hearts

Aussie wrote on May 18^th, 2015 at 7:47pm:


That's not what they mean and you know it (or ought to). This directive will mean government departments will effectively become recruiting offices for Unions and will have to pass on the personal details of new employees to Union officials.