The Victorian Greens are calling on new Premier Ben Carroll to guarantee Labor will not water down its WFH laws to appease big business, following reports he will reopen negotiations with business lobby groups and amend the legislation in the Upper House.
The Greens strongly support giving workers the right to work from home where reasonable and practical, saying the reforms would particularly benefit women, carers and workers struggling with the cost of living.
WFH is already a normal part of working life for hundreds of thousands of Victorians. It can save workers money on transport and meals, increase workforce participation and give people back hours otherwise spent commuting. The Greens say workers who can reasonably do their jobs from home should have that right protected rather than being at the mercy of individual employers.
Victorian Greens Leader Ellen Sandell said the AFR report was an alarming early sign that Premier Carroll’s promised pro-business reset would come at the expense of workers.
The warning comes after a historic year of industrial action across Victoria, with teachers, education support staff, firefighters, Parks Victoria staff, council workers, health workers and others fighting for better pay and conditions. The Greens are currently backing teachers and education support staff fighting for a pay rise and better working conditions.
As stated by Victorian Greens Leader Ellen Sandell:
“Ben Carroll has been Premier for barely five minutes and already workers’ rights are on the chopping block.
“WFH isn’t the only test for the new Premier. Teachers and education support staff are fighting for a 35 per cent pay rise, and today Victoria’s public hospital doctors announced strike action. Labor should not be at war with the workers who keep our schools and hospitals running. Premier Carroll needs to come to the table and deliver.”
As stated by Victorian Greens Workers Rights spokesperson Aiv Puglielli:
“Working people fought hard for the flexibility to work from home. The new Premier needs to guarantee he won’t trade that away behind closed doors with business lobbyists.
“The Greens will always stand with workers – for the right to work from home, for decent wages and conditions, and for the right to organise, protest and strike.”
