WorkLife is an alliance of groups and concerned individuals, working together to build community awareness of the inherent unfairness and backwardness of the newly-passed IR laws.

Who are we?

Our Purpose

General Principles

Our Aims

How we operate

What we are going to do

Aims and terms of reference
(decided at initial meetings on Wed 22 and Wed 29  March, 2006)

Who Are We?

We are people with a diverse range of opinions and experiences who come together united in our belief that this new industrial regime is not in the best interests of working people, families, the general community, or the economy.

The alliance is broad-based, comprising members or representatives of:

• Community and social action groups
• Concerned individuals
• Political parties and political groups
• The trade union movement

Our Purpose

WorkLife has been formed for the purpose of bringing groups and individuals together in an alliance campaigning to raise awareness in the community about your right to a fair, just and dignified life at work (whether currently employed or out of work) and after work in your leisure and family time.

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General Principles

The general principles that inform the specific aims and objectives of WorkLife are that:

• Trade unionism and collective bargaining are essential elements of a healthy, democratic, civil society
• All employees, especially the lowest paid and the most vulnerable, are entitled to fair and equitable pay and working conditions
• Industrial disputes be resolved through negotiation, including the use of independent conciliation and arbitration processes
• There must be a balance between work and the enjoyment of family and community life
• Work-related legislation and welfare-related legislation must be mutually supportive without diminishing the rights of those in work, those out of work, and those in need of special support to maintain a decent standard of living
• Work-related legislation must work to promote full-employment under fair and just working conditions.

WorkLife aims to:

Campaign for the scrapping of all inequitable workplace and related legislation, including:

• Workplace Relations Act 1966 (Work Choices Amendment) and Regulations
• Welfare to Work Act Proposed independent contractor legislation for new workplace and related welfare laws based on the principles of fairness, justice and dignity for all Australians
23 November, 2006
• collective bargaining and trade unionism as essential to a modern, democratic society
  
• awareness of these issues in the community
  

How do we operate?

WorkLife is an alliance that meets regularly to discuss and coordinate activities to achieve our stated aims.

We are a democratically-run alliance that welcomes anybody who shares our aims. You can participate to the extent you feel comfortable or able. You can come along just to listen, or to share your views or your experiences.

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What are we going to do?

The alliance is committed to raising awareness of the issues and to campaigning for the total repeal of the new legislation.

To this end, we see ourselves:

• Organising speakers’ forums, and public meetings and conferences
  
• Disseminating literature, leaflets, etc via community stalls and mail-box drops
  
• Undertaking research, collecting stories and data, and publishing the results
  
• Participating in public events such as rallies and protests against the new legislation
  
• Lobbying government and influential groups
  
• Networking with others having similar aims.

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Aims and Terms of Reference (decided at initial meetings on Wed 22 and Wed 29  March, 2006)

Overall Aims:

We are a broad coalition of groups and individuals who are seeking to advance social justice, dignity and respect for workers, families and communities, and to work together to achieve specific objectives as democratically agreed within the group.

Terms of Reference:

• Activities/ campaigns of the group, once determined, be organised by working parties who report back to the broader group on progress and seek direction as required.

• Steering committee to coordinate campaign activities, meetings and funding and provide direction within the terms of reference to working parties.

• There is a recognition that not all members of the coalition will operate from the same ideology or overall objectives.

• Undertakings that no member of the coalition will endorse campaigns or activities or seek to represent the group in other forums without steering committee endorsement.

• No member of the coalition will seek to impose views or principles on the group that are outside of the specific objectives of the group or have not been endorsed democratically by the group.

• Recognition that members of the coalition are free to pursue other objectives in their own organisations but must clearly delineate between those activities and the activities of the coalition.

• All meetings to be conducted using normal meeting procedure, so that all members of the group can contribute in a responsible way and be given notice of proposals and a chance to respond.

• There will be an agenda item at each meeting for members to promote their other campaign activities but the distribution of material, petitions etc outside of this agenda item will not be allowed. All members must respect the right of others not to participate in or endorse their outside activities. We are coming together for a specific purpose and do not wish to dissipate the energy of the coalition in other issues.

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