[stop-imf] Aussie union federation blasts IMF

[robert weissman]

"... there is not a shred of evidence for the IMF's contention that
Australia's award and minimum wages system costs jobs."


http://www.actu.asn.au/work_rights/news/1128557318_17854.html

Letter referenced in this release is available at:

http://www.actu.asn.au/work_rights/news/imf2004articleivconsultation.pdf

Considers Facts, Not Govt Spin: ACTU Tells IMF Head In Washington
ACTU 06 October 2005

ACTU President Sharan Burrow will tell the Managing Director of the
International Monetary Fund at a meeting in Washington later today
(Thursday) to consider the facts and ignore the spin when examining the
Federal Government=92s industrial relations proposals.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow will tell the Managing Director of the
International Monetary Fund at a meeting in Washington later today
(Thursday) to consider the facts and ignore the spin when examining the
Federal Government's industrial relations proposals.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:

"It appears that not only is the Howard Government misleading the
Australian people over the impact of its industrial relations reforms
but also the IMF.

The IMF is wrong on the key facts of the Australian industrial relations
system and appears to have entirely disregarded the evidence the ACTU
submitted to it earlier this year.

Two years ago the IMF said Australia's unemployment would not go
significantly below the then current rate of 6% without 'further
simplifications of the award and wage bargaining system'.

Since then Australia's unemployment rate has dropped to 5% despite no
change to labour market regulation in the intervening period save the
annual rise in minimum wages won by unions.

The fact is there is not a shred of evidence for the IMF's contention
that Australia's award and minimum wages system costs jobs.

It reflects poorly on the IMF's professionalism, independence and the
expertise of its Review team that it continues to assert otherwise.

Despite acknowledging that the Howard Government's industrial relations
reforms are highly contentious and that they will reduce minimum wages
and strip away protections for Australian workers, the IMF urges the
Government's reform package be implemented.

It does this while selectively citing from the available reference
material and suppressing any research or authorities that cast doubt on
the purported benefits of the Government's reform package.

As the ACTU letter to the IMF states: 'Such reckless and partisan
intervention in domestic policy debates outside the Fund's areas of core
expertise can only damage the IMF.'

The ABC's Four Corners program last week revealed few labour market
experts are willing to back the Government's assertion that its
industrial relations changes will promote jobs and or productivity.

Instead of viewing industrial relations deregulation like the Australian
Liberal Party does as an 'article of faith', the IMF should look at the
facts more closely."