Opposition slams $10 million grant for union body for Fair Work education as Gillard plays down strikes

The Federal Opposition has slammed Workplace Minister Julia Gillard after she announced the Government would give $10 million to the Union Education Foundation to help educate union delegates about the Fair Work industrial relations regime.

Opposition small business spokesperson Bruce Billson described the move as a “slap in the face” for small businesses owners who he says need practical information about the new IR rules.

“Julia Gillard has reacted to the calls from the Opposition and small business community for practical information and support to implement the new workplace regime by handing $10 million to a union shop-front to train shop stewards when help is urgently needed by shop keepers and other small businesses.”

The funding is the second tranche of the Government $30 million Fair Work education program. In the first round of funding, $10 million was given to employer groups (including the Australian Industry Group, the Council of Small Business of Australia and the Australian Retailers’ Association) and $2.5 million was given to the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has received almost $7 million, the bulk of which will be used to fund work place visits (26,000 of which will occur this year) and to help employers in sectors deemed to be in the need of the most help.

But Gillard has defended the latest funding decisions, saying all grants come with strict auditing and reporting process and contrasting the Rudd Government’s education campaign with the Howard Government’s campaign for the Work Choices IR regime.

“Unlike Tony Abbott’s Liberals, $121 million of taxpayer’s money was wasted on the Work Choices advertising blitzkrieg. This Government’s focus is on supporting practical training and information for employers and employees alike,” she said in a statement.

Gillard has also been forced to defend the Government from claims the new IR regime is leading to a spike in industrial action.

Australia’s shipping industry is in turmoil after the entire fleet of Perth-based shipping company Farstad Shipping was hit by a 48 hour strike over the weekend, with the threat of more strike action to come.

The company says the strikes, which have hit its operations in the North West Shelf and the Brass Strait, are costing it around $2 million a day.

The strike action, which involves claims for a 30% pay rise over the next three years from offshore workers, is also set to spread to other companies.

But Gillard has ruled out intervening in the dispute and claims the level of industrial action fell during the last half of 2009, which were the first six months under the new Fair Work rules.

But major strikes at Australia Post and Qantas have captured headlines in recent months.