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The international economy may sound like an area totally divorced from the day to day existence of Australian workers. The contrary is true. This is why the ASU actively monitors these matters and lobbies on behalf of our members and workers in general. Deliberations by the World Trade Organisation on matters like GATS, the signing of Free Trade Agreements between nations, etc, can and do have an intimate relationship with your working conditions and how much you take home to look after your family. This page is dedicated to these matters.
GATS - General Agreement on Trade in Services
The ASU National Conference resolved that the Union would be active in this campaign as the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) negotiations around the GATS could seriously affect our members' livelihoods as well as the level of service to the community.
Assistant National Secretary, Greg McLean is the national officer responsible for the ASU's involvement in the campaign. For further information, please contact Greg.
What does it all mean?
The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) is in the process of negotiation between the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and various national governments.
The aim of the GATS is to "liberalise" trade.
So what does it mean to liberalise trade?
It might sound fine and dandy to break down trade barriers like tariff protections to allow free global competition for service provision, but the implications are potentially catastrophic for communities.
Why? Mainly because trade liberalisation DOES NOT currently go hand in hand with the equalisation of labour standards. If Australia's service market (areas like local government, water, energy, etc) is opened up to foreign competition, the likely winners will be organisations from offshore who do not offer their workers the same standards which we accept and expect here.
And what about the quality of public services that would be delivered?
There is no need to illustrate what would happen if cheap labour from overseas was able to take the work of Australians who have fought for generations for the rights we have.
Is Australia's participation in GATS another way that the Howard Federal Government is going to drive down workers conditions? So far, the Government has kept quiet on the progress of its negotiations with the WTO, but unless the general public becomes aware of this issue and demands that the Government protect rather than sell off our interests, we will be tied up with the potentially disastrous consequences for years to come.
Let alone what will happen to ASU members - remember, the "S" in "ASU" stands for Services, the target of the GATS.
So tell your political representatives that GATS can get lost!
Keep informed on this important issue and urge others to also get informed. This webpage will act as a hub for resources on this issue, so please keep visiting!
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