By NSW One Nation Leader Mark Latham MLC
For centuries trade unions fought for the principle that employers could not control the bodies and health choices of their staff.
It was a basic workersā right, not to have to make a choice between their job and a medical procedure they did not want.
Ā
Their private health choices would be respected!
But now that has all changed in NSW in particular, where the unions are nowhere to be seen fighting for their members.
Why? Because the Berejiklian Government has mismanaged the Sydney Covid lockdown and case numbers have got out of control, the government has introduced mandatory Covid vaccinations for many workers.
First it was the construction sector. Then health care. Yesterday the Government announced mandatory vaccinations for 100,000 staff in NSW public schools and 50,000 in non-government schools. If they are not Covid vaccinated by November they Ā āwill not be able to work in a school settingā - that is, they face the sack. This includes admin staff, gardeners and maintenance workers, as well as teachers.
The NSW Education Department has surveyed its staff and 10% said they had no plans for Covid vaccinations. Iām sure many are waiting for a vaccine of their choice (on safety grounds) or for further information/data, or have allergies or past adverse reactions or other medical advice from their doctor prohibiting vaccination. A smaller number would be conscientious objectors.
There are a range of reasons why some people do not want to be Covid vaccinated. No vaccination program in Australian history has ever run at 100%. The aim is to get to herd immunity, which the Doherty Report said is 70-80% of people 16+. There was no mention of sacking everyone else from their jobs.
We are now facing the possibility of the sacking of up to 10,000 government school staff and up to 5,000 in non-government schools (assuming their survey results are similar).
How can this be the Stateās policy when Covid is not a high-risk illness for children? And there is no guarantee of all students getting back to school this year? Last month, the government took vaccines off country NSW to give to Western Sydney HSC students and now, they might not get back to face-to-face learning this year. What a farce.
So bizarrely, the NSW plan is to create a healthy society by sacking up to 15,000 people who educate our children because they want to make their own personal health choices. And this is happening under the Morrison/Berejiklian/Doherty policy of "treating Covid like the fluā.
The trauma of being threatened with the sack is dreadful for people. Then the reality of unemployment is even worse during this tough time economically. The NSW Government has no regard for these real-life tragedies. In many cases, it is causing more harm than good.
Meanwhile, the NSW Teachers Federation has said it supports mandatory vaccinations. Itās not going to lift a finger for its members now threatened with the sack. The poor NSW teachers paid their union fees to Lefties at the union who love social control, who need social control, even to the point of government controlling the bodies and health choices of their members. Many teachers have paid thousands of dollars in union fees to now be abandoned in their time of need.
Given that the NSW Government is running its mandatory vaccination program on behalf of the Commonwealth, most likely it has breached Section 51(23A) of the Australian Constitution (prohibiting civil conscription of a medical service). The ACTU and big unions, however, have pocketed their membersā fees and will not run a challenge in the High Court.
This really is the end of effective trade unions. They had one core job: to protect the rights of their members, especially those threatened with the sack.
Across the board they have done nothing. Itās a complete sell-out of the workers and their rights.
Union numbers have been falling for many years, due to the neglect of membersā needs. In light of this new debacle, why would anyone belong and pay their fees?
Ā
***
Ā
The One Nation petition against vaccines passports in NSW has already reachedĀ 18,805 signatures. If you oppose the continued push for mandatory jabs, vaccine passports, and other extreme COVID-19 measures then add your name and make sure your voice is counted.
|