ACTU president Ged Kearney told Neos Kosmos this week that lessons should be learned down under from SYRIZA’s sweeping victory at the Greek election, and that austerity measures implemented by the Abbott government are taking Australia on a downward path.
“Austerity policies such as those pursued in Greece and advocated here at home by the Abbott government have been shown to drive down living standards and worsen inequality,” said the union leader, adding that Australia should take a leaf out of SYRIZA’s book by introducing policies “that reduce inequality through job growth, increased wages and a strong targeted social protection floor.”
Ms Kearney said that the union movement in Australia and around the world “congratulates Greece on the election outcome” and called on the newly-elected government to “take the opportunity to rebuild its economy and set the country on a fair and sustainable pathway”.
The ACTU president said that the Australian union movement urged the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and the European Commission “to negotiate in good faith with the new government to cancel debt, [and] allow it to restore workers’ rights to collective bargaining, and raise minimum wages and pensions.”
