A position dedicated to helping the union support 457 visa workers has been created in the AMWU.

Michael Buckley from The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has joined the Melbourne office to provide information and support to organisers who are assisting workers on 457 visas.

Mr Buckley comes from a background of working with the humanitarian program of DIAC and assisting refugees settle into Australia.

AMWU National President Julius Roe said that, under the previous Howard Government, DIAC provided support to industry, but not to unions.

“Our requests for assistance from the previous government when we were confronting abuses of workers employed under this program were, more or less, ignored.

“The Rudd Government has committed to providing balance by making resources available to unions so that workers employed on the program can be assisted like any other worker.”

Mr Buckley will be providing support to organisers and organising information sessions on specific visa and migration issues.

Mr Roe said the better informed that organisers were, the better able they were to help workers with their issues.

“We want these workers to have the same rights as all workers in Australia and the work Michael is doing, will assist us greatly to achieve that.”

Mr Buckley will also be:

•    Providing material about 457 visa holders’ rights for distribution to members
•    Providing material about various visas for publication on websites or in journals
•    Providing feedback to the department where policy implementation has unintended outcomes
•    Providing feedback to the department on emerging areas of concern within particular industries or occupations
•    Supporting unions, organisers and delegates to access departmental information and personnel

Five positions similar to Mr Buckley’s have been created in other unions and the ACTU.