
Issue No 104		27 July 2001

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

Trades Hall

Paul Howes’ Week on the Web

Our Geek with Grunt welcomes the Victorian union movement into the Labor Net fold, bags the ACTU site, tunes into some Wobbly sounds and looks at frontier solidarity.


	VTHC Joins the Gang

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Victorian Trades Hall Council joins LaborNET family

The Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC) being the peak body of unions in Victoria launched a new website today which is apart of the LaborNET group of union websites. The site located at http://www.vthc.org.au was designed and programmed by Social Change Online http://online.socialchange.net.au, who are behind all LaborNET sites. VTHC Online features loads of information regarding the union movement in Victoria, info on their latest campaigns and much more. Whilst were on the subject of LaborNET unions, after months of work the new Labor Council Online site is almost ready ... so keep an eye out for it over the next few weeks.

Wobbly Radio hits the Online Sound Waves

Labor Council's latest foray into the world of broadcasting is in the form of Internet based "Wobbly Radio" http://www.wobblyradio.com. Wobbly was set up in conjunction with Radio 2KM (AM 1620), and aims to be a "100% Australian music web radio station". Soon Wobbly will be streaming programs showcasing the latest new Australian music, and already it allows new bands to upload their MP3s which are added to the Wobbly play list. There is much more to come from Wobbly so watch this space.

Pilbra Unions Launch fight online

The continuing fight by workers and their unions in the Pilbra against BHP now has a home in cyberspace. The Combined Pilbra Unions (AWU, CEPU, AMWU, CFMEU & TWU) have launched a site at http://www.pilbaraunions.com/index.htm, whilst it's pretty basic, it's a great achievement and idea, and well worth your support.

ACTU's Virtual Prison

The ACTU has revamped their website and moved into the Virtual Communities portal "vtown". The site is still located at http://www.actu.asn.au. Whilst the content is still good and plenty of information is still available, the site is very disappointing. Considering the potential for the ACTU to launch a truly nation union portal they have unfortunately got into bed with the private sector and are stuck in a moneymaking virtual prison. The entire philosophy of a "votwn" site goes against the ideals of the information age, that being freedom of information and freedom of movement. Lets hope the ACTU will realize the potential for organizing over the internet and consider a new approach soon.

Carr Gets a Make Over

Have a quick look at the Fire Brigade Employees' Union Website http://fbeu.labor.net.au this week and check out the make-over they gave Bob Carr.

If you have any sites you want Paul to review email him at mailto:[email protected]

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Issue 104 contents

Interview: A Super Agenda
Labor's federal spokesman on superannuation Kelvin Thompson outlines the challenges a Beazley Government will face in managing the nation's savings.

E-Change: 1.4 The Shifting Sands of Ideology
Peter Lewis and Michael Gadiel conclude the first part of their study of new politics by looking for core Labor values in a post-Cold War environment.

Corporate: Locking Horns
The same names keep cropping up in the business pages as the web of corporate control stays tied to a few big players. Georgina Murray has been looking at the extent and depth of the connections.

Unions: The Workers Bank
With banks on the nose, David Whiteley looks at how unions and super funds have got together to create the real deal – the workers bank.

International: Phil Davey's Amazon Postcard
The CFMEU's Boy Wonder has downed the megaphone for three months in South America. Here's what he's been up to.

History: Faded Vision of The American Bounder
King O'Malley was an American ex-pat who dreamed of a people's bank. Neale Towart looks at what happened to his vision.

Activists: The Big Gee-Up
With the big guns of the anti-corporate movement in town, Mark Hebblewhite goes looking for a definition of globalisation.

Indonesia: Where to the Workers After Gus Dur?
At the end of a turbulent week, Jasper Goss looks at the impact of the overthrow of Wahid on Indonesian workers.

Review: Mixing Pop and Politics
'The Bank' is a new Australian film that takes a contemporary political issue and transforms it into a piece of compelling popular culture.

Satire: Milosevic's Defence: "I Was Just Issuing Orders"
Disgraced former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic has brushed off against charges for war crimes against humanity and mass genocide.

» Community Banks Are No Collectivists

» Labor Vows to Widen Royal Commission

» WorkCover Finally Fesses Up – Premiums the Problem

» Unions Launch 56 Hour Watch

» Call Centre Campaign Bares First Fruit

» Justice at Last for One.Tel Workers

» Entitlements Push Gathers Momentum

» Employer Dirty on Leave Win

» Rights Put In Too Hard Basket

» AMA Move on Doctors’ Hours Welcome

» Aussie Post Workers Rally

» Strike by Airport Guards Lawful

» Workers Rejects Brough Deal

» Unions Will March at CHOGM

» Average Response to Robberies

» Coca-Cola Sued for Using Paramilitary Force

» Activists Notebook