
Issue No 104		27 July 2001

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News

Rights Put In Too Hard Basket

Centrelink has been criticised for delaying the case of Geoff Scott - the man sacked for working too hard. The union is demanding that Scott be reinstated immediately.

CPSU national secretary Wendy Caird accused Centrelink management of wasting taxpayers money on a "vindictive campaign" against the Wollongong officer whose case for reinstatement was adjourned in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission today.

The case was adjourned until August 8 after Centrelink unexpectedly introduced a barrister at today's hearing.

Ms Caird said it had become apparent Centrelink was determined to penalise a man it should be rewarding.

Scott, 34, was dismissed for disobeying instructions not to assist fellow workers and customers in Wollongong, after being transferred into Centrelink's retirements section in early 2000.

Illawarra Centrelink staff have signed a petition calling for Scott's reinstatement. Messages of support from clients and workmates were displayed outside the commission.

"In the face of huge support from the people who know Geoff and his work best, Centrelink are still determined to push him out," Ms Caird said. "Their actions will cost taxpayers a lot of money."

Scott has been with Centrelink for nine years.

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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