
Issue No 105		03 August 2001

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News

Piggins Pledges Support for Building Workers

South Sydney hero George Piggins has vowed to support the CFMEU in their battle against attacks from the Howard Government.


	George Piggins circa 1968

Fresh from his court victory over News Ltd, Piggins officially thanked the union and its leader John Sutton for the support Souths received during their long campaign for readmission to the NRL.

"On behalf of the South Sydney Football Club, I'd like to thank John Sutton and everyone from the CFMEU," he said. "Any time we needed your assistance you were only too happy to do it.

"Souths and the CFMEU will remain forever mates."

Piggins told CFMEU delegates he came from a union family and was committed to unionism.

"My father was a waterside worker, so were my brothers and so was I for a few years," he said. "I had no hesitation when Patricks locked the MUA out to lend my support

"Unions are the one way that working class people can achieve many of the things they need in life. Unions are about sticking together like South Sydney did.

"We've been able to do something not many people have - win in a court against Rupert Murdoch"

Widen Inquiry to Include Tax

Meanwhile, the CFMEU and the ACTU have called on the Cole Royal Commission to examine serious issues in the building industry, including tax avoidance of epidemic proportions.

Mr Abbott responded by saying there "have always been plenty of perfectly good avenues to pursue that". Mr Abbott said the Australian Tax Office was "quite vigilant in this area".

But when asked on the ABC's Lateline program last Friday whether the Commission would investigate tax avoidance and other issues, Mr Abbott said: "Yes, there is no reason whatsoever why the Royal Commission shouldn't tackle these subjects. Wrongdoing is our target."

CFMEU National Construction Secretary Mr John Sutton said today that Mr Abbott's move to distance himself from his previous commitment was a clear indication that the Howard Government's motive in calling the Royal Commission was politically inspired.

"If Mr Abbott and Prime Minister John Howard genuinely wanted to attack the real problems in the building industry, they would leap at the chance of exposing tax rorters," Sutton says.

"But it is clear they would rather the industry remains a safe haven for tax cheats

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  Issue 105 contents

Interview: Whose Advocate?
Employment Advocate Jonathon Hamberger argues the case for his organisation's survival and reveals his secret union past.

Politics: CHOGM: What Should Unions Do?
Activists Peter Murphy and Vince Caughley kick off the debate about what is the appropriate action ot take when CHOGM leaders meet in Brisbane

E-Change: 2.1 - The Changing Corporate Landscape
In the second part of their series on the impact of new technology, Peter Lewis and Michael Gadiel try to understand the new corporate playing field.

Unions: Hamburgled
Jim Marr reports that the Employment Advocate has been handed a chance to salvage some credibility by cleaning up anti-union practices in the call centre industry.

Economics: Privatisation: The Dangerous Road
Frank Stilwell argues that the corporate collapses of HIH and One Tel are potent reminders of the downside of �people�s capitalism�.

History: Hard-Earned Lessons
Art Shostack looks at the legacy of the landmark strike by PATCO air traffic controllers 20 years ago.

International: Political Prisoner
Greenpeace campaigner Nic Clyde, facing up to six years gaol in the United States for taking part in a non-violent protest, speaks exclusively with workers Online.

Review: Seven Pubs and Seven Nights
Labor Council's newest recruit, Susan Sheather, shows she respects tradition by going in search of the perfect bar

Satire: Obituary: Mr Rob Cartwright - Captain of Industry
In all fields of endeavour, there are those who command our respect through their sheer commitment to excellence. One such titan was Rob Cartwright, whose chosen field, the obscure HR discipline of "moving people onto individual contracts" lost its greatest practitioner and champion late last night, following a tragic self-inflicted accident.

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» Entitlements Betrayal at Centre of Car Crisis

» Piggins Pledges Support for Building Workers

» Legal Win for Wharfie Widows

» Unions Call for Dropping of Greenpeace Charges

» Jubilee Marches On Despite G8 Debt Fatigue

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» Protecting Children, Protecting Jobs

» Child Labour Fine on McDonald's

» Call for Colombian Inquiry Into Murders

» Activist Notebook