
Issue No 107		17 August 2001

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News

It’s a Record! Longest Ever Bank Queue

Central Coast bank workers queued themselves into the Guinness Book of Records, forming the world's largest ever bank queue to highlight declining community services caused by bank closures.

The members of the Finance Sector Union will formally apply to the Guinness Book of records to recognise the queue of 87 people outside a blood bank on the Central Coast. There was no former record in the category, so the FSU is confident of taking the honour.

But Finance Sector Union state secretary Geoff Derrick cautions that, given the staffing levels at many banks, the record may not last long.

"We have set the benchmark, but we believe that management could knock us off our perch on any working day because of their staffing policies," Derrick says

"The question is whether they will have the guts to go for the record."

Bank workers from 33 branches of three major banks held a 24-hour strike over working conditions and staffing levels.

The stoppages affected the ANZ, Westpac and National Australia Bank branches on the NSW Central Coast on Friday.

The action was part of the FSU's nationwide campaign against the three banks over working conditions and service standards.

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  Issue 107 contents

Interview: What's The Deal?
Labor's IR spokesman Arch Bevis explains how a Beazley Government will rebuild our broken system.

E-Change: 2.3 The State of the Union
White hope or white elephant? The future of trade unions is by no means guaranteed in the networked society.

Industrial: Into the 21st Century
ACTU President Sharan Burrow looks at the landmark deal delivering workers 12 months paid maternity leave.

Unions: The Black Hole
Jim Marr goes inside Stellar to discover the human cost of a management philosophy that says: you are on your own.

History: The Age of Dissent
The Sydney Branch of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History has organised a Conference on Social Protest Movements and the Labour Movement, 1965-1975.

Media: ABC and the Knowledge Nation
Tony Moore looks at how the national broadcaster's fortunes are closely linked to the Knowledge Nation Agenda

International: Brazil´s C.U.T. - When Big Is Beautiful
The CFMEU´s Phil Davey drops in on Brazil´s equivalent to the ACTU, the Central Unica Dos Trabalhadores (CUT).

Satire: Bracks Disputes Cabramatta tag
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks has called for a national council to decide on a location for Australia's drug capital.

Review: Globalisation Is Globalisation
In an extract from his book, Christopher Shiel argues that the official Australian perspective on globalisation is strikingly narrow.

» Labor's Entitlements Pledge: Trust Will Remain

» Ripped Off Workers Start Election Push

» Stellar Out of Line: Hamberger

» It’s a Record! Longest Ever Bank Queue

» Still No IR at ABC Radio

» Qantas Threatens Bangkok Workers

» WorkCover Report Delayed Two More Weeks

» Unrest in Hospitals Over Contracting Out

» Paid Baby Leave Sparks New Family Push

» Nurses Pay Action Hots Up

» Costello's Couriers March to Canberra

» 'Man Who Worked Too Hard' Wins Back Job

» Soldiers Suffer Dodgy Bog

» Union Backs Call For Safety Review

» Cleaner Wins Annual Leave Rights Dispute

» Tip Top's Not the One

» Flying High: Airport Guards Scoop Cash

» Union Presence At Big Indian Community Fair

» Activists Notenbook