
Issue No 109		31 August 2001

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News

Common Law Report Plea – Make It Public

Unions have officially asked the chair of the inquiry into WorkCover common law rights to recommend his findings are immediately made available to the public to prevent another legislative ambush.

Labor Council secretary John Robertson has formally written to inquiry head Justice Terry Sheahan, who was due to deliver his report to the NSW Governor on Friday.

Robertson has asked Justice Sheahan to recommend the immediate public release of his findings by Industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca.

"Our concern is that the government will sit on the report until the recommendations have been costed by the treasury, the legislation drafted and then present it to us as a fait accompli," Robertson says.

"This is what happened with the first round of reform and clearly contributed to the breakdown in relations with the union movement.

"Ensuring the current round is open and transparent is the necessary first step in negotiating a fair package which is in the interests of injured workers."

Job Security Report Gathers Dust

Robertson says the government's propensity to sit on other reports of relevance to workers rights gives no comfort to the trade union movement.

The findings of a groundbreaking inquiry into the Labour Hire industry by former ACTU President Jennie George has been gathering dust for nearly six months.

And unions are still waiting for the release a Law Reform Commission report into workplace privacy, even though its findings were leaked to the media in may.

"It all very well, to commission reports into issues of significance - its another thing to allow those reports to be properly scrutinised by interested parties," Robertson says.

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  Issue 109 contents

Interview: Union Power
Electrical Trades Union state secretary Bernie Riordan surveys the union movement's troubled relationship with Labor.

International: Spreading the Word
Veronica Apap profiles Kamal Fadel and the battle he is fighting for the independence of his homeland of West Sahara.

E-Change: Training for a Wired Workforce
Education is the entry point into the new economy; but the system still reflects an industrial age view of the world.

Unions: AWU Defends Millennium Train Workers
Mark Hearn looks at how a group of Newcastle workers are setting a new standard in the railways.

Politics: Chatting with Enemies of the State
Brazils MST is the largest and most radical social movement in the Americas. The CFMEU´s Phil Davey drops in for a chat.

History: Struggle and Inspiration
Rowan Cahill argues that it is only through understanding history that we can make sense of the present plight of workers.

Technology: A World Without Microsoft
Heather Sharp argues that all technologies involve political choices and moral values. Computer software is no exception, and it is Bill Gates' choices that dominate.

Review: Let There Be Rock
Kid Rock and Beer Bong, Australia’s Oldest Rock Fans review the week’s music and political events from the safety of the bar stool.

Satire: Tampa refugees ask to go home: "It's less inhumane than Australia"
The 460 asylum seekers on board the Tampa freight vessel have demanded to be taken back to their oppressive homelands, which they now realise aren’t nearly as hostile as Australia.

» The Meaning of Working Life – The Answer is 7.1!

» Unions Stand Up for National Soul

» MUA Salvages Some Pride

» Common Law Report Plea – Make It Public

» Maintenance Contract 'Could Put Lives at Risk'

» Tax Office's GST Scam - 10 Per Cent Off!

» Della Moves on Pay Slip Concerns

» Authorities Scotch Bra-Burning

» Manusafe Decision Faces Appeal

» Orange Finally Saved from Closure

» Award Win For Telco Workers

» Abbott Clears Way for Lower Wages

» SDA Defeats 'Obscene' Westfield Parking Fees

» Labor Calls On Abbott To Abide By Convention

» Nurses Highlight Staff Shortages

» Keystone Cops At Wonderland Protest

» Call for Change in Award Increases

» Green Tin Box Values Gone At Commonwealth

» Dance for Independence

» Get Ready to Wobble

» Activist Notebook

» STOP PRESS: ITF says PM Tampa action illegal