
Issue No 11		30 April 1999

Review

Mountain Men and Women Framed

By Neale Towart

Working Lives, a history of working people from the Blue Mountains, looks back to illuminate future challenges.


	Workers Must Answer Call

A fascinating collection of banners, photographs and memorabilia looking at working life over the past 100 years is on display at the Braemar Gallery in Springwood until the 9th of May.

Th exhibition was opened by Phil Drew, well known in the union movement through many years of involvement with TUTA, and more recently with the ILO.

Phil's comments highlighted the fact that the more things change, the more they stay the same for union members as the battles of 100 years ago are being fought all over again.

Working hours have again become a big issue. The eight hour day was an early success of the Australian union movement and now strategies are being developed around working time arrangements as average working hours in Australia have increased to being some of the longest in the OECD.

Job security was shattered with the great strikes of the 1890s and was fought for and won over many years since. Now the Federal government seems intent on stripping away all protections from working people.

The 1890s strikes were defeats for the union movement but from those defeats came the formation of the ALP and great strategic rethinks which made Australian unions and the ALP the strongest social democratic forces in the world and great examples for working people the world over. With union membership declining in the 1990s once again new strategic thinking is needed.

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Issue 11 contents

Interview: The Young Republican
Jason Yat-Sen Li stole the show at the Constitutional Convention with his community consultation compromise. Now he faces a bigger challenge, convincing Australia to vote Yes.

Unions: ACTU Moves on the Republic
The ACTU Executive has endrosed the Australian Republic -- but it's given Howard's Preamble the short shrift it deserves.

History: And A Hundred Years Ago
Just as it was a hundred years ago, it is important that trade unions and their members are actively involved in the current republic debate.

Reader's Forum: John Passant
A Workers Online reader explains why he'll be voting "no".

Review: Mountain Men and Women Framed
Working Lives, a history of working people from the Blue Mountains, looks back to illuminate future challenges.

Labour Review: What's New at the Information Centre
View the latest issue of Labour Review, Labor Council's fortnightly newsletter for unions.

International: Performers on the World Stage
Australian performers know better than most the importance of identity, self and place. That's why they are committed Republicans.

» Unions Challenge: Reclaim the Republic

» Freeloader Legislation on the Agenda

» Unions� New Years Eve Plea

» Skill Shortage Leads to Tiling Crisis

» Apprentice Chefs Get Fairer Share of the Pie

» Rail Workers Strike for Passenger Safety

» Living Wage Sparks New Activity

» ACTU Endorses East Timor Action

» WorkCover Troubles Can�t Hit Injured Workers

» NSW Young Labor Turns 50!