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  Issue No 115 Official Organ of LaborNet 12 October 2001  

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News

Disbelief at Royal Commission Directions


The CFMEU reviewing its decision to seek leave to appear in the Cole Royal Commission into the Building Industry, following Commissioner Cole's directions to the hearing in Melbourne this week

"The CFMEU cannot see how complying with the Royal Commission's demands that emerged in today's proceedings would be a responsible investment of our members' funds," said National Construction Secretary John Sutton.

Compliance with Commissioner Cole's directions would be a hugely onerous task, given the breadth of the material required and the October 31 deadline for such material.

"To follow Commissioner Cole's directions fully, the CFMEU Construction & General Division would have to supply full details of, for example, every safety incident and every wage claim investigated by this union for the past three years! The mountains of paperwork and research involved would be incredible," said Mr Sutton.

Additionally, the Commissioner's demand for full details of all unlawful or inappropriate incidents known to the organisation raises concerns about prejudicing the position of all manner of people and organisations.

"Why should we even try to comply with these directions, when doing so could leave the union open to prejudicing its case, if anything was left out inadvertently?" Mr Sutton said.

Unions Olympics Role Exposed

meanwhile, unions plan to tender a new book on the union movement's contribution to the Sydney 2000 Olympics as evidence to the Cole Royal.

'The Collaborative Games' by Tony Webb, highlights the vital and constructive role unions played in the Games' success.

"The Sydney Games will be remembered as the best games ever, and this book shows how unions were of fundamental importance in this achievement," Labor Council secretary John Robertson says.

"In particular, it exposes the visionary role played by building unions - including the CFMEU - in maximising job opportunities and pay for its members while ensuring the construction deadlines were met," Mr Robertson said.

"In this light, the book also exposes the Howard Government's campaign against the CFMEU as the anti-union bullying it is.

"While Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott attempts to characterise the union leadership as dinosaurs, the reality is that unions are motivated by the interests of their members and the community in general.

"I believe this book would make enlightening reading for Commissioner Cole and urge him to accept it as evidence of the vital work the CFMEU has performed in the national interest."

The book highlights the union role in:

- establishing an over-arching industrial agreement for the project

- ensuring the Games venues were built on time and under budget.

- providing a stable labour base of service workers for the Games

- and resolving any disputes that occurred during the event.


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*   Issue 115 contents

In this issue
Features
*  Interview: Connecting the State
NSW IT minister Kim Yeadon is the man responsible for enabling the people of NSW. Here's how he's doing it.
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*  Workplace: The Enemy Within
In the IT industry it's the recruiters who are earning the workers' ire, as our special correspondent explains.
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*  Unions: From the Virtual Coalface
Computer programmer Vince Caughley argues there is a place for unions in the IT industry.
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*  History: Conditions Precedent
Frank Bongiorno writes that the recent events off the coast of Christmas Island recall a story once told by Paul Hasluck.
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*  International: Victims of Terrorism
Repression against trade unionists on the increase world wide, with 209 trade unionists assassinated last year, reveals ICFTU 2001 Survey.
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*  Campaign Diary: Week One: Get Shorty
Labor's first week of campaigning was as an effort to gain attention from a nation rocked by the telvised war on terrorism.
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*  Economics: Global Alliances
Ray Marcelo reports from India that the ILO is arguing that globalisation needs a worker and employer alliance.
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*  Health: The Phantom Menace
Trade unions made an impact this week at an international congress In Melbourne in the global fight against AIDS.
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*  Review: Rings of Confidence
In his study on the 2000 Olympics, Tony Webb argues that the government and unions reached a new level of cooperation.
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*  Satire: Greens 'Quietly Unconfident' of Forming Government
A leaked memo from a senior member of the Greens reveals the party is unconfident of winning government on November 10.
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News
»  Nauru Guards Under-Paid, Untrained
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»  IT Workers Flock to Join Alliance
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»  Freeloader Fees Get Green Light
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»  Stark Differences on Workers Rights
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»  Disbelief at Royal Commission Directions
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»  Abbott Flees Ansett Workers
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»  Union Support for ALP Climate Change Policy
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»  Nurses Savage Howard's Neglect Of Workforce
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»  Optus Workers Entitlements Are Safe
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»  Airports' Security Front Line Deserves Better
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»  Workers Rally to Stop NDC Cuts
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»  World Road Unions Unite To Deliver Decent Work
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»  Aid Groups Back Western Sahara
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»  Trade Union Assistance for Afghan Refugees
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»  Activists Notebook
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Columns
»  The Soapbox
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»  Sport
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»  Trades Hall
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»  Piers Watch
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Letters to the editor
»  Aussie No Orwell
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»  Health in Election Equation
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»  Who Dares Wins
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»  Protection - WorkCover Style
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