Issue No 117 | 26 October 2001 | |
NewsWith Friends Like the Banks, Who Needs Kiwis?
Angry Ansett workers are taking up the fight against banks and mortgage brokers who have refused defer loan repayments while their future employment prospects are determined by the airline's Administrator. While some institutions such as Westpac have placed mortgages, credit card repayments and personal loans of all Ansett workers on hold, others like St George and Aussie Home Loans have told workers they must continue to make their repayments. Ansett workers and Transport Workers Union delegate Graham Mitchell is one of those who could lose his home after St George Bank told him his status as a "preferred customer" was not enough to receive any help in his hour of need. "They shut the door in my face and told me 'you're not in front (on your repaymenets) so we can't help you'," Mitchell told Labor Council delegates. Ansett workers rallied this week outside the St George's Haymarket branch to put pressure on the bank to show some compassion. Similar pressure has led to promises from Aussie Loans that they will look after any Ansett workers havinfg difficulty meeting their repayments. Taking on Kelly Meanwhile, the whole affair has got Mitchell so angry he's decided to stand as an independent in the upcoming federal election. Mitchell, aged 30, has worked as an Ansett baggage handler for the past eight years. He is married and the proud father of two. He says he's running as an independent against Tourism Minister Jackie Kelly in he marginal seat of Lindsay in response to her provocative comments that the Ansett collapse was just a "BLIMP" on the National landscape. "I hope this will help force the Federal Government to do more to save Ansett jobs and protect 100% of all workers entitlements," Mitchell says.
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Interview: Brothers In Arms Labour historian Marilyn Dodkin explains how she exposed ASIO ties with Labor Council's Cold War leadership. Politics: Defending the Faith Launching 'Brothers', Premier Bob Carr gave his own take on the allegations that union leaders worked with security agencies during the Cold War. History: Surviving the Split In this extract from 'Brothers' Marilyn Dodkin, looks at the manouverings around the establishment of the DLP. International: Viral Attack Postal unions in the USA are mobilizing to protect their members from the widening repercussions of an apparent bio-terrorist attack. Unions: A Living Wage The ACTU this week unveiled its claim for the 2002 Living Wage Case. Here's what they'll be arguing. Campaign Diary: Week Three: Wave Them Goodbye In a week when our boys and girls went off to war, Labor fought a desperate battle to fight the election on the home front. Human Rights: Colombia's 'Dirty War' Against Unions It might be tough being an organiser in Australia under the Howard Government, but spare a thought for Colombian trade unionists. Review: Red Rag Unfurls Ian Syson is an upfront, knockabout bloke. He heads up a new, small, independent publishing outfit called Red Rag Publications. Satire: New Hope for Labor: Mackerras Tips Liberal Win The electoral hopes of the Labor party have revived dramatically, after the perennially unreliable analyst Malcolm Mackerras forecast a huge victory for the Liberals.
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