
Issue No 117		26 October 2001

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News

Veil of Silence on Public Sector Outsourcing

Unions have called on the Carr Government to come clean on the levels of non-secure employment in the public sector as unions commence a push for greater job security.

The Public Service Association has raised these concerns as it signalled its intention to join the NSW Teachers Federation in launching a public sector secure employment test case next year.

PSA general secretary Maurie O'Sullivan says the lack of government accountability for its employment practices as it pushes for further deregulation and decentralisation of public sector agencies.

The PSA says an accountability framework is the first step in getting the NSW Government to commit to secure employment practices.

These would include:

- provision of whole-of-government and agency by agency details on the employment breakdown of full-time, part-time, casual and other forms of employment. These are even denies under Freedom of Information requests.

- lack of detailed statistics on the use of consultants, contractors and labour hire.

- No employment impact assessments of proposals to outsource or privatise

"These matters are crucial to secure employment in the public sector," O'Sullivan says. "Indeed the original watchdog body - the Council of the Costs of Government, has now bunkered down 'out of sight' with very little information published about its activities."

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  Issue 117 contents

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.

» Unions Call for Air Price Floor

» With Friends Like the Banks, Who Needs Kiwis?

» Living Wage Claim For GST Rises

» New Compo Showdown Looms

» NIDA Tax Rorts Embarrass Howard

» First Case Under NSW�s New Pay Equity Principle

» Veil of Silence on Public Sector Outsourcing

» False Start for Race Day

» Union Proxy Campaign Gets A Boost

» Nauru Guards Claim Back-Pay

» Unions Await Final Triumph

» PM Claims No Aged Care Nursing Home Crisis!

» Eighty Woolies Cleaners About To Lose Jobs

» CFMEU Gets Disabled Athlete A Start

» Malaysian Solidarity Action in Sydney

» Activists Notebook