
Issue No 117		26 October 2001

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News

PM Claims No Aged Care Nursing Home Crisis!

By Andrew Casey

The Prime Minister's claim on Perth radio this week that he doesn't believe there is a nursing home crisis shows that our government is lead by a man with his head in the sand.

LHMU Aged Care Union National President, Helen Creed, says Mr Howard told ABC Perth's Liam Bartlett: " I don't believe there's a nursing home crisis."

" If that is the case why are nursing home residents in Western Australia organising voluble protests to back their carers - our union's members - angry about the poor funding for this sector," Helen Creed asked.

LHMU members and supporters around Australia have been haunting Mr Howard and his Aged Care Minister, Bronwyn Bishop, by handing out Scary Bronny masks to highlight the silliness of the Coalition's Aged Care policies.

" Only John Howard and Bronwyn Bishop would believe their own propaganda and go onto Perth radio trying to claim that black is white.

Protest at Howard Office

The protests were taken right up to John Howard in Sydney this week with the LHMU and the HREA protesting in front of John Howard's campaign office in the electorate of Bennelong.

" LHMU members were particularly upset by Mr Howard's demand that aged care workers should be more flexible if they want better pay," Ms Creed said.

" No one could be more flexible than our members. They are skilled and committed people who are at the beck and call not just of their residents but also the all too often tyrannical employer.

" Mr Howard avoided answering the question of whether he thought $11.44 per hour was a fair wage.

" The essential question the Prime Minister must answer is: Could John Howard imagine himself, or any of his children, working in this industry for such measly pay?"

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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