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Issue No. 125 | 22 February 2002 |
Unfair and Dismal
Interview: If Not Now, When? Activists: Fighting Back Industrial: Croon And Divide Politics: Politics of Extinction History: Harry Bridges: International Labour Hero International: Rats in the Ranks Review: Follow The Fence, Find The Truth Satire: Howard Screws Refugee Kids: G-G Turns Blind Eye Poetry: Let It Be
Building Workers' Bid to Win Back Lives Dog-Tired – Long Hours Leave Beagles Buggered Home Care Workers Reject Sweat Building Commission's Costly Spin Caltex Asked To Explain Price Hikes Palm Sunday Resurrected for Refugees Dismissals: Labor Blocks The Lot Company Collapses: Union Wants Bank Powers Legal Action to Block Job Exports Councils Targeted in Contracting Campaign CFMEU Constructs Lebanese Bridge Israeli Aircraft Destroy Most Of Palestinian Union HQ
The Soapbox The Locker Room Week in Review
Tom's Foolery Give Us a Spray!
Labor Council of NSW |
News Dog-Tired – Long Hours Leave Beagles Buggered
The CPSU says it has been inundated with stories on the effects of long hours on Australian Quarantine Inspections Service (AQIS) workers at Sydney airport since they were forced onto seven-day rosters with 5am starts. CPSU organiser Alison Rahill says many handlers are concerned about the new rosters, not just for themselves but also their canine comrades. "Some of the dogs have already had medical treatment for work-related injuries like soft-tissue damage, back soreness and seizures," she explained. "Over time, the animals develop strong relationships with individual handlers, so swapping dogs around is difficult and inefficient," she says. "If handlers are on seven-day shifts then the dogs are obliged to do them as well." Early Morning Start Dogs are picked up from their Eastern Creek kennels at 5am and driven across town to the airport. From ther,e it's a solid day's baggage sniffing before being returned after dark. There are not enough dogs to rotate through shifts, which means they don't get much of a break. "All the handlers want is reasonable control over their hours," Rahill says. "They love their job and they love their dogs, but they fear these new shifts will become unsafe and unworkable." Reasonable Hours Push The dogs' plight emerged as hearings continued last week on the historic Reasonable Hours Test case before a full bench of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. All witnesses to the case have been heard. Final oral hearings will take place in early June. A decision is expected later in the year The ACTU is seeking: - a clear definition of excessive hours - extra paid leave of up to two days a month in cases of excessive overtime or inadequate rostering -days off granted within seven days of accrual to alleviate fatigue. - rules on excessive working hours to be flexible. Long Hours Hit Wharvies Meanwhile, hearings on crippling injuries to MUA members forced to work long hours on straddles at Patrick, Port Botany, are set to enter their fourth week in the state Industrial Commission on Monday. An estimated one in four wharfies (30 of 120 employees) at Port Botany container terminal suffered neck, shoulder and back injuries, under work practices introduced after the lockout, with dozens seeking physiotherapy. The situation in other states is no better. At issue are cutbacks which forced straddle operators to work day after day twisted sideways in cramped, poorly designed cabins, with only one break, every shift. STOP PRESS Three more dogs were taken to the vet just prior to press time!
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