E D I T O R I A L

Unfair and Dismal
As the credibility of the Howard Government sunk under lies and conceit this week, Tony Abbott � for a moment - looked uncharacteristically subdued.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: If Not Now, When?
New Labor Council organiser Adam Kerslake talks about his plans to bring unions back to basics.

Activists: Fighting Back
Jim Marr talks to Keysar Trad, a unionist who's left the security of the Tax Office for a much bigger challenge.

Industrial: Croon And Divide
Fly a kite, obfuscate the issues, divide your opponents and continue to hammer people: the one-card-trick Howard Government�s latest kite is unfair dismissal reports Noel Hester.

Politics: Politics of Extinction
Trade unionism is a spent force; a dinosaur. This alleged truism is often heard these days, in one form or another. Rowan Cahill unpacks the lie.

History: Harry Bridges: International Labour Hero
Zoe Reynolds marks the centenary of the birth of an Australian waterfront worker who went on to lead one of America's largest unions.

International: Rats in the Ranks
The relationship between Britain�s Blair Labour Government and the union movement has hit a new low, as Andrew Casey reports.

Review: Follow The Fence, Find The Truth
Tara de Boehmler reviews a new flick that sheds light on the debate around the Stolen Generation.

Satire: Howard Screws Refugee Kids: G-G Turns Blind Eye
Startling claims that Prime Minister John Howard screwed refugee children prior to the last election, and also during a hunger strike at Woomera, have been dismissed by the Governor-General Peter Hollingworth.

Poetry: Let It Be
When a certain former Minister for Defence visited England recently, he met Sir Paul McCartney. The former Beatle thought there was something strange about him, but he didn't say anything. He decided to just Let It Be.

N E W S

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

Women Wanted for Wharf

Sanity Returns to the West

Big Brother Raises Hackles

Legal Action to Block Job Exports

New Dawn for Dili Workers

Councils Targeted in Contracting Campaign

CFMEU Constructs Lebanese Bridge

Israeli Aircraft Destroy Most Of Palestinian Union HQ

Activists Notebook

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Shorten's Suite
AWU national secretary Bill Shorten outlines his vision for unionism - from the relations with the ALP to its efforts to regain the heartland.

The Locker Room
Bunnies in the Headlights
Despite their triumphant return to the League, Souths story won't be the last example of tradition being trampled, writes Jim Marr.

Week in Review
Tories in Turmoil
With a constitutional crisis and a dangling mandate, it was compelling viewing for the Howard jeer squad.

L E T T E R S

WHAT YOU CAN DO

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Activists Notebook

COMPASSION FOR REFUGEES, PEACE AND JUSTICE

WHEN: 24th March 2002

TIME: assemble 12 noon

WHERE: Belmore Park (on Eddy Ave, opposite central station), silent march to Tumbalong Park for community festival

This march is broadly supported by Church and Religious organisations, Trade Unions and Community Organisations. People are encouraged to march together as a branch, community organisation or affinity group.

If you are interested in helping in publicising the rally by putting up posters, leafleting train stations, organising community stalls please contact me, Amanda Tattersall on 0408 05 7779 or by email and I can provide you with assistance. Please pass on information about the rally to any organisations individuals you know.

The Labor for Refugees Education sub-group will be playing a role in building publicity for the rally. If you are interested in helping out come to the next meeting which is on Wednesday 6th March, Ground Floor Labor Council Building 377 Sussex St Sydney.

********************

Labor for Refugees Western Sydney Branch is being set up. First meeting wed

27th feb. 6pm @ CFMEU offices - 12 Railway St Lidcombe (1 min walk (if u are

slow!!!) from the train station)

Attached is the leaflet advertising this meeting. Can comrades please forward this onto other interested people and also print out and distribute the leaflet amongst your networks / communities.

If anyone would like any info or would like to help then PLEASE contact - either by email (mailto:[email protected]) or phone (0412 462 646)

********************

Woomera 20002

Why: The protest is aimed at: demonstrating the strength of community resistance to the government's detention policies; expressing solidarity with the people on the inside; drawing a media presence to Woomera to pressure the government into a more open policy and drawing the connections between indigenous dispossession and the plight of asylum seekers.

What: A diversity of tactics will be used including kite-flying, civil disobedience, present-giving, visual stunts, music, projections etc.

Where: While the major protest will happen in Woomera, there will be simultaneous actions in major Australian cities and at Australian embassies in London, Berlin and Strasbourg (so far). There will also be a number of virtual actions throughout the protest.

When: Between the 29th of March and 1st of April, with a national pre-protest convergence slated for the 28th of March in Adelaide.

Who: There are networks organising for the protest in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle, Perth, Canberra, Castlemaine, Darwin, Lismore and Townsville.

A number of individuals and established groups including No One Is Illegal, the Refugee Action Collective, the National Union of Students, the Australian Greens, the Socialist Party, Indymedia, Rural Australians for Refugees, Hunter Organisation for Peace & Equity, Boatpeople.org and others will be participating in the protest.

The Melbourne to Woomera network wants to encourage all trade unions to participate in the protest. We are also asking for financial and in-kind support to get us there and back. We are asking that unions affiliated to VTHC consider doing one of the following:

� Donating money towards covering the organisational costs of the protest - the most urgent needs are money for water tankers, buses, food and associated equipment (eg. Cool rooms, tarps etc.). If you wish to donate money please contact Andrea Maksimovic on 0403 483 595 for the bank account details.

� Allowing the use of equipment such as marquees, tents, generators and other basic picket line equipment for the duration of the protest (below is a wish list of things we will require).

� Organising for their members to attend through facilitating information sharing.

For further information about the protest look at www.woomera2002.com or ring Andrea Maksimovic on 0403 483 595.

Thanks you for your solidarity and support.

Woomera 2002 wishlist:

Star pickets

Star picket driver

Hessian

Generators

Extension leads

Fire drums

Gas Bottles/ BBQs

White boards

Scaffolding and stage equipment

PAs etc

Tents and marquees

Water containers

Hammers, mallets, pick and shovels

Tarps

Big eskys or a cool room

Minibuses

Utes

We undertake to return all borrowed equipment in the condition it was given to us.

**************

When the Boat Comes In

All are welcome at a New International Bookshop forum "Contesting

Australia's future direction"

Come and examine the contribution of Boris Frankel's remarkable new book to

debate about future directions in Australia.

The book WHEN THE BOAT COMES IN. TRANSFORMING AUSTRALIA IN THE AGE OF GLOBALISATION is available from the New International Bookshop - see more about the book below.

SPEAKERS: SHARAN BURROW (ACTU - unions), DIMITY FIFER (VCOSS - community), PHILIP SUTTON (ANZSEE - environment), and of course BORIS FRANKEL

The forum will be held SATURDAY 23RD FEBRUARY, 9.30AM FOR 10.00AM START AND 1PM CLOSE.

Venue - New International Bookshop, Trades Hall.

We are intending to organise children's activities to free up parents, and

to provide refreshments at the NIB caf�.

RSVP, and for the book to be sent to you, email [email protected] or ring

the bookshop on 9662-3744

ABOUT THE BOOK

Rather than producing a conventional critique of economic rationalism that

focuses on privatisation, deregulation and tariff cuts, Frankel examines

the new constellation of private sector forces that dominate in Australia

and how the changes of the last decade impact on wage earners, retirees and

welfare recipients, the community sector, and environment. Having

documented this significant change from an earlier phase of capitalism,

Frankel is then able to propose new egalitarian policies that break away

from past approaches.

FREEDOM BUS HOMECOMING!!!

ON THE 27th OF JANURARY, 2002, twelve persons traveling around Australia on the Freedom Bus made a solemn promise to over 150 men, women and children at the Port Hedland Detention Center - a promise to present their stories to the people of Australia.

ON THE 25th OF FEBRUARY the travelers on the Freedom Bus will fulfill this promise at a free and open public meeting at the Sydney Trades Hall.

AT THE PUBLIC MEETING:

Freedom Bus travelers will present IMAGES, STORIES, WRITING AND FOOTAGE taken at all six of Australia's mainland Detention Centers - including extensive footage of asylum seekers filmed at the Port Hedland Detention Center. This footage has never before been released to the Australian public.

Freedom Bus travelers will also TELL THE STORIES of their journey around

Australia:

* Of their intense 50 days on the road together;

* Of their experiences at all six of Australia's mainland

Refugee Detention Centers;

* Of asylum seekers visited around the country;

* Of their dealings with police, ACM, and the Department of

Immigration;

* And of the reactions, opinions and support of the Australian

public;

The meeting is FREE AND OPEN to all members of the public. So come along and

meet the Freedom Bus travelers for yourself!

PLACE: Sydney Trades Hall, 4 Goulburn St, Sydney

DATE: Monday, 25th February

TIME: 6:30pm

COST: Free!!

FURTHER INFORMATION:

For further information please call Richard Schweizer on 0403074582 or mailto:[email protected], or call Natasha Verco on 0407668016.

The web-site for the Freedom Bus can be found at

http://www.rac-vic.org/oztour/maintour.html. The Freedom Bus can be

contacted on 0407668016, or at mailto:[email protected].

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