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Issue No. 127 | 08 March 2002 |
Power Plays
Interview: Still Flying Women: Suffrage or Suffering Industrial: No Coco Pops For Brenda Unions: Back to the Heartland Activists: Getting to the Point International: Push Polling Economics: Debt Defaulters Poetry: Those Were the Days Review: Black Hawk Dud Satire: Fox-Lew Launch Rescue Bid for Beta Video
Dunny Wars: Will Workers Carry the Can? Go Forth and Multiply � Unions on Women Howard Shuts Workers Out Of Steel Talks Questions Remain As Rio Rings Changes Unions Fight 'Industrial Blackmail' IT Workers Get Their Own Geek Scopes Brazilian Unions Study Aussie Experience
The Soapbox The Locker Room Week in Review Tool Shed
Collins Goes Cahill
Labor Council of NSW |
News Egan Sells His Brains
With Caucus due to consider the future of Pacific Power International (PPI) on Tuesday, unions will spend the coming days attempting to convince ALP back-benchers to delay the sell-off until after it is considered by the May State Conference. Unions see PPI as a vital state asset, responsible for long-term planning of power resources, regional development and the maturing sustainable energy industry Labor Council secretary John Robertson warns the Carr Government the sale would risk further alienating the union movement and have the potential for electoral backlash, after winning the last State Election on an anti-privatisation promise. "If this sale goes ahead the power industry will inevitably be privatised," Robertson says. "If the public sector doesn't have the capacity to plan its growth, that role will fall into private hands." A Slap in the Face The Public Service Association's Maurie O'Sullivan says the Carr Government is asking for trouble if it proceeds with the sale. "The Labor Party is struggling to come to terms with its defeat in the last federal election," O'Sullivan says. "A government that breaks such a core election promise and flagrantly disregards its own party policy in doing so is a government asking for defeat." O'Sullivan says he's bewildered by the decision that is a "slap in the face" for the union movement, who will lose significant membership through the process. The Electrical Trade Union's Bernie Riordan says the explanation is simple: "We all know Michael Egan is not very bright, but he's really hit a high-water mark on this occasion." Common Position Unions have consistently argued against the PPI sale, arguing it is a: - a highly skilled technically capable organization. - an integral part of the NSW power industry - an organisation that possesses significant scientific skills that are compatible with emerging markets for sustainable energy and alternative generation. - an organisation that aligns well with a range of NSW Government policy priorites such as regional development and sustainable energy. The joint position calls on Pacific Power International to be established as a stand alone state owned corporation. Unions will rally outside State Parliament to draw attention to the issue next Tuesday at 10am.
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