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Interview: Pulling the Pin
Victorian union leader Dean Mighell outlines the thinking behind his decision to quit the ALP and join the Greens.
International: At the Crossroads
From Germany, to Britain, to South Africa, Canada and the USA it seems union members are turning on their political partners � and talking about divorce.
Unions: A Case Of Lost Identity
Victorian Trades Hall secretary Leigh Hubbard warns that more unions could leave the ALP if the current policy review hits the wrong note.
History: Rocking the Foundations
There was not just one model of what a political wing of the labour movement should be, Don Rawson writes.
Industrial: Rocky Road
Thirteen hundred Rockhampton workers are putting cars and houses on the line in an effort to beat off bully-boy tactics from Kerry Packer-owned Consolidated Meat Group.
Economics: Cracking a Coldie
As Australian icons fall around him, Neale Towart charts the rise and fall of the Great Aussie Esky.
Poetry: The Right Was Wrong
A glimpse of history shows that waterfront workers deserve the high moral ground.
Satire: Heffernan�s Evidence Conclusive: Proves He's An Idiot
The evidence released by Senator Bill Heffernan to substantiate his allegations against Justice Kirby have proved conclusively that the senator is an idiot.
Review: Upstairs, Downstairs
Robert Altman's latest movie Gosford Park is hard yakka no matter what side of the class system you sit on.
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 Labor Council of NSW
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L A T E S T N E W S |
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Giant Rat Fights Cole Commission
A giant rat will sniff out real building industry rorts while Commissioner Terrence Cole�s royal commission goes through its pre-determined paces in Sydney.
The eight metre rodent debuted in spectacular style at St Luke�s Grammar School, Brookvale, this week, alerting locals to a typical industry rip-off threatening 30 local breadwinners and two family-owned businesses.
[full story]
Dodgy Bosses To Get Life
Unions are calling for lifetime bans from government work for any employer or director whose company has gone bust owing workers entitlements.
The Labor Council will ask the Carr Government to toughen up its tendering rules, to stop the tactic that is routine in the construction and contract cleaning industries. [full story]
Unions Back Rugby World Cup
NSW unions are backing Australia�s bid to be stand-alone organiser of next year�s Rugby World Cup and want to run a similar membership drive to the one that unionised the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Spurred by Bob Carr�s offer of facilities and infrastructure, Labor Council wants to reprise the success of Unions 2000, when NSW and Australia benefited from a centralised, co-operative approach to industrial relations. [full story]
Queue Jumper Abbott In Cash Grab
The Government�s ticket tax should fund Ansett workers entitlements not swell government coffers says the ACTU.
Federal Employment Minister Tony Abbott�s admission this week that the Government will attempt to stand in front of unpaid employees in the creditors� queue has outraged sacked workers. [full story]
Refugees Face Bank Imbalance
Even when asylum seekers win Temporary Protection Visas they still lack the official recognition required to open a bank account.
NSW Labor Council secretary John Robertson highlighted the case of an Iraqi refugee, released after nine months at Woomera with only a temporary protection visa and a Medicare card, unable to even meet the Government�s required 100 points to open a bank account. [full story]
Guards Act to Plug Leaks
State Rail security guards will protest next Tuesday, disgusted at having been docked pay for taking toilet breaks.
"Guards are having money deducted just because they need to go to the toilet - and don't get permission," NSW LHMU Security Union assistant secretary, Mark Boyd, says. [full story]
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ALSO MAKING NEWS |
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Rabbit Fence Leads Reconciliation to Classroom
Spy Bill Under Fire
Council Takes Up Discrimination Challenge
Power Workers To Decide Own Fate
Thumbs Up for Super Deal
G-G Warned Off State Schools
Fee Pressure Builds on Beattie
Nobel Committee 'Subordinates' Union Rights
Columbians Level Death Charges
Call To Blockade Burmese Junta
Indonesian Threat To Unions
Activist Notebook
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The Soapbox
Dealing with Prejudice
Former Liberal senator Chris Puplick did not pull any punches launching a new guide for union reps dealing with discrimination issues. The Locker Room
The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall
Phil Doyle tries to get sport off the front pages and back where it belongs ... Postcard
Greetings From Lao
In the first in a new series, Union Aid Abroad's Phillip Hazelton, reports from Lao, where he is establishing a vocational training centre. Cole-Watch
Go West
The Building Industry Royal Commission caravan has rolled into Perth. Week in Review
Top of the Pops
Johnny Howard and his Masters of Deception kept the beat during a week in which secrecy took over from blatant fibbing as the dark art or choice, leaving the national Hit Parade looking something like this �
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