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Issue No. 129 | 22 March 2002 |
Not So Happy Campers
Interview: Pulling the Pin International: At the Crossroads Unions: A Case Of Lost Identity History: Rocking the Foundations Industrial: Rocky Road Economics: Cracking a Coldie Poetry: The Right Was Wrong Satire: Heffernan�s Evidence Conclusive: Proves He's An Idiot Review: Upstairs, Downstairs
Giant Rat Fights Cole Commission Queue Jumper Abbott In Cash Grab Rabbit Fence Leads Reconciliation to Classroom Council Takes Up Discrimination Challenge Power Workers To Decide Own Fate Fee Pressure Builds on Beattie Nobel Committee 'Subordinates' Union Rights Columbians Level Death Charges Call To Blockade Burmese Junta
The Soapbox The Locker Room Postcard Cole-Watch Week in Review
Letter to Howard #2 Letter to Howard #3 Jump Before You're Pushed
Labor Council of NSW |
News Council Takes Up Discrimination Challenge
Puplick, now president of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, told Labour Council the record of its affiliates on sexism, racism and other forms of discrimination, while impressive, was not perfect. He rattled delegates with examples of unions apparently supporting discrimination. - when two women cleaners had been deliberately exposed to pornographic posters, threats and sexually-explicit grafitti - in a meatworks where women packers were exposed to racist insults, sexist rumours and harrassment Puplick admitted the "trepidation" he always felt passing through "the portals of the Labor Council building in that most dreaded of addresses, Sussex St", but warmed to his task. He warned unions they were not entitled to sit idly by while damage was done, citing the case of an apprentice at a Sydney worksite who had been tied to a tree and sodomised, by bottle, as part of some bizarre initiation ceremony. Puplick, who has taken an active role in challenging agreements considered discriminatory in the Industrial Relations Commission, also told delegates of the dangers inherent in being party to indirect discrimination. Council secretary John Robertson, whose organisation helped draft the anti-discrimination guidelines which Puplick was launching, took up the challenge. Describing the Puplick address as "typically provocative" he urged affiliates to step up to the plate. "We have a responsibility to address these issues," Robertson said. "Trade unions have a key role to play in ensuring that racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination are eliminated from our workplaces." Read the full speech from Chris Puplick.
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