E D I T O R I A L

Lights Out on The Hill
If it's any consolation, the Labor Party is not alone in tying itself into knots over what it stands for in the 21st century.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Change Agent
ALP national secretary Geoff Walsh on the changing nature of politics, the influence of the corporates and the upcoming review of the party.

Industrial: Balancing the Books
Jim Marr talks to one of the beneficiaries of the historic equal pay decision for librarians and archivists.

Unions: Breaking Out
When a bank executive stepped into the witness box to defend the gagging of a worker from talking to the media, the excuses collapsed into a sea of psycho-babble.

Politics: Pissing on the Light on the Hill
Paul Smith argues that those who don�t like the ALP's Socialist Objective should consider joining another party.

History: Of Death and Taxes
He was a conservative economist who became the darling of the Left. Neale Towart looks back on the myth and realty of James Tobin.

International: Now That's a Strike!
After one of the largest mobilisations of workers in history, Italian trade unionists are planning to do it all again.

Satire: Mugabe Voted Miss Zimbabwe: Denies Election Rigged
The newly re-elected Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, has officially been crowned Miss Zimbabwe, describing his triumph as �a victory for black fashionablism�.

Poetry: Flick Go The Branches
Once upon a time, the song �Click Go The Shears� could be heard echoing through the pubs of vibrant country towns.

Review: Red, Red Clydeside
Renowned folk singer Alistair Hulett is currently touring Australia with his new album �Red Clydeside�. He speaks to Nick Martin.

N E W S

NAB Gambles, Aussies Lose

Brogden's Worker Creds On The Line

Cole Cleans Up

Melbourne Faces Budget Day Gridlock

Equity Drive Gathers Steam

Unions Call for Middle East Peace

Queensland Casuals Step Forward

Worker Stood Down for Dunny Action

Zoo Workers in Wage Jungle

Indigenous Jobs on Union Agenda

Building Workers Honour Fallen Cop

Robbo and Latham to Go Three Rounds

ACT Health Workers Flex Muscles

Small Victory at Shangri-La

Casual Rights On Agenda As Full-Time Jobs Collapse

Workers Health Centre Offers Affordable Care

Activists Notebook

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
What's Wrong With the Liberals
Liberal figure and ARM chief Greg Barnes argues that the modern Liberal Party has little to do with liberalism.

Sport
When The Axe Comes Down
Phil Doyle braved the crowds at the Royal Easter Show to witness one of the giants of the wood-chopping game.

Week in Review
Battle Cries
What an Easter � Sydneysiders soak up the sun saluting Sunline while, elsewhere, the dogs of war are slipping their chains.

Postcard
Razor's Edge
Vince Caughley writes from Woomera where he participated in the protests over the Easter Long weekend.

L E T T E R S

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Battle Cries

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

Hundreds of Israeli tanks roll into West Bank settlements as Ariel Sharon declares his version of "jihad" against Palestinians. Shops and businesses are bombarded; civilians die in hospitals and homes while occupiers round up those suspected of attacking the Israeli state.

Foreign media are banned from the occupation zone; water and electricity supplies are shut down; an Australian woman protestor is shot and Ramallah hospital workers utilise a lull in fighting to bury 18 victims in a mass grave. Sharon gives elected Palestinian Authority leader, Yasser Arafat, his one-way ticket ultimatum, saying Israel wants to negotiate with someone else.

The Easter blitzkreig reduces the world's lone superpower to policy incoherence. First George Bush says Yasser Arafat is not a terrorist under the Bush Doctrine because "he had agreed to a peace process", next he green lights Sharon's push by putting the onus to stop Middle East violence on Arafat.

Then, presumably after consultation with Israel, it seems Arafat may be a Bush Doctrine terrorist after all. White House officials concede the various messages are not exactly "crisp".

..... ..... ......

Closer to home, unreconstructed class warrior Tony Abbott is on his favourite battleground with allies from the HR Nicholls Society.

In a speech to the extremist organisation, Abbott fails to let facts get in the way of his holy war against Aussie workers.

He calls on company bosses to make industrial relations their first priority, rather than leaving it to IR specialists, saying, and we quote, "war is too important to be left to the Colonels - the Generals need to be involved as well".

On the matter of facts: Abbott cites "a recent $200,000 fine (against a union which) went unpaid for months". Truth is, it was overturned last year and the matter was set down for reconsideration on May 16.

Despite that, Abbott insists "one way or another, this Government will make them pay".

Abbott goes on to misrepresent wage stats to claim workers are better off under AWAs than collective agreements. He bases his spin on a May 2000 ABS survey representing managerial, where there is a preponderance of AWA employment, and non-managerial workers.

Just goes to prove the old adage about truth being the first casualty of war.

... ... ...

The battle to save Australian shipping returns to the Federal Court where maritime unions contest the right of CSL to reflag the bulk carrier Yarra and return it to coastal trading with foreign workers, labouring under Third World conditions.

Battle lines were drawn when the Canadian owners announced they would transfer the Australian ship to the Asian arm of their operation. They pulled the same stunt with the CSL Torrens, returning it to Australian waters with a Bahamas flag and Ukranian crew.

Alongside the Federal Court action, maritime unions move against CSL in the Industrial Relations Commission, seeking to have Ukranians crewing another vessel brought under the Australian Award. True to form, Minister Abbott intervenes to support foreign capital against Australians workers.

... ... ...

The PSA fires a missile into the crumbling walls of gender-based wage inequality, winning pay rises of up to 26 percent for more than 1000 librarians, library technicians and archivists.

In addition, the abolition of age-based entry level salaries will see some young library technicians get an effective pay rise of 92 percent.

The Test Case decision, under NSW's Equal Remuneration Principle, is handed down by the Industrial Relations Commission full bench. It finds that not only had the responsibilities of affected workers been under-valued but there had also been significant recent increases in demand, skill and output.

... ... ...

The ACTU signs up for the war on poverty, throwing time and resources into a push for Australia's lowest paid workers to get a $25 increase.

Hotel cleaners, battling to feed, cloth and house their families on as little as $416 (gross), state their support as the Living Wage Case hearing opens in Melbourne.

Employers, representing Kerry Packer, Rupert Murdoch, Jodee Rich et all argue the claim is excessive.

They win support from the afore-mentioned Abbott, weekly salary approx $3750.00, who argues that any increase should be limited to a maximum of $10, before it is taxed. When it comes to class war, you've got to admit he's consistent.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005