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Cry Freedom
If there's a common thread running through this week's issue, it's the continuing crisis faced by workers around the globe confronting the practical reality of Free Trade.
Interview: Cross Wires
Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance chief Chris Warren surveys the fluid state of the Australian media.
International: Two Tribes
As the Middle East burns, Andrew Casey shines a light into one of the world's darkest corners.
Activists: Beneath the Veil
A young Afghani woman has travelled to Australia to put a human face on the suffering of her people - and her gender.
Unions: Terror Australis
When push comes to shove, it appears the Howard Government is more scared of the Maritime Union than Osama Bin Laden, Jim Marr reports.
History: A Labor Footnote To The Royal Funeral
Stephen Holt reports that an intriguing Australian connection has been overlooked amidst the supposedly blanket media coverage of the end of the Bowes Lyon era.
Economics: Private Affluence, Public Rip-Off
New Labour's enthusiasm for business is matched only by its lack of business sense, as the private finance fiasco shows.
Review: The Great Hall of the People
In an extract from the latest issue of Labor Essays, the ARM's Richard Fidler looks at the symbolism behind the Republican debate.
Poetry: Waiting for the Living Wage
The Living Wage Case was heard this week. The workers� voices in this poem have been adapted from the evidence presented by low wage earners to the living wage case.
Satire: Israel Recruits NAB To Close West Bank
Israeli security forces have successfully enlisted the expert help of the National Australia Bank to close down the West Bank.
 Baby Company Punts Netball Mum
Dairy Workers Win Global Breakthrough
Treasury Modelling Backs ACTU Claim
Bank Nabs Huge Sales Targets
Come Clean � Insurance Giants Challenged
May Day Jam and Toast
Job Security Win For Cabin Crew
Workers Gear-up For Pollution Fight
Shuffling The Deck On The Yarra
New Push On Workplace Crime
Super Child Care Win
Doubts Over Ettalong Wharf Funding
The Sane Monk Stands Down
Fabians Debate Refugees
Activists Notebook
The Soapbox
Unions and the Web � Where to Now?
Peter Lewis argues the time has come to revisit how trade unions interact with workers and how the Web could be the catalyst for such a change. The Locker Room
Free To Where?
Parents with kiddies who play a bit of sport will have noticed the escalating costs associated with their kids being involved in sport.
Week in Review
The Joys of the Chop
Workers come and workers go, right? Well, it�s the way of the world but while some get stiffed, others are stuffed with obscene amounts �
Labor and Unions - What About the Workers?
A Voice for the Shareholders
Noses in the Trough
Bugger Off
Memo: Carmen Lawrence
Police: Make the Boss a Woman
Baby Faced Brogden
Workers Online - Aoteroa
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Letters to the Editor
A Voice for the Shareholders
Your interview with Geoff Walsh and your editorial both highlight the challenge for Labor and the Trade Union movement as it seeks to ensure governments retain the ability to intervene to ensure social justice in a world dominated by big business and multinationals.
If new ideas are needed, here is a suggestion.
Currently major corporations are dominated by the big shareholders, through the block votes from their large shareholdings, and those of institutions which they indirectly control.
Australian corporations law could be changed to ensure that one Director of major companies was elected on a "one shareholder, one vote" basis. This representative would in effect become the voice of the mum and dad shareholders, some of whom are now trade union members.
This would ensure that the interests of the small shareholders would be taken into account in decisions such that of the Coles-Myer board to discontinue shareholder discounts. The independent director may even play some role in better corporate governance, by asking the tough questions. This could help prevent repeats of HIH, OneTel and the like.
Worth a thought - or is the Third Way of Mark Latham and the like just code for the ALP becoming simply adopting the same free market policies of Labor's traditional opponents?
Noel Blaxendale
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Issue 131 contents
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