E D I T O R I A L

The Struggle Continues
While the romantic image of May Day may be one of international struggle to establish a workers paradise, the reality is far more pragmatic and practical.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: If The Commission Pleases
President Lance Wright marks the NSW Industrial Relations Commission's centenary with an exclusive interview with Workers Online.

History: Protest and Celebrate
Neale Towart scours the globe to discover the spirit of May Day online – the celebration of the eight-hour day.

Unions: A Novel Approach
A union office has been transformed into a library thanks to efforts to provide books for children in detention centres, reports Jim Marr.

Industrial: Hare Tony, Hare Tony
Close your eyes and the Mad Monk sounds like a Hare Krishna, but increasingly the world is tuning out from his mantra about IR reform, writes Noel Hester.

International: Never Forget Jenin
Trade unionist Sari Kassis argues the word 'Jenin' now defines Palestinian demands for justice.

Politics: Left Right Out In France
The results of the first round vote for the French presidency have led to mass protests and calls for national unity, Paul Howes reports.

Health: Delivering A Public Health Revolution
Zoe Reynolds travelled to Cuba to discover how Australians are backing a ground-breaking child health project.

Review: The Secret Life of U(nion)s
Tara de Boehmler stumbles upon a juicy trade union sub-plot in the popular GenX TV drama.

Poetry: May Day, May Day
Rapper Swarmy G is one of the finalists in our workers anthem comp with this ode to May Day.

N E W S

Shonky Bosses Get Contract Brush

Kirby Bouquet for Equal Pay

Deep Pocket Syndrome Stalks IRC

Court Decision Threatens Thousands Of Jobs

Safety Summit to Set Accident Targets

Detention Centre Vets Song Lyrics

Fat Sheep Dip Into Workers Pockets

Government Con Drives SA Vehicle Blue

Dead Worker’s Family Calls for Safety Crime Laws

Netball Mum Bounces Back

Aussie Agency Backs War Crimes Call

Thumbs-up For Union Immigration Role

May Day Rundown

DOCS Worker Assaulted In Courthouse

Queensland Unions Move on Youth Exploitation

Activist Notebook

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
A Humane Under-Belly
Presenting the annual Kingsley Laffer Lecture, Justice Michael Kirby argues that international human rights underpin Australian industrial law.

The Locker Room
The Hidden Culture of Indigenous Football
Brian McCoy argues that indigenous footballers do not just bring thier skills to the game, they bring their culture as well.

Bosswatch
Of Shares and Options
It was a week when Rio Tinto faced its shareholders, Ford faced a backlash and a bid to cap US executive salaries failed.

Week in Review
The ANZAC Spirit?
Jim Marr wonders what the ANZACs would have said about our current treatment of the homeless and needy.

L E T T E R S

WHAT YOU CAN DO

	About Workers Online
	Latest Issue
	Print Latest Issue
	Previous Issues
	Advanced Search

other LaborNET sites

Labor Council of NSW
Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation

Gold Star Student

Dear Sir,

As student doing work experience with Sydney City, I was shocked to read your derogatory remarks and reporting on this Local Government body.

While I am not attending this business every day I have experienced enough of this organization to realise that it is a caring and sharing public body.

I am meeting some very nice people, who work in the libraries and they have been very willing to teach me, through experience, how to be very chary in my dealings with other employees and how they service in the environment which you describe as predatory.

While not a member of the Union, a Union Delegate**, has been very helpful in her tutelage through example, and has certainly shown how to entrench a position through some unbelievable Machiavellian machinations of playing one employee against the other.

I shall certainly be joining this union when I get my qualifications as a Library Technician, and am earning some wages.

I for one am delighted with this council, not only are they teaching me skills which cannot be bought in a $2 shop, unlike Howard's University I do not need to take out a loan to pay for this experience.

So, not only am I delighted to do unpaid work, I look forward to getting a permanent position so I can enhance and exercise my inherent skills of passive aggression through malevolence on the idiots* who already work and the young people who will follow my footsteps.

*By definition, one must be an idiot to permit himself or herself to be treated in such a manner, without complaint.

**It is my belief that this is permitted by the Union through close relationship with a previous Union Organiser.

Yours faithfully

Amanda Green

Work Experience Student

Ed's Reply: We have no idea what you are referring to, but we think you'll go a long way at the Council. Don't be tempted to sign those individual contracts though ....

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 133 contents

© 1999-2002 Workers Online
Workers Online is a resource for the Labour movement
provided by the Labor Council of NSW
URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/133/letters2_two.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005