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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.
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.
 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
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.
French Connection
Gold Star Student
Time for a General Strike?
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News
Fat Sheep Dip Into Workers Pockets
Significantly bigger sheep is one reason that Australian shearers, still paid on piece rates, find their wages lagging behind.
That is one finding from a comprehensive survey of shearers that is likely to lead to the Australian Workers Union mounting a Work Value case in the IRC.
Union secretary, Bill Shorten, delivered findings from the Auspoll survey to a Rural Press Club lunch in Melbourne this week.
He revealed that the industry's traditional gold standard, Victoria's pot of beer, had fallen off the pace. Shearers now receive $1.78 per animal while the pot has crashed through the $2.50 barrier.
Shearers say the weight and size of the sheep they confront in today's shed is significantly bigger than the animal they dealt with a few years ago.
Nearly 90 percent didn't believe their income would provide them comfortable retirement incomes and 7 out of every 10 said they wouldn't encourage family or friends to join the industry.
Sixty eight percent of shearers said they were being forced to travel more widely with a "very bad" impact on family lives.
Shorten said survey results put the average shearer's annual income at $35,000 and that of shed hands at barely $18,000. These figures are significantly eroded by equipment and travel costs.
"Our research supports ABS census data and other research that paints a picture of a widening gulf between rural and city living standards," Shorten said.
Shearers nominated improved superannuation, piece rates and travel allowance as the keys to making their trade more attractive.
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Issue 133 contents
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