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

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May Day Rundown

In Sydny:

Events include:

The official May Day Toast and Jam - Wednesday - 6.30pm (Toast) and 8.30p, (Jam).

Speakers at the traditonal Toast include NSW Labor Council president Sandra Moaitt, PSA secretary Maurie O'Sullivan and members of the Chaser team.

The Jam will see finalists in the Wobbly Radio Union Anthem Song Competition perform their entries. Performers are Dogbite, Mahuia Cooper, Swarmy G and urban Guerillas. For more details check out http://www.wobblyradio.com.au

Tickets $20 (Toast and Jam) or $10 (Jam Only)

On Sunday, the traditional May Day march will start at Hyde Park North at 11am, marching to Sydney Town Hall for speeches.

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

The MI Group is also planning May Day action, including:

M1 Sydney 2002

- 7:00am Blockade ACM, 44 Market St, City

- 12:00 noon, Unity Rally and March, Martin Place.

Following the success of M1 actions last year, activists involved in M1 2002 have been conscious to put forward a positive vision of what we're fighting for - a different world with different priorities.

M1 Sydney is encouraging people to protest for a world where:

· Refugees are welcome and the detention centres are closed

· The only war governments wage is on poverty and third world debt

· Strong unions advance workers' wages and conditions

· The environment comes before corporate profits

· Indigenous people have their land back

Sexism, racism and homophobia have been eliminated

Organised around the theme of "A Different World is Possible", M1 in Sydney will begin with a morning blockade of the offices of Australasian Correctional Management, the corporation that runs the refugee detention centres and a number of private prisons. Buoyed by the recent protests at Woomera, a large turnout is expected to protest against the policy of mandatory detention of asylum seekers.

At noon, a "Unity Rally" will be held, with a number of performances and speakers from the Palestine Human Rights Campaign, Finance Sector Union, May Day Committee, Progressive Young Hazaris, Community Action Against Homophobia, The Wilderness Society, Aid/Watch and the PNG Solidarity Collective.

There will then be a march through the CBD stopping outside the Israeli Consultate, the Australian Stock Exchange, Howard's office and the US Consulate, with protesters demonstrating against war and in solidarity with the people of Palestine, and the racist and anti-union policies of the Liberals.

Support for the day of action has also come from the NTEU, the Refugee Action Collective, the AMWU Activists' Network, the NSW Greens, Sydney People Against a New Nuclear Reactor (SPANNR), Action for World Development and more.

M1 Sydney encourages all those stand against the brutal policies of war or the harsh results of free trade to join in on May Day as a mass action for peace and global justice.

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

In Melbourne, events include:

- May 1st -7am Community Blockade and picket of Casselden Place Casselden Place, at 2 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, includes the Immigration Department and other federal government Ministers and offices.

- 10.30am Unity March - Following the blockade and picket of Casselden Place, unions will march through the city. Start at trades Hall, finish in Collins Street, outside the Building Industry Royal Commission.

- 5.30pm Wreath Laying Ceremony - A wreath will be layed in a ceremony at the 8 Hour Monument opposite Trades Hall.

- 6pm The May Day Lecture - Mary Crooks delivers the May Day Lecture in the Trades Hall Old Council Chambers. Light Tea provided.

May 2nd - May Day Film Night - Special screening of a film about the New Zealand waterfront lockout of 1951. 7.30pm in the Old Council Chambers, Trades Hall.

- Sunday 5th May - May Day March - Assemble corner Victoria Street and Russell Street, opposite Trades Hall, at 2pm. March commences at 2.30pm and proceeds to treasury Gardens for rally.

- May Day Tea - The May Day Tea follows the march and rally and will be held at Trades Hall. To be followed by the May Day concert.

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

Internationally, Check out Labourstart (http://www.labourstart.org) for all the May Day action.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005