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The Hijacking of May Day
Unionists watching the shambolic and violent affair that was the M1 protest could be forgiven for wondering what has become of the traditional workers' day?
Interview: Youth Group
Federal Labor's youngest frontbencher, Nicola Roxon, on how the ALP can win back the hearts and minds of the young.
History: Back To The Future
As building unions put old animosity aside, Neale Towart looks at the history of the 'demarc' - and the steps taken to avoid them.
Industrial: On the Street
Jim Marr looks at the human cost of Treasurer Peter Costello's refusal to fund a pay rise for community workers.
Unions: The New Deal
Adam Kerslake outlines the importance of the ground-breaking pact between unions in the building and civil construction industries.
Legal: The Police State Road
Rowan Cahill argues that the Howard Government's new anti-terror laws carries echoes of a more sinister past.
Women: What Women Want
When 300 ALP women from around Australia converged on Canberra for the National Labor Women�s Conference they had more than quotas on thier minds, Alison Peters reports.
Politics: Street Party
Paul Howes looks at how May Day was celebrated around the Globe by those involved in trade unions and those who are not.
International: The Costs of War
Ariel Sharon is facing growing pressure from Israeli unions over the conduct of his war on Palestine, reports Andrew Casey.
Review: Songs of Solidarity
It had rock, grunge, pop and rap. The May Day union anthem song contest had everything, including an element of surprise thanks to competition winner Swarmy G.
Satire: Bono Satisfies World Hunger for Preachy Rockstars
U2�s lead singer Bono has launched a daring solo mission to end the world�s hunger for rock stars who use their high profiles to crap on self-righteously about charitable causes.
Poetry: Woomera
Divide and rule, that age old tactic...the lips of defence personnel inexcusably sewn to dehumanise an imaginary threat, the lives of asylum seekers incomprehensively dehumanised so as to defend a threatening image.
 Yarra Seamen Take Border Stand
War on Terror Targets Unions
Year Zero for Building Unions
Kinkos Copies Anti-Union Script
Nike Told to Shoosh on Sweatshops
Rapper Wins Wobbly Anthem Prize
Technicians Take Aim At Canon
Unions Target Labour Hire Bidding War
Rally Targets Tight-Arse Costello
Councils To Be Audited On Language Allowance
Scope For Payback In Privacy Limitations
Heavyweight Push For Medibank Private To Stay Public
What About Dad? - TWU
East Timor MPs Question Timor Gap Plan
Artists' Union Bans Voice For Peace
Activist Notebook
The Soapbox
Maurie on May Day
PSA supremo Maurie O'Sullivan had them in the palms of his hands when he delivered the traditional May Day Toast. The Locker Room
Impractical Punting
Most of life is six to five against. That is, unless you know a Packer or a Waterhouse. Phil Doyle expands. Bosswatch
Show Me The Money!
It may be May Day - but life in the banking industry has never been sweeter - unless you're in the gambling caper.
Week in Review
Two Bob Each Way
The double standards of modern life have left Jim Marr scratching his head. Tool Shed
Border Insurgent
Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson has blockaded himself into the Tool Shed this week for opening Australia's borders up to flag of convenience ships with Third World crews.
Doctors in the Bush
M1 Open Letter
Julian Online
May Day Debacle
Mothers Day Musings
Greetings From Canada
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Editorial
The Hijacking of May Day
Unionists watching the shambolic and violent affair that was the M1 protest could be forgiven for wondering what has become of the traditional workers' day?
Here were a couple of hundred political extremists making life hell for ordinary workers - be they the bank workers forced to get to work at 5am or the police officers facing physical danger from juvenille tactics. They have 365 days to choose from, why take our's?
These were not 'May Day protestors' as portrayed in the media, they were the remnants of S11, who induced media attention on the threat of violence - including the outrageous message that they were being trained by the Intifada
The tragedy of M1 is that many in the union movement have sympathy with the issues driving the protests: we have taken a public stand of the plight of asylum seekers, we do work hard to blunt the excesses of the corporates and of course, we support trad union rights.
It's just that their tactics are so counterproductive. It's immature politics that only ends up marginalising the public; the actions of people acting without a constituency, thumbing their noses, not just to authority but to the history of the Australian working class.
There are no doubt many well-intentioned and motivated people within the M1 movement and they should not be condemned en masse. But they really need to think about what they are trying to achieve from this orgy of self-indulgence.
If they want to smash the state, good luck. If they want to bring about meaningful change in a Democracy, they should rethink their tactics.
The irony of the affair was that the M1 debacle took place as the union movement proper took further steps to broaden their appeal.
The union anthem contest, won by a 24-year-old rapper from Campbelltown, Swarmy G, was a successful attempt to find new ways of reaching people who are not in the movement. The media response was overwhelmingly positive.
Meanwhile, building unions joined forces to turn their back on generations of ideological differences and get their house together in the interests of their membership.
The choice is to mainstream or marginalize our message. Inducing media interest with the threat of violence is not what May Day is all about. Indeed, it is an insult to its' history.
Peter Lewis
Editor
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Issue 134 contents
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