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Issue No. 134 03 May 2002  
E D I T O R I A L

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?

F E A T U R E S

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.

N E W S

 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

C O L U M N S

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.

L E T T E R S
 Doctors in the Bush
 M1 Open Letter
 Julian Online
 May Day Debacle
 Mothers Day Musings
 Greetings From Canada
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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Letters to the Editor

M1 Open Letter


The M1 Alliance writes this open letter to NSW unions to request their involvement in further May 1st demonstrations.

In Sydney, in the face of heavy police intimidation, around 1200 people joined both the blockade of the offices of ACM and later the Unity Rally and march from Martin Place.

Support for M1 came from a broad range of groups including the Palestine Human Rights Campaign, Progressive Young Hazarias, The Wilderness Society, Refugee Action Collective, PNG Solidarity Collective, Sydney People Against a New Nuclear Reactor (SPANNR) and Action for World Development. The M1 Alliance had good relations with the union May Day Committee, and the FSU and a number of other unions participated on the day. The NSW branch of the NTEU actually endorsed M1.

It is of great significance that there is a growing number of young people involved in such protest who see organised trade unions as a very important and powerful vehicle for change. In fact, the loudest applause at the Unity Rally came after Sean Chaffer from the MUA and May Day Committee spoke.

M1 recognises that coming out in protest on May 1st is fundamentally about showing our solidarity with working people around the globe and we look forward to developing these alliances in the future.

In a world where corporate interests increasingly take precedence over real social needs, a growing anti-corporate movement has risen to respond. The strength of this movement has been its unity and diversity as major protests continue to mobilise a huge range of people against the negative effects of corporate-led globalisation.

It is against the negative impacts of corporate-led globalisation � privatisation, environmental destruction, attacks on unions, crippling Third World debt, increasing social inequality, the imprisonment of refugees � that M1 protesters have come out in their thousands.

For millions of people the day to day struggle against the effects of corporate-led globalisation fundamentally takes place in the workplace � and not just in Nike sweatshops.

When WTO agreements effectively force the lowest common denominator in terms on wages and conditions onto working people, a global response is required. This requires raising the issues associated with corporate-led globalisation and spreading them as far and wide amongst ordinary people as possible.

A show of solidarity and strength on May Day is a very important part of that process.

Millions of people and hundreds of unions around the world marched and protested this year on May 1st � from Melbourne to Zimbabwe to France to the Philippines to Chile.

The M1 Alliance encourages NSW unions to become more involved in the May 1 day of action and wish to make clear our desire to work with you in any way to make this possible for next year.

Long live May Day.


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