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

WHAT YOU CAN DO

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Activist Notebook

Just Republic

The organisation A Just Republic, is organising a Conference entitled "WHY AN AUSTRALIAN REPUBLIC SHOULD HAVE A BILL OF RIGHTS".

Australian citizens have no protection of their basic rights and freedoms and in spite of the NSW Government holding a Bill of Rights Inquiry in 2000/2001, no State or Territory Bill of Rights exists. There is currently a Bill of Rights Inquiry being held in the ACT.

Please join with us to support a public debate on this issue.

Date: Saturday 1 June 2002

Time: 1pm - 4.30pm

Venue: Tom Mann Theatre

136 Chalmers St Surry Hills (near Devonshire St entrance of Central Stn)

Speakers: Tony Maher, National President, Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union (Mining & Energy Division), Paula Abood, Migrant Community Worker, Tony McAvoy, Aboriginal person, Barrister

There will be a refreshment break followed by discussion and a question time.

Entry: Free of charge (donations welcomed).

Contact: Nizza Siano (02) 9327 3423

Peter Murphy (02) 9211 4164

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

West Sahara

I am forming an interfaith group to assist a group of Arab Berber refugees in North West Africa, with all forms of assistance. If there has ever been a group of forgotten people from a forgotten war, this is them. These poor souls have been living in tents as refugees in the Algerian Sahara Desert since being driven from their homeland of Western Sahara by an armed Moroccan invasion in 1975!

Please visit the Western Sahara Online website at http://www.wsahara.net and then contact me if you may be interested in your group or you as an individual in helping to form an interfaith group to assist the Sahrawi refugees. I can be reached at [email protected] and please do contact me with comments or questions.

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

Asian women worker activists speakout on Anti-terrorist laws

Friday May 3, 6:30pm A public meeting at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre (King St Newtown)

Organised by Action in Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific and Smash Racism.

Guest Speakers

Irene Xavier (Formerly detained under Malaysia's internal security act, currently organising women workers.)

Mabel Au (Program coordinator, Committee for Asian Women)

Tim Anderson and Paula Abood discussing the proposed Australian anti-terrorist law and how to fight it.

Theme will be to link the anti-terrorism law currently before Parliament with the Malaysian internal security act.

Irene Xavier is a labour activist working with women workers since 1978. She was involved in

various struggles to organise women workers in the electronics sector to form and lead a national trade union. The Malaysian government has refused the formation of this trade union.

Founded Persatuan Sahabat Wanita together with other activists in 1984. This support group for women workers has worked on several issues such as retrenchment, health and safety, labour rights. In 1987 she was detained under

the Internal Security Act for 355 days. Is currently involved in the women workers movement in Malaysia as

well as in Asia through CAW as well in the stuggle for civil and political rights in Malaysia.

For further info contact Kathy on 0408 413 850

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