 |
Demonising Unions
There's a common streak running through the Liberal Party's prosecution of its witch-hunt of the building industry unions and the federal ALP leader's push to reduce the influence of trade unions within the Party. That's the view that unions are on the nose.
Interview: The Star Chamber
CFMEU national seretary John Sutton surveys the limited progress of the Cole Royal Commission.
Politics: The Odd Couple
After spending years yelling at each other, a couple of young factional players started talking to each other in the name of refugees.
Tribute: I-Conned
A rogue priest and Philip Ruddock have combined to leave master artist, Rados Stevanovic, living in a suburban park, as Jim Marr reports.
Media: Audiences Before Politics
The real challenge facing the new managing director of the ABC is how to make audiences central to what the national broadcaster does, argues Tony Moore.
International: The Off-Side Rule
It may be kick off time at the World Cup but unions in South Korea and around Asia are using the world’s biggest sporting event to focus attention on workers’ rights, as Andrew Casey discovers.
Economics: The Fake Persuaders
Companies are creating false citizens to try to change the way we think, writes George Monbiot.
History: Terror Tactics
As the Howard Government prepares terror legislation to ban organisations, Neale Towart remembers a similar attempt at censorship in the name of security.
Poetry: Food, Modified Food
That old school yard joke "what do you get if you cross a ... with a ...?" is becoming startlingly true. The latest development is a featherless chicken.
Review: Spiderman Spins Out the US
Red Pepper's Rick Giombetti scales the big screen and puts Spiderman in his place, flying in the face of right wingers who would claim the Marvel Comic legend as their own.
Satire: England's World Cup Disaster: Star Hooligan Breaks Foot
The English World Cup 2002 campaign is in tatters after star hooligan Gerard Wilson of Chelsea broke his foot.
 Cole Suffers Credibility Crisis
Councils Armed To Drown Sweatshops
Miners Win Record Payouts
Bracks Crew Not Family Friendly
Time to Charge Directors
Waterfront Truth One Step Closer
Speedy Flow-On for NSW Workers
Star Sin-Binning Prompts Inquiry Call
New Chief Puts ABC Back In The Picture
Getting it Wrong on Training
Gravy Train Gets Richer For Max and Mates
Reward For Delegate Who Stood Up
Casino Workers Hit Mat Leave Jackpot
Drug Haul Sparks Security Warning
East Timor’s MPs Take Australia On
ACTU Officials Denied Visas Into Fiji
Commemorate 100 Years of Votes for Women
The Soapbox
Modernising Labor?
NSW Labor Council secretary John Robertson argues that genuine reform of the ALP would go beyond the 60-40 rule, to increase the voice of unions within the Party. The Locker Room
Juego Bonito
Forget the dour contests of the Premier League and Serie A, it’s the World Cup which transforms football into the beautiful game. Noel Hester analyses the form. Week in Review
He Who Pays The Piper
Money comes in all colours but, in politics, the hue is usually blue, as Jim Marr discovers … Bosswatch
Rich Pickings
Australia's wealthiest were on display this week as BRW released its annual Rich 200 list. Postcard
About Last Night
The CFMEU's Phil Davey, on an APHEDA -Union Aid Abroad delegation to Palestine, recounts his experience trying to get back to his hotel after dark.
Simon and the Creanites
In Defence of Latham
Swans A Pathetic Con-Job
|
| other LaborNET sites |
|
Labor Council of NSW
Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation
|
|
|
Bracks Crew Not Family Friendly
The Victorian Government has been found guilty of failing to uphold its own family friendly policies.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found the State Government indirectly discriminated against one of its workers by failing to implement a work plan that would have allowed her to retain her job while fulfilling carer responsibilities.
The worker, a full-time Hansard sub-editor, had asked to work part-time from home so she could care for her ill son. The Victorian Government said she could, but then failed to follow through with its plan.
The Tribunal found that by effectively giving the worker no choice but to continue working full-time, the Government had imposed an unreasonable condition on her with which she could not comply.
The decision was first made in 2000 but it was appealed in the Supreme Court on the grounds the Tribunal had not taken into account the impact of the decision on the worker's colleagues. It was remitted back to the Tribunal where it was upheld.
The decision is seen as a warning for employers to ensure they are adhering to their own family friendly policies.
But some unions are saying that while the decision can be seen as a small win for the worker, it does little to change general workplace practices enough to ensure it does not happen again.
NSW Labor Council's Alison Peters says the case still leaves the onus on individual workers to blow the whistle on bosses who fail to uphold their own policies but "most people just don't have the time and energy to go through all this".
The Hansard worker struggled for more than two years to get a final ruling on her case and ultimately lost her job. She has so far been awarded $161,300 but there is little assurance her former employer will act differently if the situation arises again.
A resolution passed at ALP State Conference attempts to put the onus back on employers by requiring them to submit in writing any reasons why they cannot fulfil their own family friendly policies. Another encourages unions to continue placing family friendly policies into agreements.
Peters says it is also crucial unions keep taking an active role in ensuring workplace policies are being properly implemented.
 View entire issue - print all of the articles!
Issue 138 contents
|
