
Issue No 14		21 May 1999

News

Cab Charge Wars: SBS Workers Fight for Their Lives

SBS television and radio employees are taking action to win back cab charges for late shifts after they were withdrawn on the advice of accountants.

The workers, members of the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance and the CPSU, fear for their personal safety in getting public transport late at night in Sydney and Melbourne.

Earlier this year SBS auditors, Deloite Touche Tohmatsu, carried out an audit of the Sydney Radio Cost Centre and found that the current taxi policy was not being fully implemented and recommended that the practice of issuing cab charge dockets for travel to and from work for late night and early shifts cease forthwith.

With no regard to a number of individual staff members concerns about their safety SBS General Manager, Nigel Milan supported the auditors recommendations and workers at SBS are now left to their own devices to try to get to and from work as best they can, often without even the option of public transport.

When a 23year old female journalist registered her concerns about starting a newly devised 5am shift in Sydney and no way to get to work, Head of Radio told her that it was not SBS's responsibility and that if she was injured or attacked that was what workers compensation was for.

Stop work meetings are being held at SBS in Sydney at 2.15pm on Friday 21 May and NSW Secretary of the MEAA Michel Hryce has demanded that Nigel Milan meet to ensure that SBS adopts industry standards which ensure employee safety.

The unions are also moving to overturn the current taxi policy which was devised by the finance department of SBS and does not concentrate on the safety of staff.

Changes Afoot For SBS Late Night Bulletin.

Meanwhile, Alliance members and SBS News Editor Phillip Martin are locked in negotiations over proposed changes to the timing of broadcasting the late night bulletin.

Martin is calling for 10 hour shifts and other work changes which shall result in major restructuring of how the effected journalists undertake their work. The issue of adequate breaks, finical compensation and of course the topical safe transport home issue need to be sorted out before a trial might go ahead.

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  Issue 14 contents

Interview: Madame President
The new President of the NSW Legislative Council Meredith Burgmann has spent most of her life opposing authority. Now she has a chance to exercise it.

Unions: The ACTU Faces the Labour Hire Challenge
The enormous growth in labour hire and contracting out employment is creating a big challenge for unions worldwide.

History: The Wartime Women�s Employment Board
During World War II policy makers were forced to embraqce a unique wage-fixing method.

Labour Review: What's New from the Information Centre
View the latest issue of Labour Review, Labor Council's fortnightly newsletter for unions.

Review: Origlass Biographer Keeps Red Flag Flying
The self proclaimed 'ultra-democrat', Hall Greenland, has described his relationship with the Balmain legend Nick Origlass as "Freudian".

International: Paddy's Payback
But for the Timorese many Australian diggers, like retired wharfie Paddy Kenneally, would have died at the hands of the Japanese during WW2. Now it's time to return the favour...

Campus: Tales from the Frontline
This week's successful VSU protests seem to have killed off Kemp's ideological agenda. We go live to the protest

» Call For IR Crisis Talks as Country Conference Looms

» Workers Sacked for Body Hire

» British Union Secures Free Net Access

» Cab Charge Wars: SBS Workers Fight for Their Lives

» State Wage Case Smooth - Except for Brack

» FOI Loopholes Could Leave Public Servants Exposed

» Drug Summit Misses Tokin� Gesture

» Public Will Lose Again From Rail Sackings

» Robin Hood Strikes Again

» CPSU shows it cares�

» Unions Take Action on Timor, Stolen Generation