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Bitter Pills
It had to be one of the greatest frauds of history, we had reached a stage of evolution where we no longer needed to be regulated.
Interview: The Fels Guy
ACCC chair Professor Alan Fels on big business attacks, the waterfront dispute and where unions stand under the Trade Practices Act.
Solidarity: Life or Death?
Ka mate, ka mate, ka ora, ka ora – the eternal warriors’ dilemma - filled the Sydney air this week. Jim Marr was there.
Unions: Back to Basics
Tony Papa made it to the top of the Australian union movement; now he's back at the frontline organising building workers. And he's never been happier.
International: Global Terror
The annual report into violence against trade unionists was released this week. But, as Andrew Casey reports, the killings continue.
History: Sorry Business
Dr Rosalind Kidd lifts the lid on the use of forced labour of Aboriginal people in Queensland right through to the 1960s.
Technology: Future Active
In his new book on net activism, Graham Meikle arges that ideas will ultimately triumph over assets.
Satire: Executive Presents PowerPoint Eulogy at Mother’s Funeral
A corporate affairs manager from a leading Sydney company yesterday delivered a moving presentation at his mother’s funeral, utilising the many features of Microsoft’s PowerPoint software.
Poetry: Santa Claus Was Coming to Oz
As we commemorate world refugee day, what can we learn about our treatment of refugees, from the case of one man from far away who tried to enter Australia last Christmas?
Review: Dial 'M' For Minority Report
Imagine a place where everyone knows your name, the streets are filled with smiling faces, and murder has all but been obliterated. Anyone who finds this scene idyllic has clearly not seen Minority Report.
 Fair Share: Link Executive Pay to Wages
Abbott’s 'Rule of Law' Faces Court Challenge
Royal Gaze Averted as Bosses Shut Down and Fined
Molten Metal Sparks Safety Probe
Consumer Boycotts Don't Break Law: Fels
Korean Own Goal in World Focus
STOP PRESS: Court Ticks Off on Service Fees
Zero Tolerance on Casino Violence
GIO Workers Challenge Bosses' Union Wages
Nurses Reject Band-Aid Solution
Saving Lives In Killer Productions
McDonalds Vandal Becomes Global Hero
Debate Rages Over Chinese Unions
Paul Howes' Activist Notebook
The Soapbox
Jock or Janus?
Roland Stephens looks at Labor's progression through the eyes of 'Jock' the legendary David Williamson character. The Locker Room
The World Game
Former Socceroo Dennis Yaager gives his take on the Cup Finals while Labourstart's Andrew Casey rates the labour performance of the nations left in contention. Week in Review
A Law Unto Themselves
Law, domestic and international, is centre stage but Jim Marr discovers 7.1 billion reasons why big business seems to rise above it. Bosswatch
Who Wants To be a Millionaire?
There are more of them than ever before, according to a new global survey of the world's richest.
Tanya Inc
Tom Bites Back
Root Canal Therapy
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News
Abbott’s 'Rule of Law' Faces Court Challenge
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott’s bid to require states to bow to federal industrial relations rules on federally funded construction projects is facing its own legal challenge.
The CFMEU Construction Union is applying to the Federal Court for orders declaring Government’s National Construction Industry Code of Practice and associated guidelines in breach of the Workplace Relations Act.
These are the 'rules' Abbott attempted to impose on Commonwealth Games construction projects in Melbourne, leading to his withdrawal of funding for MCG renovations.
A preliminary hearing will take place in Melbourne on Monday, when the Court will determine applications to intervene by various State Labor Governments claiming an interest in this matter.
The CFMEU is arguing that the code and guidelines amount to:
· Unlawful coercion by threatening to ban builders from government jobs (if builders and unions enter enterprise agreements that are not to the government's liking),
· A breach of Freedom of Association laws by discriminating against union members and delegates over their union activities (eg. delegates are barred from doing site inductions).
The union also argues that:
· The Employment Advocate's role in policing the code and guidelines is beyond his powers under the Workplace Relations Act.
The matter is expected to come for a full hearing later this year.
"Tony Abbott's political brinkmanship at the MCG smacks of an attempt to keep a very firm grip on the market, despite all claims by the Liberals about free choice and free market economics," CFMEU national secretary John Sutton says.
"His threat to make all federal construction funding dependent on state governments implementing the federal government rules is an attempt to pressgang the states into joining his ideological crusade against the CFMEU and its members."
"The CFMEU will not stand by and allow the interests of our members to be jeopardised by this kind of government policy. We will follow the deliberations of the Federal Court on this matter with considerable interest."
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Issue 141 contents
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