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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
GIO Workers Challenge Bosses' Union Wages
Suncorp/Metway is trying to sideline the Finance Sector Union in a bid to slash the wages and conditions of nearly 3000 workers it inherited from GIO.
Its effort to force inferior hours, overtime rates and conditions, including sick leave, onto the workers is being contested in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) where the union is arguing a transmission of business case.
The Queensland-based company is trying to move all workers onto an inferior agreement done with its yellow, in-house union. The push contravenes clear assurances it gave when purchasing GIO.
Mel Gatfield, FSU assistant state secretary, says GIO workers would no longer have any say in their hours of work and would be denied union right. The boss union deal even contains a provision for workers to arrive 30 minutes early, unpaid, to set up for the day.
"Suncorp/Metway is simply trying to circumvent these workers' legal entitlements. They are doing the same work as always and are still called GIO employees," he said.
The following is a potted chronology of the GIO takeover ...
- June, 2001, workers told AMP was selling GIO to Suncorp/Metway.
- December, 2001, workers assured AMP/GIO conditions would be retained.
- February, 2002 - Suncorp starts backtracking, refuses to reiterate previous assurances.
- March, 2002, branches closed and workers told to reapply for their own jobs.
- Allfinanz branches established with all jobs to be comvered by scab agreement.
- May, 2002, some workers apply attaching letters stating that they expect to retain union-negotiated conditions.
- May, 2002, those workers threatened that their applications will not be considered
- Today, some GIO staff are working 15 hours extra a week for the same money as before; have no enforceable redundancy entitlements; five days less sick leave a year; and can have their rosters changed without consultation.
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Issue 141 contents
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