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The Lotto Economy
The failure of George W Bush's much-hyped pitch for corporate responsibility underlines the current crisis facing unregulated global capitalism: the system is corrupting all before it.
Interview: Capital in Crisis
ACTU president Sharan Burrow outlines the global union response to the corporate carnage gripping an increasingly shaky system.
Industrial: No Sweat
Neale Towart surveys the international debate around sweatshops and what can be done to regulate them
Bad Boss: Super Spam
Several late scratchings have seen Workplace Relations Department secretary Peter Boxall win this week’s heat of the Workers’ Online Bad Boss handicap.
History: Living Treasures
Labour History is 40 this year. Greg Patmore looks back at what it took to get a regular journal of the labour movement in Australia up and away.
International: Axis of Evil
George W Bush’s scarecrow trio of Iran, Iraq and North Korea is not an original invention, argues Stephen Holt
Solidarity: Pride of Place
NSW Labor Council and CFMEU flags sit alongside the mounted jersey of former Kiwi Rugby League hooker Syd Eru in a modest home at Manurewa, south Auckland.
Technology: The Art of Cyber-Unionism
More Unionism? Transformed Unionism? Peter Waterman looks at a new handbook for unions and the internet
Poetry: The Masochism Tango
Tony Abbott's comment we should accept a bad boss like a bad husband or bad father has made us all realise that instead of fighting bad bosses, we should love them. Anyone for a tango?
Satire: Foxtel-Optus Merger 'Anti-Repetitive'
The ACCC has ruled today that the proposed content sharing arrangement between Foxtel and Optus Vision would constitute anti-repetitive conduct
Review: Bob Carr's Thoughtlines
Stephen Holt reviews one man's journey from collectivism to the centre
 Sweat Shops – Coming To A Street Near You
Glassworkers Walk for the Umpire
Family Friendly For A Buck
Abbott in Slow GEER
Royal Commission Bugs Workers
Drivers Frozen Out by Corporate Spin
Coca-Cola Brews Storm In A Tea Cup
Bush Prepares for War on the Wharves
Safety Summit A Hit With Unions
Beattie Faces Bargaining Face-Off
Casual Work Exploits – Catholic Church Agency
More Effort Required On Disabled Workers
Protecting Security Officers From Disease
Activists Notebook
The Soapbox
Why Modernisation Matters
Labor frontbencher Mark Latham argues that the ALP's reform agenda must go way beyond the 60-40 debate. The Locker Room
Playing To The Whistle
Phil Doyle takes a look at the man in the middle, and he doesn’t like what he sees. Bosswatch
Inquiry Into Executive Pay
The ACTU Executive this week called for a public debate on spiralling executive pay packets, seeking feedback from workers, community representatives and unions. Postcard
Up In Smoke
Wobbly Radio's Nick Luccinelli reports from England where drug law reform is on the political agenda. Week in Review
Bulldust and Boofheads
Jim Marr casts his eye over a week in which bullshit and bad bosses fought for headlines…
On Aspiration
GST Agenda
Amanda's Mediocrity
Capital Ideas
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Bosswatch
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Evatt Foundation
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Satire
Foxtel-Optus Merger 'Anti-Repetitive'
Extracted from The Chaser
The ACCC has ruled today that the proposed content sharing arrangement between Foxtel and Optus Vision would constitute anti-repetitive conduct
"This is a clear violation of the Staid Practices Act," said Commission chairman Professor Allan Fels. "As a result of this proposal we could see two weather channels reduced to one and four finance channels reduced to two, not to mention the devastating potential effects on the various home shopping networks."
"Make no mistake, this deal means less consumer choice - less choice about which channels to flick past hurriedly and less choice about which channels to randomly watch when stoned."
The competition watchdog has been monitoring both pay TV networks carefully since their inception for signs of monotonistic behaviour.
But the Commission's hand was forced by the latest deal, offering unprecedentedly low access to Australian television for shithouse programming.
Of particular concern to the ACCC was Foxtel's potential acquisition of Optus' content in the advent of Optus' commercial failure. "That would mean Foxtel would acquire a virtual monopoly in boutique country music programming," said Fels. "Then nothing could stop them."
Foxtel and Optus have already entered negotiations with the regulator, offering a wide range of suggestions designed to increase the levels of inanity of any joint venture.
Amongst the proposals on the table are tripling the number of hours each consortium spends advertising itself and quadrupling the number of Gilligan's Island marathons.
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Issue 144 contents
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