E D I T O R I A L

A Call to Action
While there has been a lot of angst, anger and no shortage of tub-thumping over Simon Crean's push to cut union influence in the ALP, the end result of the Hawke-Wran review is that it is a call to action for unions to reclaim their party.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Save Our Souls
Labor's superannuation spokesman Nick Sherry expands on his recent discussion paper into the industry.

Unions: Rats With Wings
As the Cole Commission continues to sidestep safety, another Sydney building accident puts workers at risk this week, Jim Marr reports

Bad Boss: If The Boot Fits
Royal Commission favourite and S & B Industries top dog, Barbara Strong, carts off this week’s Bad Boss nomination.

History: Political Bower Birds
Rowan Cahill looks at a new resource detailing the fading history of the Communist Party of Australia

International: No More Business as Usual
Global unions are stepping up their campaign against corporate rip-offs

Corporate: The Seven Deadly Sins of Capitalism
Shann Turnbull outlines a new set of rules that should govern capital in the post-Enron environment

Industrial: Stiffed!
A backyard horror story has left funeral workers worrying about mooted changes to industry regulations, Jim Marr reports

Review: Prepare To Bend
If it’s a feel good flick that you want, Bend It Like Beckham is sure to satisfy on every level, writes Tara de Boehmler

Satire: Bush Boosts Sharemarket Confidence: Shares his Cocaine Stash
President Bush has rushed to re-establish confidence in the US market by distributing cocaine from his own Presidential stash to Wall Street.

N E W S

Mainstream Media Vacates IR

Ten Click Walker 'Unfit for Work'

Unions Push for Baby Nest

Casino Workers Overtime Jackpot

Abbott’s Task Force “Rank Hypocrisy”

Shipping Policy Blamed for Reef Damage

Dropping The Ball On Training

Combet Pushes Consultative Vehicle

Maternity Leave for Pacific Workers

Hit List of Forced Closures

Magistrate Endorses Health and Safety Rights

Contracts a Thorn in Workers' Side

Fringe Success for Workers’ Pick

Activists Notebook

C O L U M N S

Competitions
Workers on Film
Last issue we asked you for your ideas on a union film script to match Ken Loach's The Navigators. Here are the best responses.

The Soapbox
Driving Together
ACTU Secretary Greg Combet argues that the Australian car industry needs a partnership between business and labour.

The Locker Room
Dogs And Underdogs
Phil Doyle explains why losers are half the equation in each and every sporting contest

Week in Review
Filfthy Rich and Claptrap
While Labor and the Democrats are tearing themselves to shreds, Little Lachie and Rich Ray address the main game …

Bosswatch
Muddy Waters
It was a week when the Prime Minister washed his hands despite mounting evidence that the corporate world is out of control.

L E T T E R S

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Ten Click Walker 'Unfit for Work'

Parramatta and Auburn Councils have rejected the advice of the State Government Medical Officer to tip long-serving parking officers out of their jobs on medical grounds.

Distressed former Parramatta parking officer, Gloria Hogan, pledged she would take the council before the Anti Discrimination Board, with Labor Council support.

Hogan, and an Auburn counterpart, are victims of the July transfer of parking duties from the NSW Police to local councils.

They were sacked, despite all clear's from Healthquest, on the recommendation of council-appointed doctors.

Parramatta has refused to furnish Labor Council with the medical report on which it based Hogan's sacking but says it alleged she "would have problems" with prolonged walking, standing or bending. Hogan dismisses that "excuse" as "rubbish".

She estimates she has walked eight-to-ten kilometres every day since becoming a parking officer. The council dumped her one day short of qualifying for 10-year long service entitlements.

Hogan says the only problem she has had during that time was time off, four years ago, after developing heel spurs on the job.

The Phillipines immigrant was particularly incensed when Parramatta Council HR manager, John Child, told her her English wasn't up to being an "ambassador for Parramatta" with tourists.

"I was really hurt when he told me that," Hogan said. "I've lived in Australia for 17 years and married a fair-dinkum Aussie. Before joining the police I worked in customer service for a tourist hotel and with State Rail."

Besides near-perfect English and her native Tagalog, Hogan has a passing grasp of Japanese, German and Spanish.

"I really enjoyed my job, working with the public and helping the community," she said.

"Every morning I used to get up and say - another 50 cents - but it was just a joke. I liked coming to work.

"I'm fit and I want to work. I think the way I have been treated by Parramatta Council is very unfair."

Every council, other than Parramatta and Auburn, accepted Healthquest reports on the fitness of employees transferring from the Police Service.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005