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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.
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.
 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
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.
Fraser No Workers' Hero
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News
Abbott’s Task Force “Rank Hypocrisy”
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott has been accused of “rank hypocrisy” after flagging a Building Industry Task Force before the Cole Commission has even finished its hearings.
Labor Council secretary John Robertson contrasts the lack of hard evidence uncovered by Cole with “immorality on a grand scale” revealed in concurrent inquiries into the failures of One.Tel and HIH.
Despite evidence of businessmen awarding themselves multi-million bonuses and handing out six-figure sums to accomplices as their companies imploded, Prime Minister John Howard said this week there was no need for further corporate regulation.
Robertson called the contrasting responses a "joke".
"What we have seen from Government this week is stark evidence of just what a politically-motivated snow job the Building Industry Royal Commission is.
"They heard from more than 100 witnesses during five weeks in Sydney and uncovered no hard evidence of corruption," he told Labor Council.
"They claimed some union officials had sworn at employers. Gee, what a shock, and Abbott wants a Task Force for the Industry.
"At the same time we hear horror stories about Brad Cooper, Ray Williams, Jodee Rich, Brad Keeling and others, how their greed impacts on workers and shareholders and the Prime Minister says - no action.'
Robertson says any Task Force set up by Abbott will have the same rationale as the NSW Task Force that followed the Gyles inquiry - hamstringing construction unions in their efforts to improve the wages and conditions of members.
He predicted that like its forerunner it would be unsuccessful in achieving that goal.
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Issue 147 contents
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