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Issue No. 149 23 August 2002  
E D I T O R I A L

Our Historical Mission
It has often been argued that unions would cease to exist when employers civilised workplaces. Our historical mission would have been fulfilled and we could pack up and spend out time enjoying the equitable society that would be the fruit of our victory.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Something Smells
The Postal Union's Jim Metcher lifts the lid on the very strange goings-on in Australia Post

Cole-Watch: Credibility Crisis
Counsels Assisting the Cole Royal Commission face a humiliating public back down in an effort to bring some balance to proceedings, reports Jim Marr.

Unions: Union Cities
Labor Council's Adam Kerslake has returned from the USA with some new ideas on community unionism

Industrial: Lib Men Gang Up Against Working Mums
Working women are in danger of missing out on an adequately funded paid maternity leave scheme, if recent bleatings are acted upon says ACTU President Sharan Burrow.

History: Eureka!
Neale Towart finds an alternative to Baden-Powell�s imperialist scouting movement, where the youth of Australia was fed such radical ideas as solidarity, collective action, equal rights and internationalism.

East Timor: Don�t Rob Their Future
After 24 years of often brutal Indonesian occupation East Timor on 20 May 2002 finally achieved their independence, writes HT Lee.

Review: Black Chicks Say It All
Dorothy can be whatever colour she wants to be and black chicks can talk about anything, writes Tara de Boehmler

Poetry: Self Regulation
While President George W Bush,leader of the heart of unregulated capitalism, has responded to the recent spate of corporate cowboydom by whipping out a swathe of new corporate controls, Australia's Prime Minister has responded with a feathered touch.

N E W S

 Cole to Hear of Criminal Takeover Conspiracy

 Mad Monk Stamp on Aussie Post

 Calls To End Woodlawn Logjam

 ANZ Fined Over Freedom Of Speech Breach

 Hotels Eat Up Living Wage

 Qantas Union's Gorilla Tactics

 Shearers Black Ban Their Hall Of Fame

 Democrats Fire Shot for Workers

 Teachers Walk Out At Aust College of Technology

 Rail Operators Off Track

 Airport Security Worker Spat At And Assaulted

 CBA Workers Say Enough Is Enough

 Union Made Songs For Masses

 Doco Dishes Dirt On Howard�s Gas Wrangle

 Activist Notebook

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Cole Comfort
The election of a federal coalition government in 1996 marked the advent of an aggressively anti union agenda that continues to be played out to this day, writes Paul Davies

The Locker Room
Salary Crap
Phil Doyle goes wading through the hypocrisy and hubris, and discovers where the smell is coming from.

Postcard
All At Sea
It�s on again - the coastal battle between the maritime unions, the government and the shipowners, reports Zoe Reynolds.

Week in Review
The Dogs of War
The battle drums were a-rattling across this wide, brown land and Jim Marr was getting a bit tetchy

Bosswatch
Speak No Evil
The majority of Australian firms stay silent on options they offer their executives as John Howard continues to stonewall corporate law reform.

L E T T E R S
 Shit Sheets
 Susan's Soccer Outrage
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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News

Qantas Union's Gorilla Tactics


Following the success of the John Travolta Goodwill Ambassador strategy, the Australian Services Union (ASU) today launched its very own 20-foot mascot for Qantas - Geoff the Gorilla.

Geoff the Gorilla was introduced to the public at Melbourne Airport this week - much to the distress of Qantas managers and security personnel who did not know how to react to the sudden unexpected appearance of the inflatable ape.

The gorilla reflects Qantas' new dominant status as the most profitable airline in the Asia Pacific region, and a giant on the world aviation stage.

With Qantas' stock price rising 62% in the past year, massive expansion plans and record management bonuses, the aggresive gorilla symbol more appropriately reflects today's Qantas than the cute and cuddly Flying Kangaroo.

Today's Geoff the Gorilla launch comes after Qantas announced:

� a massive profit of $631 million (pre tax) for the year that included the largest shake outs in the international and domestic aviation industry's history;

� a doubling of it's planned aircraft purchase for it's new international business Australian Airlines;

� an equity raising program of $1 billion to fund the likely controlling stake in Air New Zealand, fund further aircraft purchases, new airport lounges and other expansion plans.

Whilst returning these massive profits and delivering huge bonuses to senior managers, Qantas continues to ignore the claims of it's largest union, the ASU, for funding of job security measures and a fair wage rise.

With 80% market share, a near record profit, massive expansion plans, vastly reduced competition and loyal, dedicated staff (who accepted a wage freeze 12 months ago) you would think Qantas could afford a fair wage rise and job security for it's staff.


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