The man with the big ears and brave comb-over may still look like a suburban bank teller, but he's gone a long way towards destroying the career that gave him an entr�e' into the world of international finance. In a decade at the top of the Commonwealth Bank Murray has stripped staff, closed branches and hiked up customer fees transforming the People's Bank into just another bastard institution.
He was at it again this week, delivering the old one-two that has given banks the image they endure today: for shareholders a $2.65 billion profit; for the general public 1,000 fewer workers to serve them. He didn't even bother to tell the workforce they would be taking another three per cent blow until the fair accompli went live. For Dave, the workers - and the public for that matter - can go to hell. As Anthony La Plagia's inspired character in 'The Bank' says: "our shareholders are our society".
And for those with shares, job cuts are good news and so the share price rose after Murray delivered the killer blow. It's the way of modern banking; profits and market value are all. Customers are an inefficiency that should be discouraged by fees. As for staff, they are an unsustainable input. It makes you wonder why these institutions still carry the name 'bank' - aren't they just a floating pool of capital?
In announcing the job cuts, Murray made big play of the fact that the bank was ending executive share option schemes. But like so much of so-called 'corporate reform', you have to wonder if the horse has bolted given Old Comb Over himself is already sitting on $80 million worth of the little inducements to maximise short term profits. After all if I won Lotto 80 times I'd probably stop buying tickets too!
Instead, executive salary packages will be pumped up even further, with Murray's current mix of $1.45 base and $450K bonus heading north. Compare that to the average teller's salary of $32K and you wonder why it's the tellers and not the managers facing the axe. Yet still Murray has the gall to claim "excellent staff is CBA's one sustainable competitive advantage" - so why get rid of them, David?
The Comb Over has transformed into the psycho teller from hell. He earns the equivalent of 63 tellers. He's closed 870 branches since taking over the top job in 1991. Before this week he'd cut around 19,000 of their jobs. Makes you wonder what sort of time he had behind the counter. Was it one customer too many with the bags of two cent pieces? What was it that made him snap and seek the ultimate revenge. His life has now become a one man mission to wipe out the occupation that he so hated. This week he went close to delivering the killer blow.
Workers Online has learned that a Sydney rigging company director will tell the Building Industry Royal Commission of two meetings in Glebe, during mid-2000, in which plans were made to fund Craig Bates� campaign to unseat Andrew Ferguson as CFMEU state secretary.
The Commission will hear that Tom Domican, variously described as "a colourful Sydney identity" or an "underworld figure", was present at the Toxteth Hotel and Valhalla Cafe gatherings.
It will be alleged that Domican offered Bates $50,000 for every job he put the way of a specified crane company. In return, Bates agreed to push "all crane jobs" in Domican's direction.
There will be allegations that various members of the groups were involved in extorting and laundering large sums of money and that Bates assured them money would go through a legitimate "fighting fund" in his name.
The employer will testify that he made a $4000 donation to the Bates' election campaign, via a company cheque.
Anti-CFMEU allegations from Bates and associate Martin Warner were heavily relied apon by counsel assisting, Nicholas Green, in opening comments when Commission hearings resumed in Sydney this week.
Workers Rights First Cole Casualty
Meanwhile, building unions fear major restrictions on their rights to police health and safety, and fight for entitlements when employers go belly-up, are in the wind
During terse exchanges with Ferguson, Commissioner Terence Cole, described industrial action in support of worker entitlements as "extortion".
The comments came as the commission investigated the CFMEU's success in obtaining more than $142,000, from major builders, for employees of a failed tileing company.
In forwarding a cheque, a Multiplex boss wrote to the union, saying the payment was made "under duress", a spin rejected by Ferguson.
Commissioner: "Do you get many letters saying you require payments under duress?"
Ferguson: "Extremely rare. You've seen all the correspondence from the union. It's extremely rare."
Commissioner: "Well, it's an allegation of extortion."
Ferguson: "No it's not."
Commissioner: "Payment under duress?"
Ferguson: "I don't accept that."
Commissioner: Do you not?
Ferguson: "No, definitely not."
Ferguson also rejected counsel assisting, Ron Gipp's, suggestion that workers should line up behind secured creditors when employers failed.
"I think a lot of head contractors accept that moral argument in the industry, as opposed to the banks getting the money in front of workers and their families. I would like to see the law changed," Ferguson said.
"The arrangement was to get the workers their entitlements, not to circumvent any law."
Ferguson claimed that poor mathematics, and a failure to understand the settlement, by both the commissioner and counsel assisting had led to "distorted" and "inaccurate" media coverage of the issue.
When he produced a calculator and offered to show them the error of their ways he was stopped by Cole who demanded, instead, a full written schedule.
In an earlier exchange with a Workcover representative, Cole let it be known that he thought union policing of health and safety standards was "a very deep problem".
His utterances drew a sharp response from the lawyer representing the NSW Government.
"The conclusion that a union may not have a role to play in identification of safety issues, which you appear to have drawn, would not, with the greatest of respect, be an opinion shared by the majority of the community," Ms McColl countered.
"With the best system in the world of government regulation of occupational health and safety, they (inspectors) cannot be everywhere. The role of the union must be an appropriate one to play in all of those circumstances, Commissioner, and the implicit assumption in your question is that it isn't appropriate."
The threats to key areas of union activities came in the same week that Cole provided Government with interim findings, before hearing much of the union evidence.
Amongst other things, he called for the establishment of an interim industry taskforce, with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Bisbane.
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott has said Government will act on Cole's recommendations.
After a week when Australia Post was attacked for imposing toilet paper quotas and sending workers to lecherous doctors, Postal Union state secretary Jim Metcher revealed a drastic shift in management's attitude over the past 12 months.
The week the CEPU filed an official complaint with the Health Complaints Commission on behalf of six female postal workers who were sent to Australia Post doctors after making workers compensation claims.
The woman say they were told to remove their clothes when being examined for wrist and neck complaints.
They were also told to give their Medicare cards, meaning taxpayers were subsidising Australia Post medical examinations.
Metcher told Workers Online that after cooperating with profound reform in the organistion, workers were no being subjected to the worst elements of the Tony Abbot 'Bad Boss' ethos.
In recent weeks unions have exposed Australia Post over:
- refusing to allow call centre staff to have photos on their desks
- discriminating against left-handed mail sorters
- forcing overweight workers to take sick leave
"It all adds up to management that views workers with hostility," Metcher says. "We will continue to be in their face until they accept the role of the union within Australia Post."
The Labor Council this week called on the Carr Government to approve a development in the area which would see the 158 miners paid their entitlements in full.
Under the plan, the mine would be converted into a waste facility with the new owners, Collex, paying the miners the outstanding entitlements Collex has already paid 25 per cent of the entitlements with another 25 per cent to be paid on approval of the project and the balance once the site is operational.
The NSW Labor Council was briefed on the proposal this week by members of the Goulburn District Trades and Labor Council.
They say approval of the Collex proposal - which would convert solid waste into a renewable energy source - was the miners' only hope to see their entitlements.
Goulburn Labor Council president Maurie O'Connor said the plight of the Woodlawn miners had become a community cause and a committee called the 'Woodlawn Entitlements Group had been established.
"Every day the entitlements are unpaid the workers are worse off - they are not receiving interest and many have not been able to find alternative work," O'Connor says.
They say approval of the Collex proposal - which would convert solid waste into a renewable energy source - was the miners' only hope to see their entitlements.
Despite a positive Environmental Impact Statement, the proposal has been held up since April awaiting final approval from Planning Minister Andrew Refshuage.
"Labor Council is calling on the Carr Government to make a decision one way or the other," Labor Council secretary John Robertson says. "The Woodlawn miners should not be left in limbo any longer."
Justice Wilcox imposed the fine after finding the ANZ had breached the law on four counts for threatening to sack suburban branch manager Joy Buckland for talking to the media about work issues.
In his ruling, Justice Wilcox noted that the ANZ's conduct went 'right to the heart of the rights to be protected under the Act'. He accepted FSU arguments that freedom to join and participate in industrial activities is frustrated "if employees are not free to articulate their dissatisfaction with respect to work related matters, both as between themselves and through media."
FSU state secretary Geoff Derrick says the challenge is now for ANZ to deal with the causes of staff dissent rather than shooting the messenger.
"The ANZ has been found to breach the most anti-worker laws in the country," Derrick says. "No amount of money can hurt a bank like the ANZ but the decision sends a message to workers that they have rights to speak out on workplace issues.
"While ANZ has sought leniency on the basis of their contrition after the event, the reality is that this is the one major bank that has refused to sit down with us and start to deal with the issues of understaffing and stress caused by overwork in the bank."
"It's time the ANZ came out of the cold and sat down with its workforce and deal with the issues that are important to ANZ staff and customers - staffing levels, branch closures and customer service."
The $2 charge introduced on Monday at the Marriott Hotel and the Hyde Park Plaza Hotel - means that by the end of this week the recent AIRC $18 a week pay increase will be whittled down to small change.
"We feel we are being cheated out of our well-deserved pay increase by this back door charge. Free meals from the hotel kitchen is a tradition in the hospitality industry which should be kept," Estrelita Reyes, LHMU Hotel Union member, says.
The workers at these two hotels have embarked on a campaign to defend their Living Wage pay increase by today occupying the hotel canteen at lunch time, refusing to pay the $2 charge and raising a chant for their traditional free meal - the one measly perk they can expect from working in high-class hotels.
"The Australian Hotels Association and its members fought hard in the Industrial Relations Commission to deny our members any pay increase," Mark Boyd, LHMU Hotel Union NSW assistant branch secretary said.
"They told the full bench of the AIRC that low-waged hotel workers who earned only just over $12 an hour should get no pay increase.
"The Industrial Relations Commission slapped down this outrageous attempt to deny these workers some wage justice.
"The hotels lost - so now they give the pay increase with one hand - and take it back with another."
The backbone of the hotel's workforce is immigrant women from the Philippines, China, Vietnam and the Pacific Islands who together make the LHMU Hotel Union one of the few growing unions in Australia.
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.
The Hall of Fame, established in Hay to honour the work and history of Australia's unionised shearers, is refusing to negotiate a collective agreement for its workers.
AWU state secretary Russ Collison says the approach of the Hall of Fame was an insult to Australian shearers.
In implementing the black ban, Collison says the AWU was calling on all current and retired shearers to:
- refuse to perform in any shearing competition organised by the Hall of Fame
- demand the return of any historical information they may have provided the Hall of Fame's database
- inform the community that the Hall of Fame no longer has the support of working shearers.
Collison has also called on the State and Federal Governments to review public funding of the Hall of Fame.
"Black banning shearing sheds that refuse to negotiate with the union is a tradition as old as shearing itself," AWU state president Mick Maddern says.
"In black banning the union, The Hall of Fame is insulting Australia's shearing tradition. Shearers will now treat the Hall of Fame with the same contempt."
The Australian Democrats this week combined with the ALP to back a Bill that would allow unions to insert bargaining fees into agreements provided certain safeguards are met.
The main condition needing to be met under the Bill is that a fee can only be inserted into an agreement where it is agreed by a valid majority of employees.
Other conditions include:
- that employees are advised that a bargaining fee will be sought in the agreement before bargaining starts;
- that details of the amount payable, the method and timing of payment, and the services the union will provide in return, are all clearly explained in writing;
- and that the Industrial Relations Commission determines the amount of the fee to be fair and reasonable.
Electrical Trades Union state secretary Bernie Riordan has attacked the Howard Government's threats to use rejection of the Bill as a possible trigger for a double dissolution.
"The Government's position on this issue shows it is not interested in genuine collective bargaining but rather they want to ensure it can use industrial relations policy as a tool to attack the union movement," he says.
NSW Labor Council secretary John Robertson says it's a sign of the times that the Democrats, not the ALP. Moved the legislation.
Many teachers at the Glebe college are owed at least four weeks pay and most have not been provided with superannuation for two years.
The NSW/ACT IEU first notified a dispute with the Industrial Relations Commission in June, after teachers' pays fell eight weeks into arrears.
Since that time the union has successfully arranged for outstanding pay to be made out to all but two of its members. However, most non-members are still owed the money and are now fed up with waiting for the rest of their pay.
This week the IRC ordered the college to lodge all outstanding superannuation payments on behalf of the IEU members. The Union is also seeking orders to ensure the two members yet to be paid get their full entitlements.
The IEU is concerned that within the 21-day period given to the college to make the payments, it could close its doors or transfer its monies. The Union is asking what has been done with the hefty fees students paid to enrol in their courses.
Junee-based AUSTRAK was one of the small private rail operators entering the deregulated rail industry employing workers on sub-standard awards and conditions.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union state secretary Nick Lewocki says the workers were told that award and enterprise agreements did not apply as these workers were covered by industrial workplace contracts.
Lewocki says the RTBU has now discovered these so-called work have never been registered and are illegal.
"this is an example of companies using the Federal Government's inadequate package to compensate employees for lost annual leave, long service leave, sick pay and redundancy entitlements.
Group 4 Security officer, Susan Cuttriss, was assaulted carrying out her job in Darwin, LHMU official, Dianne Yali, said today.
"A Budget rental car driver, angry about being fined, spat across Susan's face - hitting her on the right side of the face, shoulder and chest, as well as on the back of the right hand.
"This assault came after our member suffered verbal abuse from this woman who had been fined by security workers - as part of their duty - for leaving a vehicle unattended at the airport terminal," Yali said.
"Unfortunately this is not the first case of airport rage reported to Darwin police by the LHMU Airport Security Union - and that is why the union is pressing for action."
Ms Yali said that after being spat at the traveller jumped into her rented car and raced off into Darwin. The details of the incident and the car have been reported to police, airport management and Budget car rentals.
In an incident report handed to the airport management Susan Cuttriss told them:" I was totally appalled and could not believe what had just been done to me. I felt disgusted and instantly thought of the health issues, disease and the like.
" I feel sick in the stomach and extremely angry that someone would be so vile. "
by Amanda Tattam
Commonwealth Bank staff will refuse to do unpaid overtime and other extra work imposed on them in response to the latest, massive round of job cuts announced this week.
A union directive issued today is advising Finance Sector Union members to stick to their job descriptions and send the bank a clear message about the disgraceful slash and burn approach to jobs and customer service.
The bank announced a record $2.56 billion profit while at the same time insisting that an "uncertain and challenging environment" would result in 1050 job losses nationally. This is on top of the 500 redundancies revealed three weeks ago. The bank insists the jobs will go mainly from back office operations, but the union believes the losses will be felt hard in retail branches, especially in regional and rural areas.
Sharron Caddie, Finance Sector Union Victorian branch secretary (Commonwealth Bank Officers Section) said this time the CBA had "pushed members too far".
"Enough is enough. We have given our members a firm directive not to do any additional work that they are not paid for."
Already, one branch has delayed its opening time by half an hour because of a shortage of staff, said Ms Caddie.
"People thought if they did the right thing, they would be safe. But what this latest round of job cuts shows is that no one is safe. It hasn't been done for the customers or the staff."
Under the award, job descriptions outline roles at each level, so it is easy to track whether higher grade duties are being done by people on lower grades.
An enterprise agreement with the bank prevents any protected industrial action by members, but Ms Caddie is confident that considerable pressure can be placed on the bank by staff sticking to their job descriptions. The union has 75% coverage in the CBA.
FSU will continue to fight to protect member's interests and use all available avenues to represent them. The union will also lobby on behalf of local communities and the small business sector to ensure CBA does more than just pay lip service to the Australian Banking Association's Code of Banking Practice.
******************
Picture the scene: you pull up at the traffic lights on the corner of Sydney's Goulburn and Sussex Streets, your windows are down and your car stereo is blasting the tunes of the Trade Union Choir.
People crossing the street cannot help but fall into step with the Choir's catchy beat. Others tip their hats to you in appreciation.
If this scene appeals to you now is your time to make it a reality.
The NSW Trade Union Choir is celebrating tenth year with the release of their first ever CD, Union Made.
The CD provides a musical tour of Australia's proud union history, including a song from the 1891 shearing strikes, the 1951 ballad of Eureka, and Bring Out the Banners, a tune inspired by the nineteenth century Eight Hour Day parade.
It also provides the musical backdrop to such contemporary events as Sydney's 2000 Olympics, with Don't Buy Nike, alongside timeless classic anthems like Solidarity Forever.
Choir member and ACTU Organising Centre educator Cathy Bloch says there are many union events where the choir's music adds to the occasion.
Whether you want to use it to lift your spirits on your way to work, gear your comrades up on the way to a picket, or use it to provide a union flavour between meeting or training breaks, these numbers are sure to be well received.
For your chance to win a free copy of the CD email Workers Online with your suggested locations where you would most like to hear Union Made played.
For everyone else, copies are available from the Organising Centre for $20. For more details, call Cathy on (02) 9264 9744.
Old border agreements with Indonesia see the major oil and gas field in the Timor Gap falling mostly within an exclusive Australian zone. But, according to NSW/IEU IEU deputy general secretary Patrick Lee this is "not based on a fair view of Australian law".
A number of organisations including the IEU and Apheda are supporting the production, which is being produced and directed by HT Lee.
But more funds are needed.
Unions wanting to contribute to the project's East Timor Advocacy Fund - with suggested amounts ranging between $250 and $400 - are encouraged to contact Brendan Doyle at: [email protected]
Contributors will be acknowledged in the documentary.
TAMPA DAY: BLACK ARM BANDS AND VIGIL
Monday 26th is the anniversary of the so-called Tampa Crisis. To mark that day refugee supporters are asked to wear a black arm band and in the evening to attend a Vigil at Sydney Town Hall - which commences at 5pm.
John Maitland, National Secretary of the CFMEU will be speaking on behalf of Labor for Refugees at the rally. He will be talking about
the link between the scapegoating of refugees during the last election and the scapegoating of trade unionists at the Government's staged Royal Commission into the CFMEU.
To read more about Tampa Day, see the Labor for Refugees article in
Workers Online:
http://workers.labor.net.au/148/c_tradeshall_amanda.html
EVATT FOUNDATION
BREAKFAST SEMINAR - MONDAY AUGUST 26, 7.30PM
PPPs: public private partnerships
THE NEXT GREAT PRIVATISATION DEBATE
It's time to stop, to get beyond the rhetoric, and to critically consider so-called 'partnerships' with private firms for the provision of public social infrastructure in Australia.
Like ducks in a shooting gallery, our State Labor governments have all lined up behind PPPs, and business lobby groups are baying for action.
But is private investment in public schools and hospitals in the public interest?
Why are PPPs just a disguised form of business welfare, designed to prop up Labor support at the big end of town?
Are State Labor governments just lining up for more versions of ' WA Inc' type financial scandals?
The Evatt Foundation is helping to get the information out. With the assistance of our website, where information is readily available on the subject, and this breakfast seminar, the Evatt Foundation is playing a crucial role in this debate.
We are fortunate to have two prominent speakers on this topic. Maree O'Halloran, President, NSW Teachers' Federation and Dr Christopher Sheil, Visiting Fellow, Department of History, University of NSW. The seminar will be chaired by David Carey, Federal Secretary, State Public Sector Federation (SPSF).
The date: Monday August 26th 2002, 7.30am breakfast, seminar
commencing promptly at 8.00am and finishing on the
dot of 9.00am.
The venue: Macquarie Room, Southern Cross Hotel, Cnr Goulburn and
Elizabeth Streets Sydney, opposite the Goulburn Street Parking Station and a short stroll from both Central and Museum railway stations.
The cost: $12
RSVP: by Thursday, 22nd August, Evatt Foundation, UNSW, 2052
tel: 9385 2966, fax 9385 2967
email:[email protected]
RECONSTRUCTING EAST TIMOR.
.................Three Years On from the Historic 'Independence' Referendum
A ONE DAY CONFERENCE ON AUSTRALIAN INITIATIVES IN EAST TIMOR.
ORGANISED BY THE AUSTRALIA-EAST TIMOR ASSOCIATION (NSW) with assistance from the Sydney City Council and supported by the Research Institute of Asia Pacific (Sydney University), Aidwatch, Otford Press, participating NGO's and the "Friends of Maliana" Project of Leichhardt Council.
WHEN : FRIDAY 30TH AUGUST...9.30 AM - 5.30 PM
WHERE: MARCONI ROOM, 4TH LEVEL, SYDNEY TOWN HALL
(entrance through stairs at rear of Town Hall, Druitt Street)
COST : $30/$15 (full day)....$10 (session only)...(Provided Lunch $15 extra)
Twelve Months On From 9/11: Troubled Times and Their Implications for Australia.
An Australian Fabian Society conference on options for Australia in the light of the Afghanistan Experience and American responses to the World Trade Centre tragedy.
When:
9am to 5pm, Saturday, 14 September, 2002.
Where: The Kaleide Theatre, RMIT University, Swanston Street, Melbourne (Entrance a few doors north of Storey Hall - look for the Commonwealth Bank ATMs)
Cost: Standard: $35, AFS Members $30, Students and Concession $20.
Speakers: Richard Butler (Diplomat-in-Residence, Council for Foreign Relations, New York), His Excellency Mahmoud Saikal (Ambassador for Afghanistan), Professor William Maley (Australian Defence Forces Academy), Dr Andy Butfoy (Monash University), Professor Bruce Grant (Monash University).
Dear Sir,
What is Australia post coming to, with its "Sheet for Shit Campaign"?
I personally I had phantasms taking me back many years when as a child we were required rather than go up the chimney ,or down the mine , we could chose to lick the "Penny Blacks" , for genteel post office patrons.
While this may seem to some of your readers a menial and meaningless task, one must remember that their was no gummed stamps and the saliva had to be of a consistency think enough to cling to the envelope, and it was discovered that , the phlegm from consumptive children was of an ideal consistency.
And of course, if we have the current standards of the New South Wales Department of Community Services to benchmark child care, then on the whole, it was quite a stretching but satisfying position.
Perhaps this is just another thread in the Federal government's path back to the good old days?
The allegation that Mr Feltcher , is joking is outrageous , and I agree with Phil McCracken , Manager at the Male exchange , "that we must get to the bottom of this"
The consensus on the shop floor is that Aussie Post has just gone too far, and stretched of Patience repair, this is the type of behaviour that the minister for workplace relations should be investigating, particularly the apparent excessive use of sun block during the winter months.
I am sorry , but this situation , not unlike the "Mutual Obligation " introduced by Amanda Firestone , in an attempt to play around with the unemployed , has gone to far and gotten completely out of hand , perhaps through excessive use of sun block.
But no matter, I intend to do may part by speaking to the media officer of this union, we know from experience I the Penrith area , he has a way with 'tools.
I also believe this problem needs further probing, and perhaps "Sharon Burrows should , along with Greg Sword, enter into this stinking morass , of shopfloor politics.
Tom Collins
In response to recent reports that Sydney CBD workers are less active now than ever, the Workers Online team joined by officials from various unions, have been playing lunchtime soccer to increase their fitness levels.
Fighting the fat each Wednesday has been at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour for the convenience of all players.
However, once again Frank Sartor has struck out at city workers by creating bylaws for Darling Harbour which do not allow physical activities such as ball sports to take place at Tumbalong Park.
Given that in the city there are only three parks available where workers could play sport during lunchtimes (the Domain, Hyde Park, Tumbalong Park), the council should be a little more lenient towards those wishing to use these facilities, especially because we know that a healthy worker is not only happier but also far more productive!
Its time that Sydney City Council provided better recreational facilities for those CBD workers who wish to spend their lunchtimes being active.
by Peter Lewis
There's been a series of amazing stories coming out of Australia Post. What's going on?
I think what where seeing is a culture now being exposed as the one recommended by the one and only Workplace Relations Minister himself, Tony Abbot. We've seen a certain group of management within Australia Post who have adopted his philosophy - the Bad Boss syndrome. By being a bad boss, now seems to be a good boss and brings a lot of benefits for them when it comes time to measure their performance and their bonuses.
So what's occurred to change the environment?
The boys at Australia Post have gone into a sort of panic. The postal industry has been effected by technological change, not just in Australia but also right across the world. We have substitution starting to kick in and management doesn't seem to be able to come to terms with looking at alternative services that they can offer, and take advantage of their network. We have seen the post office network develop where they take on the slack that's been left by the massive bank closures, but by and large management seem to lack the vision to transform the postal service.
It seems a pretty big change in the culture. What are the sort things your members have done to help Australia post survive, and what is the drastically changed information?
I think one of the biggest disappointments that our have, is that they've gone through the changes with Australia Post. With the involvement of the union, they have made the changes that were necessary. But they also believe that at the other end of the tunnel, there was going to be some job security. What we're seeing now is a company and organisation that's taken advantage of the situation where they've gone through significant changes and turned their back on their employees.
What you're seeing now that wages are actually reducing. In Sydney, for example, wages are not just made up of the normal salary and shift allowance, but that little bit of overtime, that makes up the normal salary. Obviously that's necessary, because the high cost of living in Sydney and the high mortgages that people are paying. What we've seen is Australia Post has turned their back on this and workers employment arrangements are starting to deteriorate, with more and more fixed term employees, part time employment, which just undermines full time workers having any opportunity to access for additional incomes.
So what are some of the concrete changes that your members have made to help Australia post?
Our postal workers right across the board have made Australia Post what it is today. Australia Post is still considered as the world's best postal service, even the World Bank recognise them in that regard. And postal workers have gone through significant changes with the introduction of new work practices, introduction of automation, new technology, adapted to that with these new skilling. But in return we've seen a sort of bullying where every dollar is starting to be examined by Australia Post. And it is usually if the workers entitlements and benefits that are under attack.
Let's talk about some of the actual practices that have come to public attention. Can just give us a bit of context behind the limit on toilet paper, for instance. What was all that about?
The matter was brought to my attention by a member and, in the current context, it was appropriate that we aired it publicly. But the reaction to that story by management has been astounding. When we see the unions starting to stand up on behalf of workers, officials are now being intimidated and bullied by the management. Every time we go public on a matter, we see the old smear campaigns coming up in the workplace, where they attack myself personally, attack my officials, with these campaigns. What I find amusing is the question of "shit sheets". All I did was ask Australia Post formally, a couple of weeks ago, was to move the "shit sheets" from the workplace, I didn't think that anybody would think that I was talking about of toilet paper!.
So you're saying that you asked them to remove "shit sheets" about you?
Not only that I have asked Australia Post to remove "shit sheets" in the form of smear campaigns, that are against myself and the officials of the branch because of the activity that we've taken on behalf of their employees who are members of our union.
Management are putting "shit sheets" out?
Management constantly are responsible for these smear campaigns and we can show examples where every time that we go public on the issue, there is a smear campaign in the workplace.
What sort of smears?
Well they treat officials with type of offensive and unacceptable behaviour that wouldn't be accepted by any normal person. But more in recent times they've attempted to brush the union officials as them being the bullies and thugs.
You've taken action today in the Health Complaints Commission. You've also taken action in the Human Rights Commission. You seem to be looking at a lot of alternate avenues to actually fight Australia Post?.
Well, I think unions have got to look at all types of avenues that are available to them. Unions can't just simply rely on the industrial muscle these days, or the role of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. We'd like to, but that's on the basis that the government determines to give the powers back to allow them to resolve disputes. This is one of the fundamental problems that we're all facing, especially in the federal jurisdiction: the commission doesn't have the power to conciliate matters outside of the award. So we're seeing more and more employers like Australia post, taking advantage of that and applying these type of behaviours to undermine the union in the workplace, but more importantly to try and cut them out of the workplace by not being involved at all.
So finally where does this end? Are you going to continually so publicly go hitting Australia Post?
Well that's an interesting question. The only way I probably could answer it is as I've said to Australia Post this week, last week, and the week before. I've given them the invitation by holding up the olive branch that they know where the CEPU state office is. When they want to come to the table and sit down and reasonably negotiate and put processes into place for resolving our disagreements not only between union officials and management, but right down to the workplace level, we're quite prepared to do that. We don't believe that this type of activity should continue and we think there's a major responsibility on Australia Post's part to understand that this type of activity should not occur anyway. They are big enough and responsible enough, and they should understand that the unions aren't going to go away, the unions are going to be here forever and we'll continue to stay in their face, and keep in their face until they come to the table and properly negotiate.
**********************
The prospect loomed as the most sensational anti-union evidence led in Sydney was disintegrating, even as counsel assisting, Nicholas Green, launched another partisan opening for the benefit of assembled television cameras, this week.
Since they opened public hearings in Sydney, almost three months ago, Green and off-siders, Ron Gipp and Dr Matt Collins, have jettisoned broad terms of reference to transform the inquiry into a narrow persecution of the CFMEU.
These counsels divvy-up the lion's share of the $19.1 million earmarked for the legal fraternity by commission architect, Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott.
Green continued with this modus operandi when the commission returned to Sydney, telling the commissioner further evidence prejudicial to the union and its officials would be led over coming weeks.
What he didn't bother to mention in his opening, the only time television cameras are permitted to record the hearings, is that much of his material relies on two men, sacked for corruption.
Nor, in the interests of balance, did Green go to any 10 statements in the commission's possession, which question the integrity and credibility of those whose evidence he had chosen to highlight.
Bypassed statements came from a range of industry players, including employers. They allege that Green's anti-CFMEU witnesses had engaged in a number of inappropriate or illegal activities, including bribery, corruption, drug dealing and liasing with at least one underworld figure in a bid to topple the current leadership.
This scant regard for process is set to catch up with counsels assisting as pressure mounts on them to disassociate themselves from highly-contentious findings they sought as the commission wound up its first five weeks in Sydney.
Counsels sought a range of findings against CFMEU organiser, Tom Mitchell, on the basis of sensational evidence they led from S & B Industries boss, Barbara Strong.
They urged the commissioner to act on Strong's testimony, virtually in its totality, although key elements had either been contested, or not supported, by six or seven other witnesses, involved in the events.
Strong won nationwide media coverage for allegations that union officials had threatened to break her arms and legs; threatened her children; and demanded pay-offs of $5000 and $10,000.
Since counsels endorsed her allegations, in the face of vehement denials and competing evidence, however, the wheels have started to fall off the story.
Strong told the commission union villainy had destroyed her thriving business and driven her out of the industry yet, barely three weeks after leaving the witness box, her company was carrying out a demolition job in Glebe.
How do we know this? Because it was shut down by Workcover and the Leichhardt Council for health and safety failings and neglecting to obtain a permit for the demolition work.
This rather tipped the scales of credibility in Mitchell's failure as he had argued his attention to her operation was prompted by safety concerns and non-compliance. Strong had argued she was being victimised for refusing to pay kickbacks.
It didn't tip the scales nearly as far, though, as telephone logs and police reports sought by the commission at the insistence of CFMEU lawyers. These were tabled this week and warrant immediate attention from counsels assisting.
These revealed that:
- in evidence, Strong alleged that on October 4, 2001, she had been phoned around 2.30pm by CFMEU official Brian Fitzpatrick who told her the "price" had now gone up to $10,000.
- Telstra telephone records reveal her company received two telephone calls at about that time, both from identified sources, neither of which was Fitzpatrick.
- in evidence, she said that about 4pm she had been phoned by Mitchell who threatened to break her arms and legs; asked her how much she loved her kids and how much she valued her life.
- Telstra records three calls at or near that time, two from a builder and one from the Master Builders Association of NSW.
- In evidence, Strong said Mitchell had phoned again at about 6.30pm
- Telstra records one incoming call, at 6.37pm, from John Copeland of the Office of the Employment Advocate.
- In evidence, Strong alleged, that frightened, she had called the police and that she had lodged her complaints with an officer who arrived at about 4.30pm.
- Notebook extracts from a Liverpool-based policeman who visited Strong on the day suggest she complained about the activities of a Mr Paul Torbay, a sub-contractor who the commission had been told was complaining about not being paid by her. There is no reference in the police note to either Mitchell or Fitzpatrick.
CFMEU lawyers will argue that "it is now clear that at least some of this evidence is fabricated" and call on counsels assisting to withdraw their allegations.
Counsels practice of seemingly prejudging a result and then leading selective evidence to fit it, probably made such an embarrassment inevitable.
by Jim Marr
****************
Silicon Valley, USA. Home to computer geeks and a bunch of multis living off the fat of the land, right?
Not according to Labor Council campaign coordinator, Adam Kerslake, who has just returned from a US study trip fired with enthusiasm for the "community unionism" with which American workers are taking the fight to big business.
Kerslake saw the principle, or variations on it, in California, Seattle, Washington DC, New York and Colorado. But it was in in the seeminly-unlikely terrain of Silicon Valley, about an hour south of San Fransisco, where it rung most bells for his work in NSW.
Perhaps, he concedes, because the Valley's "hourglass economy" so resembles our own.
The region is home to a substantial number of fulltime professionals who do very nicely out of the new economy; its middle class is in rapid decline; while there is a growing number of essentially service workers - teachers, cleaners, police, bus drivers, clerks, waiters etc - living near or below the poverty line.
The top of the pile, of course, set the prices - from burgers to real estate and, more and more, those outside that group struggle to survice.
Anyone notice any similarites with Sydney in the first decade of the new millenium?
Well, here's something else to throw into the mix. The labour movement was losing membership and influence at a rapid rate of knots until South Bay Labor Council executive officer, Amy Dean, introduced "community unionism" in the mid-90s.
"It's such an interesting place because what they are about is new economy organising," Kerslake says. "There is plenty of money in Silicon Valley but, just like here, it doesn't flow through the community.
"The South Bay Labor Council has set about challenging that.
"Here, busines drives everything. Over there, they have sat down and worked out a viable alternative."
In practical terms, Kerslake identifies four areas in which the South Bay Labor Council works differently, and more effectively, than its Australian counterparts.
- Research: There is a huge emphasis on research. South Bay, for example, employs something like six fulltime researchers who study community, social and economic issues in depth and analyse alternatives. It is their work, Kerslake says, that underpins campaigns which follow.
- Relationships Between Unions and Local Communities: "At its best, the community and labour movement are virtually indistinguishable," Kerslake says.
- Politics: Based on research, the council develops economic, social and environmental policies and pitches them to local, district, state and federal candidates. Those that sign on, irrespective of affiliation, win the campagin backing of activist networks. Essentially, the Council sets the political agenda, rather than being tied up in Byzantine squabbles over party rules.
- Industrial Campaigning. Kerslake has one word for this, "sophisticated". Their research, he says, allows them to know the target's weakest point, whether it be with a supplier, a supplier's supplier, or some other associate. Consumer boycotts are used as frequently as direct industrial action.
-
So effective has Dean's organisation been in spreading its influence, it is now recognised by generally conservative local newspapers as not just a positive force but a leading advocate for community development.
She writes columns for the San Jose Mercury News and features, regularly, on its news pages.
Her organisation's research, campaigning and advocacy was central to getting Silicon Valley workers covered by the highest mimimum rates in the States. More often, though, it focuses of the quality of life away from the workplace.
While Kerslake was there the South Bay Labor Council was driving a campaign for children's health insurance. The issue is one where American and Australian attitudes are poles apart because, essentially, US insurance companies have won the propoganda battle hands down.
Thus, better-off Americans pay a big slice of their incomes for health insurance and the less fortunate, facing hospital, either go into years of debt or die.
The Council recognised widespread public antagonism to universal medical care so set its sights on winning benefits for the region's children, holding family picnics and galvanising a raft of parents, school and community organisations into the campaign.
It has led or supported environmental, planning and public transport campaigns that have changed the shape of the region's politics. Candidates endorsing Labor Council programs have been elected to district, state and federal legislatures.
Dean, herself, has described the core role of quality research thus: "Our research contributes to the development of a Community Economic Blueprint for the Silicon Valley which reflects our conviction that the community and its values must drive development, and that empowered people can create a vision for public policy that reflects social and economic wellbeing more comprehensively than traditional business-driven values."
Kerslake said that from his experience the change away from traditional unionism appeared to be working.
"By taking up community issues, even with low union density, they have changed the way in which unions are seen," he explained.
"They have effectively positioned business as the third party interest and exposed its agenda."
Kerslake says community unionism has given practical effect to the famous call from the George Meaney Centre's Andy Banks for every campaign to be "waged in the court of public opinion".
Back home, he has set himself the formidable task of convincing Australian unionists, not yet as despearate as their American counterparts, that they should change tack before it is forced on them.
********************
John Howard, Peter Costello, John Anderson, Nick Minchin and Tony Abbott have all attacked proposals before Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward's maternity leave inquiry.
A common theme in the chorus of criticism from the top of the Government is the claim that paid maternity leave for working women would "discriminate" against women who are not in the workforce.
Instead of paid leave based on women's income, the Prime Minister has floated the idea of a much lower welfare-style maternity payment to all mothers.
Mr Howard's claims of "discrimination" make no sense.
Firstly, maternity leave payments, like all employment benefits such as wages, annual leave or sick pay, are of course only available to people in the workforce.
For Mr Howard to argue against paid maternity leave because it "discriminates" against non-working women is as silly as to argue that annual leave or sick leave payments should be abolished because they "discriminate" against the unemployed.
Secondly, introducing paid maternity leave for working women in no way prevents or hinders Governments from also providing adequate family support to women who are not in the workforce.
Of course all Australian women deserve adequate support from Government policies to enhance their family choices, whether or not they are in the workforce. Many women fall into both categories at different stages of their lives, as they move in or out of the workforce while balancing their careers and family responsibilities.
A number of European nations have introduced a family payment to allow choice in child care of older babies and toddlers, but all have maintained long periods of paid maternity leave as well.
Mr Howard is ignoring the advice of his reputed family policy guru, Catherine Hakim of the London School of Economics, who wrote recently: "I do not suggest that policy makers should choose between maternity leave rights and a home-care allowance. Social policy should no longer be seen as a zero sum game."
Mr Howard's plan for a welfare-style payment to all mothers has been estimated to deliver anything from around $50 to $200 a week - well below the levels needed by many working women to meet ongoing financial commitments. Maternity leave would remain an economically impossible choice for most working families.
By comparison, the ACTU's 14-week maternity leave scheme proposed to the Goward inquiry would provide full pay to 87% of Australian working women. Women who earn up to average weekly earnings would receive full income replacement. Higher-paid women would have their payment capped at average earnings ($897 per week) but employers would be free to further supplement the payments.
Paid maternity leave and a decent family payments system are affordable for Australia now. The Federal Government is this year spending $19.3 billion on family measures, including the baby bonus, childcare benefits and family tax payments. The impact of many of these measures is regressive and unfair and in need of review.
The ACTU's maternity leave scheme would be funded jointly by the Commonwealth (at less cost than the current baby bonus) and by an employer levy (of less than $1-a-week per employee). Small business employees would be paid the leave, but it is possible that small business employers would not have to pay the levy.
The Federal Government should use the Goward inquiry to make a real difference to the lives of Australian families. But John Howard's small change solution will offer working women no room for new choices.
The Eureka Youth League (EYL) made the news a few years ago when Jennie George protested that she wasn't a member of the Communist Party after Brad Norington claimed that she was in his biography. She was a member of the EYL and the later Young Socialist League. Jennie gets a mention in Barrie Blears personal look at what the Eureka Youth League was to him and many others. In his chapter on the EYL and Women Jennie, Cathie Bloch, Joyce Stevens and many other women active in radical organisations attest to the influence of the EYL and in particular role models such as Audrey Blake on their development and commitment to social change. Jennie George was "one of the many YSL members arrested for running onto the ground" during the protests against the South African Rugby tour. This action under the name YSL came after a period of self-examination by those involved in the actions of the EYL. This was during the mid 1960s when so much was called into question and left wing groups began to face up to issues of sexual and racial liberation and women's rights.
This is getting ahead of things however. Blears notes that the EYL had its beginnings in unusual circumstances - that is the banning of the Communist Party and the League of Young Democrats by the Menzies Government during 1941. The Eureka Youth League was founded in December 1941 And by October 1942 it had 1000 members in Victoria. This was at the peak of the onslaught of fascism in Europe and the Pacific, so attempting to focus peoples minds on issues of youth rights and socialism at a time of international crisis was a tall order. However the League raised a great many youth demands at the time and maintained the focus for many years. The range of its actions can be seen by the sorts of actions it took in support of apprentices, young women's needs, sporting facilities, social clubs, employment its support of folk and jazz music. It also supported other cultural activities such as the New Theatres and the realist Film Society and had regular large camps where thousands were involved.
The link with the Communist Party was the founding of the League. Blears says that the EYL would not have come into being without the CPA. The Young Communist League was directly established by the CPA in the 1920s, following a principle enunciated by Lenin. He said that young people approached life and politics in a different manner to their parents, and by definition, to the Communist Party. The aim was to create youthful political organisations, not political parties of the youth. The inception of the Young Communist League was driven by directives from the Communist International, but the form it took in Australia was determined by the enthusiasm of key people in Australia. Some of these people were Ken Miller, Audrey Blake, Harry Stein and Lloyd Edmonds. The relationship between the CPA and the young people was a vexed issue, as the older CPA members generally supported the young organization, but felt the need to make sure the young people were well versed in class theory and training. The burdens placed on activists through the 1920s and 1930s meant a high burnout rate of young enthusiasts.
A defining point, in Blears' view was Ken Miller's publication A New Deal For Youth published in 1939 when the League of Young Democrats was formed to attract more young people to socialist ideas. The subsequent banning of this organization and the CPA led to the formation of the EYL.
The fortunes of the League rose along with the stocks of the CPA as public enthusiasm for the Soviet Union rose with the progress of the war. The ideological attack on communism and the Soviet Union meant a decline in support for the CPA and the EYL after WWII. The CPA tied itself completely to the Soviet line from then on, and the EYL seems to have followed suit. Many would say that in this they did not have a choice as they were seen as a CPA controlled body, but Blears argues that the EYL was independent and did have choices but unfortunately it made the wrong ones. The original charter of the League put as representing the broad labour movement but the leadership in the 1950s was composed of card carrying CPA members who chose to support the CPA line. He quotes Max Lorkin (one of the many direct quotes from former members that Blears uses throughout the book, one of its many strengths) who had gone to a meeting advocating that the League wouldn't automatically support CPA candidates, only to be roundly abused by the leaders, who called him traitorous. The chapter on the CPA and the EYL elaborates on this issue in many situations up to the late 1960s including the relationship between the succeeding Young Socialist League and the CPA. This is also examined by considering the role of various fringe radical groups and the impacts they have had on other social movements. Blears is very honest in this personal view about the role he sees for such groups, and comes to the conclusion that practical results are the only real test of the professed radicalism of organisations.
He organises his volume with early chapters on the relationship between the EYL and the labour movement, the EYL and Internationalism (links and activities with Communist International events, the camping parties, the EYL and the Junior Eureka League (an alternative to scouts and guides), the EYL and women, the EYL and arts and education.
He then moves to the issues canvassed in his opening remarks, where he looks at the tendency to narrowness because of the domination by the Soviet Union of international socialist movements.
He then moves to a decade-by-decade approach to radical youth organisation in Australia with much longer sections on the 1940s and 1950s and to the final decade of the 1960s.
Lots of fun times as well as challenging times for members, and a look at the index the list of people he has interviewed shows how many people who have been prominent in movements for social change since the demise of the League shows that it was a great stimulator of people and a way that people could meet others who shared their ideas of progress.
One of the prominent first for the EYL was the promotion of jazz in Australia. Some members saw jazz as an extension of US imperialism and as part of the US attempt to dominate the world. However cooler heads thought otherwise and Harry Stein was perhaps the major voice amongst those who argued for so-called "popular music" as a legitimate art form. The advent of the Beatles and the rise of rock and roll was approved by the EYL as it represented such a great love of life and an overall progressive, earthy view of the world.
Jazz was supported by the League in WWII with member Eulalie Tapp recalling how the US Army 'Red Arrow' band played at EYL Club Rooms. In Melbourne Graeme Bell was playing jazz at the 'Uptown Club' in North Melbourne with the support of EYL musos Harry and Wolf Stein. Frank Johnson played at League Sunday Night Dances and at the Easter and Christmas camps at Yarra Junction.
The EYL convened Australia's jazz Convention at its North Melbourne HQ in December 1946. This was done under the auspices of the Eureka Hot Jazz Society. Famous American pianist Art Hodes sent a message of support to the Eureka Society.
Folk music was also promoted by the EYL and it can claim to have played a key role in a revival of interest in Australian folk. The League produced a number of songbooks. As Rex Mortimer wrote in the forward to the 192 Sing! Sing! Sing! "ten years ago, a collection of Australian folks songs would have been very small indeed. Today the problem is how to limit the choice." Folk and bush dancing was also a big part of league activities, particularly at the camps where the 'bush bass' (modified tea chest) and the lagerphone were manufactured by League members. New Theatre's production of Reedy River was also a big contributor to the revival or Australian bush songs, and the EYL was a big supporter of the New Theatres.
As will be obvious by now, if you have made it this far, I am not reviewing this book but simply highlighting some of the many fascinating aspects. Too much of the history of such organisations is lost and we must be grateful to Barrie Blears for his terrific efforts. Another great aspect of his personal view is the great space he gives to the memories of many people involved in the EYL from all parts of Australia.
I urge people to buy if they are interested in an organisation that played a big part in much of the debate about social change during the period 1920-1970, and for a great collection of photos of the camps and other activities.
REUNION
The Eureka Youth League and the Junior Eureka League are holding a celebration and reunion for the 60th anniversary of the EYL on Saturday and Sunday 16th and 17th November 2002. On the Saturday there will be a speak-out session at the Aboriginal Dance Theatre (86 Renwick St, Redfern) followed by a concert and sing-along. This will include an exhibition of photos and other memorabilia. On Sunday a Picnic will be held at Quarantine Park, Abbotsford. Contact Barry Cooper on 9587 1165 for more details.
The book is available from Barrie Blears at [email protected]
Or Barrie Blears
23 Mount Street
Leura 2780 NSW
Price: $25.80 + 4.50 P+P
But we all remembered what happen there in September 1999. Most Australians were horrified by the Indonesian army (TNI) sponsored militia violence and destruction. The country was systematically reduced to ash and rubble. And more than 70% of East Timor's infrastructure was damaged or destroyed.
Many of you took to the streets in protest and you cheered when the Australian led Interfet intervened. You opened your hearts and wallets for the suffering East Timorese. And you did so because as Australians you believe in helping the underdog and giving them a fair go.
Your support was unconditional. You did not expect payment in return for Australia's involvement.
But Howard and Downer seem to have other plans--the Timor Gap oil and gas as payment.
East Timor was forced to signed an unfavourable treaty with Australia on the day of their independence.
Howard claimed Australia was generous by giving East Timor 90% of the share.
However, the truth is East Timor is getting less than 40% of the oil and gas resources--resources that rightfully belongs to them.
The Timor Sea Treaty, set up the JPDA--a joint petroleum development area that is much much smaller than the seabed boundary area East Timor under international law is entitled to have.
Only resources within the JPDA are shared 90:10 in favour of East Timor. But the baulk of the oil and gas resources fall just outside the boundary of the JPDA. And although these resources belong to East Timor, Australia is claiming these resources as wholly Australian.
There are three main oil and gas field involved:
� Bayu-Undan--a gas field that lies wholly within the JPDA
� Greater Sunrise--a much larger gas field to the east of Bayu-Undan--but only 20% of the field falls within the JPDA--Australia is claiming the remaining 80%.
� Laminaria/Corralina--an oil field that is just outside the western border of the JPDA
The estimated oil and gas reserve for the three fields is 3.3 billion barrels of oil equivalent (BOE). The estimated revenue is US$66 billion in present day value and the royalties--the total governments' take would amount to US$30 billion--between now and 2050.
But East Timor's share is only 1.3 billion barrels or less than 40% even though the resources belong to them. And East Timor will also miss out on the industrial spin-off worth millions of dollars and thousands of jobs because the gas will be piped to Darwin instead of East Timor.
Howard and Downer also decided early this year to shoot the referee by withdrawing from the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice dealing with maritime boundary dispute. This means East Timor will be forced to negotiate directly with Australia over any seabed boundary dispute between the two countries.
This David and Goliath battle clearly disadvantage East Timor--the poorest country in Asia.
East Timor's entire budget for the year 2002-2003 is only US$70 million. And that comes mainly from overseas donations--including from Australia.
Even a modest 5% increase in revenue East Timor gets from the oil and gas resources would amount to hundreds of millions of dollars--more than Australia's entire contribution to the East Timor campaign since September 1999.
Think of what East Timor can do with that money. Think of how many schools, classrooms, hospitals, health clinics, roads and other infrastructure that money can provide. Think of how many jobs those additional services would also provide.
Australians believe in fair play. But what is happing here is definitely not that.
The Timor Gap resources belong to East Timor. Are we going to stand by and allow Howard and Downer rob East Timor off billions of dollars of their income when more than 40% of their population lives on less than one dollar a day?
East Timor deserves a better deal. Give them a fair go--don't rob their future.
Leah Purcell's new documentary Black Chicks Talking is due to air on SBS next Friday 30 August. Purcell's docco gathers together five Indigenous women from a variety of backgrounds, sits them around a large round dinner table and gets them talking about what it is like to be an Indigenous woman in Australia.
Secret life of Us star Deborah Mailman, the first Aboriginal Australia Katherine Hay, mother of seven Cilla Malone, community warden Rosanna Angus, and lawyer Tammy Williams, have each followed vastly different courses in their life yet many of their experiences are similar.
The first time they realised they were Aboriginal, their feelings of connectedness with their land and culture, their first experiences of racism, the feeble attempts of others to 'deal' with their blackness: these are just a few of the topics laid bare in a conversation packed with intimate insights and peppered with more than a few dirty jokes.
Frequent outtakes to one on one interviews between Purcell and each of the women provide the background to their life stories.
The most heart rendering of these is the story of Cilla, who grew up on a Queensland mission where she lived constantly in hope of finding her mother. Now a mum herself, she battles with long-term alcoholism and her grief over a falling-out with her mother whom she finally met in later life. Though she is haunted by feelings that her children "deserve better" the most touching scene in the movie comes when three of her daughters sing for the cameras a song about how much she means to them.
Another fascinating development captured within the program belongs to the beautiful Katherine Hay. She starts out in a state of confusion about "which part" of herself is Aboriginal and ends up with more of an understanding about her place in her culture that she has ever experienced before. Listening to such words of wisdom as, "It's up to the individual person to find out their connection with their culture and bring it into the future", she eventually realises she does not have to 'qualify' in order to identify herself as Indigenous.
In Hay's words: "I don't think I have ever learned so much over dinner".
Other highlights of the documentary include anything and everything that comes out of Deborah Mailman's mouth and a victory dance performed by Purcell and Tammy Williams, to celebrate the amazing breadth of Williams' achievements.
If there were a criticism of this program it would be (aside from a few sound quality issues early on) only that it does not go for long enough. This is the sort of project that could easily be aired as a series, with Purcell travelling around Australia to uncover the stories behind many more women's lives.
Or perhaps it is fairer to say that it could so easily be watched in this format. For Purcell's part she has already made it clear that this was an intensely challenging project and one that she needs no small amount of time to recover from before she can even think about embarking upon any next step.
Her advice to anyone calling for a sequel is: "You go out there and meet some black chicks and you talk to them".
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (Indigeriffic)
by David Peetz
Australia, it seems, is leading the world in self-regulation - it's just that the rest of the world is heading in the wrong direction.
SELF REGULATION
Our leader I saw in a bold proclamation
'Bout rich blokes who fell to temptation
Whose misinformation through profit inflation
All needed some investigation
The answer he said was not more legislation
Or even severe castigation
Instead it appeared from his strange exhortation
The answer was self-regulation
I said to myself, why I know the translation,
'Cause 'self' here means not regulation
Just like how 'self service' in bank corporations
Means no service in all estimations
I thought how the chiefs of such organisations,
Self-restrained in their remuneration,
Will say, when the workers' jobs face decimation,
Self-employed will be their vocation
Now if your dole form has odd miscalculations
You'll be fined or face incarceration
But if fiddling the books is your main occupation
Congratulations! Its self-regulation!
You might think the rich have had self-education
But we won't come no more raw crustaceans
Let's all have some good old style defenestration
Of self-serving, self-regulation
David Peetz
That theory now seems dead and buried under the weight of corporate collapses that showed how the system has been systematically abused by those at its apex.
Workers do not receive $40,000 per month consultants. They don't book their suitcase first class and pocket the frequent flier points. They don't inflate businesses by shedding workers to up the short-term share price so they can make a Motza on their options.
And yet our federal government refuses to regulate the corporate cowboys - concerned that regulation will be counter-productive by making shonky investments less attractive. Too right ! we say. And for once the ALP agrees.
A return to managerial prerogative in human resources is just one element of corporate excess but, as workers in Australia Post are discovering, it is back in vogue.
After cooperating with management through the most profound change tin information delivery, Aussie Post workers are being rewarded with petty managers who'll even proscribe their toilet paper usage.
Once respected public institutions like Qantas and Commonwealth Bank have fallen into the cycle of putting profits before people and the people who work for them behind them all.
Even the Shearers' Hall of Fame - set up to honour Australian shearers - refuses to recognize the union that is every bit as much a part of Australia's rural heritage
We are witnessing the un-writing of one hundred years of history where unionized workforces collaborated with their employers to build sustainable businesses.
Now the push to cut labour costs outweighs all these notions; trashing this workplace culture so that de-unionisation becomes some sort of Holy Grail.
All the while the public bankrolls a Royal Commission consumed with the minutae of legal technicality rather than the big picture of corrupt bosses and worker exploitation.
As Jim Marr reports, The Cole Commssion has become less an inquiry and more a very expensive game to defame the building union and provide Tony Abbott with ammunition for his broader crusade.
And make no mistake, the enemies of the union movement see this as their time, their war to achieve the Holy Grail of a flexible labour market; not people but an input that can be squeezed and squeezed until the numbers look right.
As long as there are zealots like Abbott, shonks like Adler and a corporate culture that is obsessed by the bottom line, our historical mission will remain.
Peter Lewis
Editor
NB - Next week we celebrate our 150th issue. All contributors and subscribers are welcome to join us for a celebratory ale from 6.30pm Friday at the Trades Hall Inn, Goulburn Street, Sydney.
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The attack on the maritime union in 1998 was just one plank of this agenda, which is supported by a radical overhaul of industrial relations law that successive workplace relations ministers continue to pursue, despite set backs in the Senate. The Howard government has made no bones about its intentions to "deregulate the labour market", being shorthand for union busting, and nor has it sought to hide the fact that key targets in the plan include not just the maritime union, but construction and transport unions as well. In this context, the Cole Royal commission into the construction industry can be seen as not simply a anti union stalking horse aimed at discrediting the CFMEU, but as a vehicle for progressing an agenda which would see the ability of all unions to organise further compromised.
What are the possible policy and legislative implications of the Royal Commission ?
It is a well worn tactic of the Howard government to progress attacks upon vulnerable and progressive parts of the community through the mechanism of an inquiry and report. The Audit Commission report on the public sector in 1996 laid the foundation for an aggressive privatisation campaign; The McLure report on "Welfare Reform" indicated how assistance for the most disadvantaged in the community might be wound back; and the Besley inquiry into Telstra set the parameters for the government sell off. It is not surprising therefore that the Cole Royal Commission appears to be seeding the debate about how to "wind back union power" with selective and often salacious anecdotes presumably aimed at softening up public opinion ahead of further attacks on unions and working people.
The anti union legislative agenda already includes bills before the Commonwealth parliament aimed at:
� prohibiting pattern bargaining;
� restricting the right of workers to pursue unfair dismissal claims;
� and introducing bureaucratic restrictions on the right of unionists to strike.
As well as these particular claims, Tony Abbott and employer groups have also variously called for;
� the Commonwealth to take over all industrial relations jurisdictions;
� the establishment of an industrial "police force";
� a mechanism for the Commonwealth to directly intervene in industrial matters and take on unions where employers refuse, and;
� separate industrial tribunals for particular industries (in this case, the construction industry.)
One more key area of industrial regulation where the Cole Commission appears to be laying the groundwork for legislative change is Occupational Health &Safety.
Although the Commonwealth does not have direct jurisdiction over OH&S in the construction industry, the Cole Commission is nevertheless spending a lot of time bringing out matters dealing with OH&S practices in construction, with the unmistakable angle of trying to discredit the role played by the union. Apart from serving to create a prejudicial view of the union, the Government might well be looking at other targets.
In particular, it is somewhat surprising given the overall context of its approach to unions that the Commonwealths own OH&S laws continue to provide a substantial core of union rights.
In union organised sites which come under the Commonwealth OH&S laws, unions still have the right to conduct elections for OH&S representatives, and these representatives have very significant policing and enforcement powers under the Act. A campaign which seeks to discredit the unions role in health and safety would greatly assist any attempt by the Howard government to wind back these rights. And the result would be to hand the vitally important policing role over health and safety back to employers.
With its one sided focus on employer interests, the Cole Commission is providing a valuable public relations tool for a government intent on shifting the balance of power in the workplace further towards employers.
By focusing on the untested evidence of employers it is laying the groundwork for a highly dangerous shift in OH&S laws which would see employers become the gatekeepers.
By attacking the role played by union delegates and organisers, it helps sets an agenda which is skewed towards winding back the most basic rights of working people - the right to organise and to take action in support of industrial claims.
By attacking the right of unions to pattern bargain and organise across industries, it promotes an industrial relations policy framework which can only result in increasing wage disparities and a race to bottom for wages and condition. And of course this situation further promotes the use of more contingent labour and in general terms helps fuel a process whereby economic growth becomes more and more based upon an ever widening gulf of inequality.
In this sense the message sent by a Government sponsored inquiry such as the Cole Royal Commission is that citizens should not expect fair dealing in the workplace, in economic management and in society generally. Working people everywhere should see this latest manifestation of the Howard Governments industrial relations agenda for what it is - as the forerunner for further and concerted attacks upon them, upon progressive social institutions and ultimately upon the most vulnerable in our society.
******************
The great irony of the Canterbury salary cap debacle is that the very thing that caused the problem, greed, will also prevent the National Rugby League from doing much more than huffing and puffing on the issue.
The league will make plenty of appropriate noises before savaging Canterbury with a feather.
Their real estimation of the situation will be a wish that it all goes away. I don't doubt that Canterbury are telling the truth when they say they didn't hide their situation from the NRL's auditors - what use does the NRL have to promote another scandal?
South Sydney's George Piggins has also indicated in a letter to the NRL information that implicates two other clubs in salary cap breaches. At this rate Souths may yet make the semis.
It was also interesting to note that the Salary Cap is being managed for the NRL by the former Easts' winger Ian Schubert, whose blonde locks graced suburban Sydney grounds in the seventies.
At least they didn't leave 'Hollywood' Hartley in control - at least we can
presume Schubert can count.
While there has been much hand wringing about what would be considered a fair and appropriate penalty there has also been much soul-searching on the efficacy of the salary cap itself. Some quarters have indicated that the salary cap is some kind of restraint on free trade (code for it stops Brisbane totally dominating the competition).
I have a Canterbury jumper from the eighties. Adorned across the front is the epithet, and some could say epitaph, HFC FINANCE. This is from the days before we found out that Greame Hughes is a lousy sports presenter.
Since the days of Victor Trumper, Dally Messenger and Joynton-Smith Rugby League has always been a commercial enterprise. It was a matter of time before the big end of town got its grubby paws on the silverware.
Whatever people say about the issue I'd bet Lithgow to a brick that the 'doggies aren't the only ones tied up in the caper. What we can surmise is that this 'expose' has more than a little to do with Canterbury's big Liverpool adventure - their attempt to pour another giant beer barn/pokie palace (a-la-Panthers) down the gullets of the long suffering residents of western Sydney.
What Rugby League needs is not some slick marketing package, pokie palaces, giant stadiums or greater corporate support, but the ball to be fed into the middle of the scrum, and for attacking sides to get deeper when they're running onto the ball.
If you use the term 'hit-up' in my presence I will break your nose.
This column also noticed that the recent breach is being used to try and re-introduce that slave auction, The Draft.
While some point to the AFL as being an example of the success of a draft system, there is no mention of the fact that it has turned the primary recruiting area for draft nominees, the under-18 TAC Cup, into something of a meat market. In addition the Draft Camps, selections and streaming of young talent into this program is placing enormous pressure onto very young footballers (they're just kids!) as well as abandoning those competitions that do not produce draftable players.
Despite what you read in the papers, these grass roots competitions are still the lifeblood of the national winter code in Australia. To abandon them is to abandon community. I know this is a very favourable course of action in the militaristic times but as my mum used to say, if everyone else was jumping off a cliff does that mean you would too?
Now if only Newtown could afford to breach the salary cap!
Phil Doyle - lining up a kick into the teeth of a strong wind from the sou-souwest.
Since the re-election of the Howard Government last year another three Australian ships have been sunk, with loss of all jobs. This time it's the bulk carrier Wallarah, centre of a community protest in Newcastle this Sunday. This ship has been reflagged in Tonga, the same registry that gained international disrepute this year over gun running in the Middle East, people smuggling in Europe and terrorism in the USA. Yes, the Tongan flag has come under scrutiny of the FBI in its chase to hunt down the Flag of Convenience fleet used by Osama bin Laden to ship armaments and terrorists worldwide. And yet an Australian ship has not only been sold off and flagged in Tonga, it has got a coastal permit from the Federal Government to stay on the coast and ship wheat to Adelaide.
This is just not a battle with the shipowners; it's a battle with the Howard Government, which has been actively backing behind the move to replace Australian crewed ships with ships of shame.
Take the Federal Court action set to commence on Tuesday. The Herald reported some months back that the Minister for Workplace Relations Tony Abbott had been on the backs of CSL Australia to sue the unions over the Yarra dispute for some time. Last month that's exactly what they did. CSL has all three maritime unions in the Federal Court in Sydney seeking injunctions against any further union action which may pester the CSL Flag of Convenience fleet now back trading on the coast.
The CSL ships in question are the Pacific (alias Torrens) and the Stadacona (alias Yarra), centre of the Port Pirie protest in May and ongoing protests in recent weeks. The Yarra sailed out of Australian waters and the Australian crew were repatriated. But within days it was back under another name flying the Bahamas flag and crewed with Ukranians on much lower wages. Soon after Adelaide Brighton Cement announced it would pull out of the ACTU/Commission brokered talks aimed at getting an Australian flagged ship back on the coast. Then came the announcement CSL would sue under the Trade Practices Act (45D and E) to prevent any further protests against their ships in Australian ports. Individual unionists have also been named, including ACTU President Sharon Burrow.
Meanwhile union lawyers are doing some manoeuvrings of their own, with the aim of showing that the permit system which allows ships flying the Bahama and Tongan flags are in breach of regulations under the Migration Act, the Customs Act and the Navigation Act. And a similar attempt to reflag the last Australian container ship the OCCL Australia has been successfully stymied in the Industrial Relations Commission. As well the union is still waiting on the full bench ruling on its push to have the Bahamas flagged CSL Pacific operating on the Australian coast roped in under the Australian award. Tony Abbott intervened in that case too - on the side of foreign shipowners.
****************
"Invading Iraq: defiant Howard says he'll go it alone" the Sydney Morning Herald declares. Unfortunately, the article doesn't quite back up the headline but war, nevertheless, is high on the week's agenda.
You know your claim to hawkishness has sprouted wings when Henry Kissinger and General Norman Schwarzkopf are counselling caution. That's the position Dubya, his Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfield, and Howard find themselves in.
Rumsfield tells Americans they don't need evidence of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs to justify an attack. Just as well probably, because any serious attempt to adduce evidence would lead to the inescapable finding of US complicity.
According to a 1994 US Senate Committee Report, between 1985 and 1989, American suppliers provided Baghdad with the core ingredients for a chemical and biological arsenal. Amongst the US "goodies" identified by the Commission were: Bacillus Anthracis (anthrax); Clostridium Botulinum (botulinum poison); Histoplasma Capsulatam (cause of disease attacking lungs, brain, heart and spinal cord); Brucella Melitensis (bacteria which attacks major organs); Clostridium Perfringens (highly toxic bacteria); E.Coli; human and bacterial DNA.
Dozens of other pathogenic biological agents were shipped from the US to Iraq during the 1980s. The Senate Committee described these as "not attenuated or weakened and capable of reproduction".
Despite reports that Iraq used chemical weapons against Iran and biological warfare against Iranians, Kurds, and Shi'ites, these exports continued until the end of 1989.
....................
Retired US General Paul Van Riper quits the biggest war games in US history, claiming the result was "almost entirely scripted to ensure a win".
Poor old Van Riper had been brought out of retirement to head enemy forces and was piqued about being denied the opportunity to probe defensive weaknesses in his opponent's game play. A real adversay, he warned, may not feel so constrained.
......................
The war on women, being conducted across much of the Islamic world, gets an airing when a pregnant Nigerian student is granted asylum in Cyprus because returning home would likely mean being stoned to death.
Under one view of Sharia law that is the prescribed punishment for adultery. In reality, it is rarely, if ever, imposed on the male of the species.
In northern Nigeria, a Sharia court rejects the appeal of a 21-year-old against her death sentence, ruling she will be stoned after weaning her child.
..................
The war on workers being pursued by the Howard Government resumes with the Cole Royal Commission's return to Sydney. Counsels assisting see no need to introduce balance or fairness to their modus operandi, slating the CFMEU largely on the "evidence" of discredited former officials.
In an opening picked up by papers, television channels and radio stations across the country, Nicholas Green doesn't even bother to acknowledge that the weight of evidence before the commission, to put it mildly, questions the credibility of those he chooses to rely on.
The sublime turns ridiculous when counsel assisting and the commissioner get their maths wrong and produce wildly inflated figures for a wage claim settlement. Not that that prevents their loyal messengers at the Sydney Morning Herald running it all as fact.
......................
As for internecine war, the Democrats showed them all how do to do it - shafting each other left, right and centre until the only prize was stewardship of a rotting carcass.
The little known WA gay activist Brian Greig slipped through the, eh, centre and got the nod as interim leader after Aden Ridgeway realised that being in a Gang of Four doesn't necessarily make him a pop star.
One can only wonder how the Democrats would have fared if they were sticking to the salary cap. But that's another story.
Executive Option Smokescreen
Nearly two-thirds of the nation's biggest listed companies have failed to supply shareholders with explanations of how directors' options will be treated in their annual reports. As debate over off-balance options continues, the Australian Shareholders' Association dispatched a string of questions related to options and other issues of corporate governance to more than 140 corporations in May. Only 51 bothered to reply. Stan Mather, a director of the ASA, says the reluctance of the overwhelming majority of companies to answer the important investor survey was a "sad comment on the attitude of some companies to their shareholders". Among the companies that did not send a reply to the ASA were: AMP, Amrad Corp, The Australian Gas Light Company, Bank of Queensland, BHP Billiton, ERG, Futuris, Macquarie Infrastructure Group, Newcrest Mining, News Corporation, Village Roadshow and Woolworths. (Source: SMH)
PM puts off corporate changes
The Howard Government is doing its bit for corporate excess as well, this week ruling out changes to improve corporate accountability. Prime Minister John Howard says he will not be rushed into strengthening corporate laws, despite the high-profile collapses of HIH and One.Tel which cost investors billions of dollars. Unlike the Cole Commission, the government will wait until it had the findings of the Royal Commission into the HIH collapse, due to be handed down late next February.
Howard says the government would also announce its long-awaited response to the Ramsay report into auditor independence within the next two weeks. Professor Ian Ramsay lodged his report with the Government last October, setting out ways to improve audit standards after the HIH collapse. (Various sources)
Labor To Increase Jail Terms For Cheats
On the other ideas of politics, the ALP has vowed that company executives would face jail terms of up to 10 years for serious breaches of the Corporations Law. Unveiling a business reform package, Opposition Leader Simon Crean also outlined plans to "build trust in the market" by forcing auditors to adhere to new rules. This would include a requirement to reveal cases of "aggressive accounting" by companies, and disclose how the books would look if an alternative treatment were used.
(Source: ABC Online)
HIH Witnesses Get Public Funds
High profile HIH Royal Commission witnesses Rodney Adler and Ray Williams could be getting government assistance to help with their legal bills. While Attorney-General Daryl Williams will not confirm whether they were receiving public funding, he says a long-standing scheme of financial assistance for legal costs before royal commissions applied to both the HIH Royal Commission and the Cole Royal Commission into the building industry. He says the assistance scheme is not means tested. Revelations of the HIH high life continued this week including admissions that Rodney Adler was paid $40,000 a month as a consultant; while the Williams family was continuing to buy-up on property after the company's collapse. (Various Sources)
NAB In Super Probe
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission plans prolonging an investigation into National Australia Bank's management of superannuation funds worth billions of dollars. The bank's fund management division, MLC, has unveiled a compensation package for around 270,000 investors after last year's closure and transfer of certain pension funds saw them pay extra costs. ASIC executive director Ian Johnston has welcomed news of the $60 million compensation deal but says concerns remain about the handling of funds at the time.
(Source: ABC Online)
Corrigan Adopts Union Tactics
Chris Corrigan, demon of the dockside dispute and half-owner of Sir Richard's discount airline Virgin Blue, is casting himself as the underdog in a spat with Macquarie Bank, the major shareholder in Sydney Airport Corp.
And this week, Corrigan made it personal. On Wednesday, Virgin Blue booked big red newspaper advertisements, headlined "Macquarie wants to increase your flight costs. What a bunch of bankers". It went on to urge readers to write or call Macquarie's mild-mannered chief executive Allan Moss - listing his email and the bank's Sydney switchboard number. They ads accused the bank - dubbed "the millionaire factory" for the number of seven-figure salary executives it regularly produces - of welching on a deal and abusing its position to gouge monopoly rents from Virgin. (Source: SMH)
Peacock Buys Into Child Care
Former federal Liberal Party leader Andrew is making a foray into the lucrative child-care industry, backing a $30 million sharemarket listing of Child Care Centres Australia. It is believed Melbourne broking firm Tolhurst Noall will underwrite the float, expected to list at the end of September. CCCA would become the second listed child-care company, following the arrival last year of Brisbane-based ABC Learning Centres. Peacock, who last month was appointed president of Boeing Australia, is already listed as a non-executive director of CCCA in filings with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
(Source: SMH)
Rosella Food Brand Comes Home
The Rosella parrot is returning to Australian shores - a local food distributor bought the brand from Unilever yesterday. Stuart Alexander, which markets and distributes overseas brands such as Mentos, Guylian, Tabasco and Werthers, bought the brand from the Anglo-Dutch food company. The price was not disclosed. The Rosella Preserving Co was founded in 1899 and bought by Unifoods in 1963.
(Source: SMH)
Farm Pride Soft On Eggs
One of Australia's best-known egg producers may lay its last egg later this year.
Despite saying it would post a modest profit for the 2002 fiscal year, Farm Pride, whose association with the egg industry dates back to the late 1930s, revealed it might sell all or part of its egg business. It started to move out of the lower-margin commodity market and into higher-margin, value-added markets in May when it bought Golden Days Natural Products' snack range from H.J. Heinz. A move by Farm Pride to merge with rival egg producer Pace was halted by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in July. But the Victorian-based producer said the only way to materially improve profitability in its egg business was by a merger or acquisition with other egg industry players.
(source: SMH)
Golden Handshake for Grubman
Salomon Smith Barney telecommunications analyst Jack Grubman, who is under investigation by Congress and government agencies for potential conflicts of interest, has resigned - but he's hardly on the skids. Grubman, one of the most prominent analysts in the United States, will receive $A59.4 million in severance, including forgiveness of a $US19 million loan. Mr Grubman, 48, resigned after being under scrutiny for his recommendations on WorldCom and other companies whose share prices collapsed and who were clients of Salomon Smith Barney. Now US regulators are investigating whether he "played both sides of the fence", as banker and analyst - winning investment-banking fees with favourable stock recommendations.
(Source: Bloomberg)
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