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Issue No. 155 | 04 October 2002 |
Wrong Way, Go Back
Interview: The Wet One Bad Boss: Like A Bastard Unions: Demolition Derby Corporate: The Bush Doctrine Politics: American Jihad Health: Secret Country Review: Walking On Water Culture: TCF Poetry: The UQ Stonewall
Corrigan Fires Shot in Rail Showdown Fight Begins For Long Weekends Experts to Arrest Drug Test Outbreak Jobs Auction Hitting Bank Workers NSW Screws Down Lid on Funeral Scams Hilton Strike Break Plans in Tatters Detention Centre Workers Demand Safety Search Religious Teachers Win Legal Coverage Pressure Builds on Parking Sting US Docks Lockout Hits Sea Trade
The Soapbox Postcard Month In Review The Locker Room Bosswatch Wobbly
Shame on Murray Use or Abuse of Long Term Casuals Speaking in Tongues Casual Days
Labor Council of NSW |
Letters to the Editor Speaking in Tongues
Dear Sir,
One must congratulate the Municipal Employees Union for its successful campaign in obtaining a community language allowance for its members employed in local government.
While this to some Australians may be an innovative idea, to those who have been employed in Local Government for any length of time would be aware that these language differences have been a problem for decades.
My first recollection of type this communication challenge was 30 years ago while working for the Sydney City Council, on a road construction gang in Lang Road, which is adjacent to Centennial Park...
This certainly was a agreeable work environment, with pleasant walks to the Duck Pond, at morning tea time, while deeply breathing in the aromas of the grass. But usually there was little communication difficulty before lunch, as all the boys appeared to be pacified with the aroma of the grass , be a tad uncommunicative or even a little ill from something they may have eaten or drank the previous day..
But after the lunch break in the Light Brigade in Oxford Street , usually about 11.30am - 1.00pm , not only were they all talkative , but speaking in tongues as if they had been blessed by the spirit? The ganger (long dead, God bless his soul) usually returned at 2.00pm, not only speaking in tongues but wearing the wobbly boot and speaking in Morse code. While I am not sure of all languages which were actually spoken after lunch, I am just curious would it be possible to claim this allowance retrospectively? Sadly this colourful era, was brought to a slow death with the election of Il Duce , the untimely departure of Leo the Lion and the appearance Eh! By gum lad our Kaa Kaaa Katie, who wove her spells of industrial entrapment on the POWER BROKERS.
Tom Collins
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