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Issue No. 158 | 25 October 2002 |
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The Sirens' Song
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
The Soapbox Postcard Month In Review The Locker Room Bosswatch Wobbly
 Heaps of Bali FeedbackBrooklyn Phil Says ...Here Comes the WTOFrom Little Finks ...The Mouth From the South!Ushering the Rusted ShieldEchoes of DLP
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Letters to the Editor Here Comes the WTO
John Morris'letter about the World Trade Organisation last week warned that new WTO agreements could stop government funding of government schools. He is right to be alarmed about the General Agreement on Trade in Services talks, but wrong to say they could stop government funding. The possible definition of government services budgets as "subsidies" would require these funds to be made available to transnational service providers - of schools, hospitals, water services, power, telecommuncations, welfare services etc - as well as government providers. This is a formula for compulsory competitive tendering of all government services, and should alarm everyone, including teachers. Come to the peaceful rally at noon, Nov 14, in Hyde Park North. Peter Murphy *********** The upcoming World Trade Organisation(WTO) meeting to be held in Sydney on the 14th and 15th of November has once again put the media, press, and the shock jocks into overdrive. Their portrayal of anyone prepared to demonstrate their opposition to the WTO as professional protestors (rent-a-crowd) out to cause trouble by any means is a grossly inaccurate generalisation that serves to trivialise the important issues at stake. I urge my fellow unionists to look beyond the hype and discover why so many people from all walks of life here and around the world are motivated to protest. The following are just a few reasons to question the validity and purported benevolence of the WTO and its "free trade" agenda: � Unlike the UN the WTO meets behind closed doors and agreements are implemented by Cabinet decision rather than following full parliamentary debate. � WTO negotiations are dominated by the most powerful economies to the disadvantage of smaller developing countries. Negotiations lack transparency and accountability. � The WTO's General Agreement on Trades and Services (GATS) pushes governments towards privatisation and deregulation of essential public services like health, education, water and postal services. � The WTO's proposed Investment Agreement would mean no limits to foreign investment in strategic industries and allow transnational corporations to challenge our laws and sue our government if its decisions harmed their investments. Historically unions have been concerned with a wide range of social policy and international issues far beyond the immediate concerns of wages and employment conditions for their members. Unions have always been strident advocates of human rights and democratic rights throughout the world and have had significant influence on government policy on health care, education, and childcare. In fact, any issue that may have improved the standard of living of peoples across the globe has been championed by unions and union activists. Make no mistake the policies of the WTO, driven by the four major economic powers US, Europe, Japan, and Canada, impact directly on all workers throughout the world. These policies are eroding many of the social gains previous union activism has delivered to our society and the international community. This presents unions and their members both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is to research the issues, inform the membership, develop strategies and policies to combat the negative impacts of WTO policy, and to rekindle the unionist flame in the hearts of members and demand a fair go for workers and their families all over the world. The opportunity for pro active unions is there to promote unionism as a positive force in our society. This can be achieved by getting involved in the conferences, rallies, protests and demonstrations about the WTO and the neo liberal "free trade" agenda. By making a stand for the working class worldwide unions can regain any lost credibility, stop the resignation of union members, and encourage new members to join. People will begin to see unions as champions of social justice, human rights and democracy once more. The forthcoming Sydney meeting where only 25 out of the 144 member states will be represented typifies the inequitable, undemocratic, and elitist approach of the WTO. The lip service the proponents of these meetings now pay to human rights and the environment and their willingness to at least talk to non government agencies is a direct result of 100 000's of individuals across the world who have protested and demonstrated in recent years. Don't be misled by the hype. Check the facts and you too may feel compelled to show your disapproval of the WTO agenda and its effect on our lives. Mark Lutherborrow FBEU Delegate
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