E D I T O R I A L

The Sirens' Song
There is nothing for trade unionists to celebrate from Labor�s loss in the Cunningham by-election.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: The Wet One
NSW Opposition industrial relations spokesman Michael Gallacher stakes out his relationship with the union movement.

Bad Boss: Like A Bastard
Virgin Mobile is sexy and funky, right? Well, only if those terms have become synonyms for dictatorial or downright mean.

Unions: Demolition Derby
Tony Abbott likens industrial relations to warfare and, like a good general should, he is about to shift his point of attack � from building sites to car plants, reports Jim Marr.

Corporate: The Bush Doctrine
For the powerful, consumerism equals freedom, and is all the freedom we need, writes James Goodman

Politics: American Jihad
Let�s get real. The origins of modern Islamic terrorist groups are in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Langley, Virginia not Baghdad, argues Noel Hester.

Health: Secret Country
Oral history recordings are an inadequate tool in trying to find out what happened to Aboriginal stockmen and their communities on cattle stations in Northern Australia, writes Neale Towart

Review: Walking On Water
On the 20th anniversary of the first AIDS-related death, Tara de Boehmler witnesses the aftermath of losing a loved one to the illness in Walking On Water.

Culture: TCF
Novelist Anthony Macris captures life on the shop floor in this extract from his upcoming novel, Capital Volume II

Poetry: The UQ Stonewall
The University of Queensland has sought to join the ranks of union-busting companies like Rio Tinto in trying to sack the president of the local union - and made the mistake of thinking they were dealing with an array of acquiescent academics.

N E W S

Email Use Sparks Pay Claim

Melbourne Cup Strike Threat

10,000 Rally in Support of Kingham

Negligent Bosses Labelled �Serial Killers�

Ambulance Officers Win $6 Million Back-Pay

Strike Pay to Bali Appeal

Boral Bosses Bag Bulk Bucks

Bid to Block New ACCC Chief

Cuts Equals Profits for ANZ

First Takers for 36-Hour Week

IT Outsourcing Agencies Called To Account

Pay to Work Spreads to Hornsby

Howard Opens Waters to Rogue Ship

Work a Suicide Factor

Unis Drop RDO Assault

Boxes of Books for Good Causes

Activist Notebook

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
I Walk The Line
American civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has weighed into the Hilton Hotel dispute with this special message to the workforce.

Postcard
Mekong Daze
Union Aid Abroad's Phil Hazelton fires off a missive from Laos where he is spending a year working with the community.

Month In Review
Bush Whackers
It was a month where the world teetered on the brink of peace, no thanks to the leader of the free world, writes Jim Marr

The Locker Room
The Laws Of Gravity
Phil Doyle goes looking for the fine line that separates sport from an exercise in time-wasting

Bosswatch
Snouts in the Trough
It�s AGM season in the corporate world, and deal after shady deal is being exposed as highfliers treat company accounts like the proverbial honey-pot.

Wobbly
Songs of Solidarity
There has been a proud history of pro-worker tunes dating back to the early days of the 20th century, which will be continued in a new CD, writes Dan Buhagiar.

L E T T E R S

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10,000 Rally in Support of Kingham

More than 10,000 workers from a range of Victorian union cheered Kingham into the Melbourne Magistrates Court where he faced charges arising out of the Cole Royal Commission.

CFMEU members formed a guard of honour as he made his way into the court on the shoulders of fellow union members.

Kingham told the assembled media that he refused to provide the lists of names to the Commission because he feared the information would be used to harass active union members.

Prior to the commencement of speeches VTHC industrial and campaigns officer Brian Boyd asked the rally to observe a minute of silence in memory of those who had died in the Bali bombing.

Boyd said the Royal Commission had "wrapped up on a whimper" recently after exhausting its union bashing tactics.

ACTU secretary Greg Combet told the rally the union movement in Australia was not prepared to see union officials put in jail for defending their members, particularly shop stewards.

"Shop stewards are the most important people in the workplace - they stand up for workers rights. We don't hand over the names of shop stewards to employers or Royal Commissions because we know those people can be victimised", Combet said.

ETU assistant state secretary Alex McCallum said the real agenda of the Royal Commission and charges against Martin Kingham was about "crushing militant unions".

"We are disgusted by the Royal Commission and their attempt to crush the membership of building unions. These kind of attacks are aimed at every worker in Australia and that is why we are here supporting Martin Kingham."

State secretary of the CFMEU (FEDFA) Tommy Watson said unionists should be very proud of Martin Kingham.

"Martin has put everything on the line in defence of his membership. CFMEU members here today should be walking proud. If Martin Kingham is jailed he will be a political prisoner not a criminal."

Playing on the fact that the Royal Commission wanted Martin Kingham to 'lag' on his members, CEPU (Plumbing division) assistant secretary Tony Murphy told the rally: "The only lagers we have in our industry are the ones who lay pipes. We are here to defend Martin Kingham."

TCFUA state secretary Michelle O'Neill said the union movement wanted to see some other lists from the Royal Commission.

"I want to see the list of union delegates who have fought hard to win better conditions for workers. This is not really about Martin Kingham and the CFMEU doing anything wrong. They don't want to know what construction unions are good at like standing in solidarity with other unions and with refugees. But we know and we are proud. You come after one and you come after all of us."

A few minutes before he was due to appear in Court Martin Kingham addressed the rally.

"Thank you so much for this tremendous display of solidarity. This attack is not just on me but symbolic of what they want to do to others. It is a political fight that has been generated by Abbott and Howard to treat unions like a political football. I feel much better going through that door knowing I have such incredible support."

"I feel like I have the best job in the country. I have the privilege of representing the best and most compassionate workers in Australia. We will not be broken. When I look around today I feel very confident that we will win", he said.

VTHC secretary Leigh Hubbard said it was encouraging to see so many unions represented at the rally. He said it should be noted that Martin Kingham had been fined under the Royal Commission Act 1902.

Mr Hubbard said Prime Minister John Howard and Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott wanted to return industrial relations to an era where workers had no rights.

"The system Abbott and Howard want is not one we want or would support. Abbott, and Reith before him, declared they would attack the major unions in this country. Well they have done that and we have to battle back. Make no mistake this is a political battle every union has to face."

He said while Martin Kingham faced a fine or 6 months imprisonment for the 'crime' of defending his members the Victorian Liberal Opposition had failed to support industrial manslaughter legislation in the State.

A large number of other unions were represented at the rally. Mark Staff, Maggie Ormerod and James Alexander from the ANF said they had come to the rally to "support our colleagues and show some solidarity."

"It is the principle. It's the CFMEU today and it could be us tomorrow", Mark said.

Mandy Coulson from the CPSU said her union was represented at the rally because "an attack on one union is an attack on all unions."

"This scurrilous fishing expedition must stop. In terms of OHS the CFMEU works very hard to protect its members and the Royal Commission has no business interfering in the private details of members who attend union training. On the contrary the union should be applauded for actively empowering members and for protecting the health and safety of people at work and in the community."

Chris Fernnell from the TWU said he was at the rally to "defend unions against the attacks of Abbott and Howard and the draconian legislation they have drafted against workers."

LHMU members Sash and Mark said they had come to the rally to support Martin Kingham. "They have attacked Martin Kingham - who is next"? Mark asked. "As low paid workers we are here to voice our concerns over workers rights", said Sash.

Anthony Main from the AMWU said he was concerned that a union leader had been charged for the crime of defending his members.

"At the end of the day it is wrong that one of our leaders is facing criminal charges for standing up for union rights. It is a good turn out today so I think a lot of people feel the same", he said.

Kingham emerged from the court and told the rally his case had been adjourned until December 12 and he looked forward to a similar show of support on that date.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005