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Issue No. 158 | 25 October 2002 |
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
10,000 Rally in Support of Kingham Negligent Bosses Labelled �Serial Killers� Ambulance Officers Win $6 Million Back-Pay IT Outsourcing Agencies Called To Account Pay to Work Spreads to Hornsby Howard Opens Waters to Rogue Ship Boxes of Books for Good Causes
The Soapbox Postcard Month In Review The Locker Room Bosswatch Wobbly
Brooklyn Phil Says ... Here Comes the WTO From Little Finks ... The Mouth From the South! Ushering the Rusted Shield Echoes of DLP
Labor Council of NSW |
News Strike Pay to Bali Appeal
Staff, who have been locked in negotiations with DEWR management over a stalled EBA, last week deferred strike action after the events in Bali Sticking points include access to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission for individual staff members, cuts to remote localities assistance for staff in Darwin, Townsville and Cairns, and a pay offer that is below the Australian Public Service standards. "We will be approaching the department to ask them to contribute to the Bali fund and give the wages to those who are suffering most," says Geoff Baker from the CPSU of the initiative, which came from rank and file CPSU members at DEWR. The CPSU action was very successful, particularly in regional locations, with staff walking off the job around the country. Hundreds of staff joined in a sausage sizzle and rally outside the department's head office in central Canberra. Many CPSU members enjoyed a game of 'pin the pay rise on the Boxall' (named after departmental head Peter Boxall) at the well-supported rally. "Those at the workplace relations end particularly enjoy practicing industrial relations," says Baker. "Everybody that took part enjoyed it very much." After the strike action DEWR have signalled that they are interested in talking to the CPSU as soon as possible. "The CPSU is now looking forward to resuming productive negotiation," says Baker. "It will be interesting to see where it moves from here." CPSU Maternity Win in Territory Meanwhile, the CPSU has also welcomed the Northern Territory Government's decision to increase paid maternity leave entitlements to 14 weeks for all women working for the NT public service. The decision by Northern Territory Chief Minister Clare Martin sets a new national benchmark for public sector maternity leave provisions in Australia. ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said he hoped the Federal Government and other States would follow the NT Government's lead in providing 14 weeks paid maternity leave. "The Northern Territory Government should be congratulated for setting the pace on paid maternity leave entitlements in Australia," says Combet. "Balancing work and family commitments is a critical issue for most employees. All working women should have access to 14 weeks paid maternity leave as a basis for building family friendly workplaces."
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