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

WHAT YOU CAN DO

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Activist Notebook

RALLY FOR THE TRUTH

SAYS END THE COVER-UP ON REFUGEES

SIEV X father will address rally for the truth

Thursday 24 October 2002

Organisers of the "Rally for the Truth about Refugees and War" are expecting a large turnout at Town Hall this Saturday 26 October at 12.00 midday.

Speakers will be available for media comment at 11.40am at Town Hall Square. The rally will march down George Street to Martin Place.

The majority Senate report has condemned the campaign of deception mounted by the government in the lead up to the Federal Election last year.

"The report has vindicated the stance of the refugee movement," said Ian Rintoul, one of the rally organisers. "The report reveals that the systemic campaign of misinformation goes to the very heart of the Liberal government and their refugee policy."

Ali Medi Sobie, an Iraqi refugee who lost his three daughters when the SIEV X sank a year ago, will be a speaker at Saturday's rally.

Ali said, "I blame John Howard for the suffering of my family. It is his policies that meant my daughters drowned." "The laws are unjust. Why does he do this to refugee families?" he asked.

"The government owes every refugee an apology. The lie about children overboard was used to demonise asylum seekers. Their election campaign on border protection was based on lies," said Ian Rintoul.

"We need a full inquiry into the children overboard, into the SIEV X and into mandatory detention. The report raises even more questions than it answers. That's why we are marching for the truth on Saturday," he said.

Other speakers at the rally include: Leonie Kyriacou, Australian Refugee Rights Alliance; John Maitland, national secretary CFMEU; Kerry Nettle, Greens senator; Dr Zachary Steele, clinical psychologist, specialising in refugee detention; Andrew Bartlett, Democrats senator; Dr Sue Wareham, Medical Assoc for the Prevention of War; Kate Gautier, ChilOut; Angela Budai, Socialist Alliance. Amanda Tattersall, Labor For Refugees will chair the rally.

For more information, contact:

Ian Rintoul 0417 275713 Amanda Tattersall 0408 057779,

Jamal Daoud 0413 467 367 Tamara 0405 224 070;

**************************

STAND UP FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE - STOP THE WTO AGENDA

PEACEFUL RALLY

Thursday 14 November 2002 at 12 Noon

HYDE PARK FOUNTAIN

Speakers and COG performing live

SEMINAR

ALTERNATIVES TO THE WTO AGENDA

Sunday 10 November from 10 am - 4 pm

TOM MANN THEATRE, 136 CHALMERS ST, SURRY HILLS

Speakers and Workshops featuring

Julius Roe, National President, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union

Hira Jhamtani, Institute for Global Justice, Indonesia

Joy Chavez, Focus in the Global South, Thailand

Jane Kelsey, Auckland University, New Zealand

The Rev Dr Ann Wansbrough, Uniting Church Minister

Damien Sullivan Friends of the Earth

Dr Patricia Ranald, Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network

Donation, $1O waged, $5 unwaged.

For more information: www.aftinet.org.au

FAIR TRADE NOT FREE TRADE: A BETTER WORLD IS POSSIBLE

Today 2 billion people live on less than US$2 per day with little access to health, education and water services, and continued destruction of the

environment . The World Trade Organisation (WTO) sets the global rules for trade, is dominated by the most economically powerful governments, and

is heavily influenced by corporations. The Australian government has invited only 25 of the 144 WTO Members to a meeting in Sydney November

4-15, 2002. The meeting is designed to pressure developing countries to support an agenda which includes:

� treating essential services like health, education and water as commercial goods, opening them to privatisation

� reducing governments' right to regulate trade and investment in the public interest, and to support local jobs and development

� further tariff cuts regardless of their impact on job losses and economic insecurity

We oppose this agenda and support fair trade regulation through open and democratic processes:

� Trade agreements should support, not undermine, human rights, labour rights and protection of the environment.

� Essential public services should not be included in trade agreements.

� Governments should retain full rights to regulate for social and environmental reasons, and to have industry policies to support local jobs and development.

� Corporations must conform to United Nations standards on human rights, labour rights and the environment.

Supported by: Action for World Development, AID/WATCH, APHEDA-Union Aid Abroad, Action in Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific, Association for the Taxation of Financial Transactions for the Aid of Citizens, Australia Tibet Council, Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Australian Coalition for Economic Justice, Australian Council of Social Service, Australian Council for Overseas Aid, Australian Council of Trade Unions, Australian Democrats (NSW), Australian Education Union, Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network, Australian Greens, Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, Australian Services Union, NSW Services Branch, Bougainville Freedom Movement, Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace, Community and Public Sector Union (PSU Group), Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Economic Reform Australia, Flight Attendants' Association of Australia- International Division, Friends of the Earth Australia, Greenpeace, Indigenous Social Justice Association, Jubilee Australia, Labor Council of NSW, Labor For Refugees, Mercy Foundation, National Tertiary Education Union, National Union of Students, Northern Territory Environment Centre, Now We the People, NSW Retired Teachers' Association, Politics in the Pub, Progressive Labour Party, Rail Tram and Bus Union, The Grail, Search Foundation, Stop MAI (WA), Victorian Trades Hall Council, UnitingCare NSW.ACT, Women's Electoral Lobby (WA) Inc, WTO Watch Canberra.

********************

STREWTH! Launch in Sydney, 30th October

Following the launch of 'Contagion' you are invited to the launch of

Strewth No. 9: 'The Big Sooks' Issue

When : Wed 30 Oct 6pm till late

Where: Labor Club, 464 Bourke St, Surry Hills

Entry : $8 at door which includes Strewth! #9

Drinks at club prices ( happy hour 6-8)

Lots of special guests including:

Bedroom Philosopher Justin Heazlewood plays live and Tug Dumbly plus DJ.

****************

Thursday October 31 at 6.30PM

Berkelouw Books

70 Norton Street

Leichhardt

Launch of 'Well Being: How to get the best treatment from your doctor'.

Merrilyn Walton's book will be launched by Hon Meredith Burgmann,

President of the NSW Legislative Council.

RSVP: [email protected]

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005