A Senate inquiry into the Affair this week found that the workers' friend "deliberately lied" in the lead up to the November 10 Federal election. The committee found that despite repeated navy and Defence Department advice to the Prime Minister, John Howard, Reith and their offices that initial reports of asylum seekers throwing children overboard were false Reith released photographs purporting to support the claims, but the pictures of children in the water were later revealed to have been taken when the vessel sank on October 8.
The committee did not question key figures such as Reith's media adviser, Ross Hampton, who remains on the government payroll, but found serious problems in Reith's office. But it said there was a "serious accountability vacuum" in ministers' offices and it was "deeply disturbed" by the actions and omissions of Reith's staff in the handling of the children overboard affair.
After the election Reith left his Defence Minister's position to go and advise companies on how to deal with the Department of Defence - something that the committee found he was woefully inadequate of doing himself. Of course, there is no conflict of interest in showing people how to do business with the Defence Department when you are the recently retired minister.
After the inquiry's findings were released this week, Reith, who is also the chair of the Liberals fundraising outfit, the 500 Club, launched a monumental dummy-spit, denouncing the Senate Inquiry and trying to blame everyone from the chief of the Defence Forces to the media for his predicament. For a man who likes to pride himself at being on the cutting edge of human resource management he seems to show a singular disregard for accepting any management responsibility whatsoever.
"These people set out not to find the truth, but had made up their minds about what had happened before they heard a scintilla of evidence," said Reith, in a disingenuous statement that could have just as equally have been applied to the Howard Government's handling of the infamous Children Overboard Affair.
Since his retirement the former Minister for Union Bashing has taken a rather selective view of the past. This is from a biography [provided for the ACT Party of New Zealand earlier this year: 'Mr Reith was a major contributor to the Coalition's winning policy platform for the 1993 election, "Fightback".' While the Herald-Sun may have run the headline 'Hewson In Landslide' most commentators would agree that the coalitions "Fightback" platform was neither winning nor, arguably, policy.
First it was Dubai, then balaclavas and Rottweilers in the workplace, followed by mobile-phones for all the family, and now we have a Senate committee that has found this third rate bottom feeder to have all the credibility of a three dollar note. Congratulations Reithy, you area shining example of all that the Howard Government stands for, which is saving its own skin and that of its mates from the big end of town.
The Independent Education Union says its members are being inundated with emails from parents and students, who expect near-immediate responses to their queries.
"E-mail has been a great boon to communication between individuals and within workplace, but uncontrolled and unregulated, it has the potential to massively change employer and 'client' expectations of workers," IEU state secretary Dick Shearman says.
"It is unreasonable to require teachers to respond to work e-mails in out of school hours. Any e-mail correspondence during this time would be of a voluntary nature only," he says.
The IEU is pushing for a comprehensive agreement with employers that include workplaces, scope for private use of emails as well as remuneration.
"If student/parent access to teachers via email is an employer expectation it is reasonable for employees to ask when this extra work is carried out and how they are remunerated," Shearman says.
The alternate, he says is to follow the lead of the medial profession where doctors refuse to answer emails from patients.
"Doctors have rightfully identified two key problems in using email for doctor to patient communications," Shearman says
"The first is a legal one - a hastily written email is in law a published document and can be required to be produced in a court case. The second is the difficulty in being remunerated for the work."
NSW Labor Council secretary John Robertson says the issue of email workloads in emerging across a range of industries.
"In some sectors, emails have actually cut workloads; but in occupations where there is an element of professional service and advice there has been a real change in culture," Robertson says.
"It is reasonable that where a workload is demonstrably increased, workers should be recompensed appropriately."
Robertson predicts the email workload issue will hit the table in the next public sector pay round, due to commence in late 2003.
This comes as hospitality workers in Victoria are considering a campaign of snap strikes in pubs, clubs and the Crown Casino on major race days - to show their anger with the Victorian Government's decision to back down on workplace smoking laws.
Tabcorp workers attended the company's Annual General Meeting in Melbourne to highlight the impact of cost cutting on their livelihoods and the outrageous increases in executive salaries.
Tabcorp's Telephone Betting call centre Workers have had their shifts cut by 25% over the last 12 months due to the introduction of Interactive Voice Response and Natural Voice Recognition technologies as part of a cost cutting exercise. The technologies are hugely unpopular with punters.
Complete Dummies
The workers attending the AGM were joined by a life sized papier-mache horse complete with a dummy jockey to reinforce their message to shareholders: "Don't be treated like dummies, don't to be taken for a ride by Tabcorp".
Inside the meeting several ASU members asked questions about the unpopular telephone voice recognition technology, the remuneration opackages for chief executives, especially Tabcorp Boss Michael Slatter.
One ASU member asked if shareholders want a 10-cent dividend or 30 cents added to the share price if it meant destroying the livelihoods of workers who have been loyal employees for 20 years or more.
Questioners also pointed to an average increase of 13% for Board members and 25.04% increase for senior executives.
"What message does the Board think this sends to the hundreds of casual wagering staff struggling by on under $20,000 per annum who have received an average increase in wages of 75 cents per hour and at the same time seeing hours of work and service levels reduced?" asked an ASU Member at the AGM. "Do the Board members consider themselves to be working 13.03% harder?"
An industry source said that the Tabcorp Board were quite upset with call centre management over executive salaries being publicly highlighted.
ASU officials later met with Tabcorp management with talks scheduled to continue. Depending on the outcome of these talks, ASU members will now turn their attention to the Sparing Racing Carnival, and decide whether a campaign of industrial action is needed to bring Tabcorp to the table.
Hospitality Staff Say Smoke Must Go
Meanwhile The LHMU said its 6000 Victorian hospitality members are fed up with smoky venues, and issued a warning about possible Spring Racing Carnival industrial action.
"Our people are still contemplating it on the Derby, the Melbourne Cup and Oaks Day," says LHMU Hotel Union's Victorian Secretary, Brian Daley Brian Daley said.
"They are angry that a Labor government seems to be more interested in the healthy bottom lines of their employers rather than a healthy life for the workers. In the end this is clearly going to be poor economics by this government."
"The evidence on smoking shows their will be greater drainage on public spending on health and hospitals by taxpayers, from this policy," Brian Daley said.
"The best thing would be for the AHA to sit down with the workers and their union and plan an orderly strategy to deliver a healthy and a profitable hotel workplace."
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.
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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.
Australian Workers Union national secretary Bill Shorten is writing to each Federal and State Government seeking contributions for a $1.5 million fund for the national coronial database.
Victorian Coroner Graeme Johnstone this week told AWU delegates a national database would help the Coroners' office identify trends that may prevent workplace deaths and other fatalities.
The Coroner, who returned from the Bali tragedy on Tuesday, said: "The power of a national database is enormous. It will affect each one of us in our daily lives. It could save your life, your children's lives or my children's lives.''
He says 7,500 Australians die of unnatural causes, which need to be investigated each year. "A national database could give us early warnings about emerging patterns that may help us prevent deaths.''
AWU National Secretary Bill Shorten said the union would campaign on behalf of workers for government funding to permanently establish the national database. He said a database set up under the management by the Monash University National Centre for Coronial Information (MUNCCI) was in its infancy, and risked losing its funding.
"If a serial killer was on the lose, everyone would be working on the case and identifying patterns to catch them. When a worker is killed in the workplace again and again that is equivalent to a serial killer,'' Mr Shorten said. "The crazy thing is we don't have a resourced-system to track down the serial killers."
He said a national database could be used in a tragedy like the Bali bombings: "Part of the problem in Bali, is that it has been hard for families to get a national response. Australia is facing its single biggest atrocity since the war, and yet we have no national coronial system."
Shorten says obvious areas for national investigation in the workplace included cancer rates, deaths by falls, forklift fatalities and suicides.
"You all know it is possible to die at work. Badly designed machinery, stress or exposure to chemicals can kill workers. Unfortunately we have eight separate lists instead of one. That means it takes that much longer to identify trends,'' Shorten says.
"About 100 years ago we become a Federation. But when it comes to trying to set up a national database we still act like a bunch of colonies,'' he says.
The Victorian branch of the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU) launched the class action in the Federal Court in April against the Metropolitan Ambulance Service and Rural Ambulance Victoria for unpaid leave loading since 1996.
The claim is worth approximately $6 million to about 1800 current and former union members in the LHMU's ambulance division.
Ambulance Division Secretary Rod Morris says the decision as a tremendous victory for ambulance officers who have been denied a rightful entitlement for the last six years.
Since 1996, the Union's award and certified agreements for ambulance officers in Victoria require 17.5% leave loading to be paid on all annual leave. Ambulance employees receive up to 8 weeks annual leave based on shift and rostering arrangements.
The Union argued that the Ambulance Services have not been paying the full amount of annual leave due under the Award and certified agreements.
The Ambulances Services argued on behalf of the government that ambulance officers were not entitled to the extra leave loading.
The Court found today that ambulance officers are entitled to annual leave loading of 17.5% on eight weeks annual leave per year.
Victorian Ambulance officers are likely to receive between $2000 and $4000 each as a result of the decision. The Court is yet to make a decision about interest payments on top of the lump sums.
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."
The company's actions prompted workers to attend the Boral AGM to highlight their concerns to the Board and shareholders. They were supported by a rally of unionists outside the meeting.
"Mr Pearse's company has been responsible for causing nothing but hardship and havoc for hundreds of Boral employees and truck owner drivers across NSW and the ACT," says TWU state Secretary Tony Sheldon.
"The company has recently restructured drivers costs by up to 30%. Most recently the company decided to terminate 30 owner-drivers in Canberra without meeting any redundancy entitlements or taking into account their years of service."
This comes on the back of Boral attempts to sack 70 small businesses owner-drivers across NSW without adequate compensation.
"Hundreds of TWU Members and their families want to make sure Boral Management put a stop to jeopardizing their future and the future of their company," says Sheldon.
Dudley Willard, a delegate from the Concrete section of the TWU, fears that upcoming contract negotiations with Boral will be "cruel and mean".
He supported the union's push to make itself heard at the AGM and hoped that the TWU might be able to "pull an NRMA or something" in the future.
"We're just normal owner drivers," says Willard. "You see us on the road all the time. We just hope we can negotiate in a plausible way."
Samuel, a former treasurer of the Liberal party, is being promoted by Treasurer Peter Costello to take over from Professor Alan Fels as head of the consumer watchdog.
The NSW Labor Council has written to Premier Bob Carr to voice its concerns. Samuel's appointment must be approved by the states.
NSW Treasurer Michael Egan said that that the NSW Government would not be railroaded on approving the appointment of Samuel to the ACCC position.
Samuel identified as a free marketeer who has been described by one business observer as having "a fetish for mergers", something he has even taken into his involvement with Opera Australia and in his role as an AFL commissioner. He was also a key player in Jeff Kennett's hospital mergers in Victoria, which were subsequently de-merged by the Bracks government.
Samuel is also close to Peter Scanlon from Patrick Stevedores, who was greatly assisted by the ACCC's intervention during the docks dispute, and also has close connections to players in the oil industry.
Samuel's "two best friends in life" (as one business commentator describes them), David Goldberger and David Wieland, were former owners of the Solo Petrol Chain, which was established by the ACTU in the Seventies, who sold it to Ampol, before establishing Liberty Oil in 1985. Last year they leased 69 Liberty service stations to Woolworths. Samuels also owns a property development business Austexx, with Goldberger and Wieland.
"Samuel is a hardline, dry, economic rationalist who has a track record of preaching deregulation," says Greg Donnelly from the SDA. "Deregulation in its many guises has often made life worse, not better, for ordinary workers and their families."
The NSW Labor Council has expressed its concern at the proposal being pushed by federal treasurer Peter Costello.
"The ACCC can make a difference to the way businesses operate,' says NSW Labor Council Secretary John Robertson, who is wary that the appointment signals a move by the coalition government to wind back the powers of the ACCC in a manner similar to the way it has would back the powers of the Industrial relations Commission.
The ANZ bank this week announced a record $2.3 billion profit, admitting shareholders were far happier with performance than the rest of the community.
ANZ Bank chief executive John McFarlane conceded the community has little trust in banks. "We've probably done a better job with our shareholders than we have done with our customers and with the community."
Finance Sector Union national secretary Tony Beck says the multi-billion profit speaks for itself - the customers and staff have paid for it. "The bank relies heavily on fees and charges despite claims to the contrary," Beck says.
Mr Beck slammed the bank on staffing issues saying that the ANZ had cut its workforce by 50% in ten years. "ANZ staff are forced to do more with less, day in day out. The result is higher stress and longer queues."
"The ANZ is now the only major bank without a new enterprise agreement. That leaves ANZ staff at the mercy of higher workloads, cutbacks and job losses."
Earlier this year, the FSU concluded enterprise agreements with Westpac, Commonwealth and National Banks that guaranteed better staffing.
The FSU wants the ANZ to live up to its rhetoric about caring for the community and to plough some of the profits back into the community by employing more staff. "The ANZ could start by employing enough staff to give customers the service they are paying for," Beck says.
HIH Execs Greed
In other news from the finance sector five former HIH executives, including chief executive Ray Williams and deputy George Sturesteps, have challenged the carve-up of a $10 million surplus in the failed insurer's superannuation fund in a move that will delay and erode the entitlements of up to 1000 former employees.
The executives have accused the fund trustee of "unjust, inequitable and discriminatory" conduct in calculating their payouts from the fund.
Staff-appointed fund trustee Michael Rook said he was "bitterly disappointed" with the challenge, saying the action will add to the cost of the court proceedings to wind up the fund, and delay payouts for other members until next March.
"What they [the executives] are saying is they want more from the fund and, as a consequence, everyone else will get less," says Rook.
Both the CFMEU and Electrical Trades Union have reported progress as they roll out the claim to more than one thousand contractors in NSW.
A mass meeting of Electrical Trades Union delegates this week voted to take the strike action, warning it would only be the start of a campaign that would continue until all employers accepted the claim.
Members also voted to give ETU delegates the right to call additional strike action as required.
ETU state secretary Bernie Riordan says individual electrical contractors in the building industry are being asked to agree to the 36-hour week after the peak body, NECA, attempted to undermine theclaim.
"This campaign has been a long time in the planning, but the referee has now blown time on," Riordan says.
"Employers are on notice that they have two options: either agree to civilised working hours or face a long period of industrial disputation."
A report by the Auditor-General has revealed five NSW Govt agencies spent $25m on outsourced IT services in 2001-2002 without demonstrating the actual cost of outsourcing matched expected costs or that they had even identified potential savings.
Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia (APESMA) Director Martin O'Connell says the situation demonstrates the "often ill considered and cavalier use of IT service providers in the public domain".
"How can the State Government defend its actions in outsourcing IT functions when it is unable to demonstrate the financial benefit either to its workers, or to the community?"
The IT Workers Alliance will consider appropriate action at its next meeting.
"Employers are on notice that they have two options: either agree to civilised working hours or face a long period of industrial disputation."
In a move which demonstrates the growing backlash against paid parking schemes in the Sydney metropolitan region, retail workers at Westfield Hornsby will step up to the plate with the shopping centre giant to oppose its latest application to continue a paid parking scheme in operation for just over 12 months.
In 2000, Hornsby Council granted Westfield the right to implement paid parking for a limited period after which time Westfield was required to reapply to Council to continue the fees.
The SDA continues to condemn major shopping centre owners who foist significant pay cuts on low income earners just to park at their workplace.
Branch Secretary-Treasurer, Greg Donnelly said today, "These fees continue to be one of the greatest sources of agitation for our members. Whilst their invaluable contribution to the success and prosperity of Westfield is rewarded with these grossly unjust parking fees, the CEO is lauded by the public for an $11 million donation to charity. Well, maybe its time to apply the maxim that 'charity begins at home'."
The Union has scheduled a general protest meeting next Tuesday night for the Hornsby workers.
Mr Donnelly said, "Free, safe parking is a legitimate working entitlement for retail workers. Major shopping centre owners continue to treat retail workers as a revenue source rather than their greatest asset. The Union trusts that Hornsby Council will recognise that it is time for Westfield to abandon paid parking schemes and treat retail workers with the dignity and respect they deserve."
The bulk carrier Stadacona - formerly known as the CSL Yarra - sailed out of Townsville for Gladstone yesterday without the normal permits required by the Queensland Government, the ACTU said.
Federal Transport Minister John Anderson's department had issued an unprecedented special exemption under the Navigation Act to let the foreign ship operate.
Experts believed it was the first time in Australian history that the special exemption power had been exercised to allow a foreign registered ship employing foreign seafarers to work on Australian intrastate trade.
"The Federal Government's policy of issuing more and more permits for foreign ships to take over the Australian coastal trade is destroying the Australian shipping industry," ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said.
"Flag-of-convenience ships do not pay Australian wages or taxes and are a risk to border protection because they are not subject to full immigration and customs controls. Sub-standard foreign ships are also a threat to our marine environment, including the Great Barrier Reef. John Anderson is welcoming them with open arms."
The Stadacona, formerly named the CSL Yarra, was at the centre of a dispute with maritime unions in May when the ship's owners, CSL, sacked its Australian crew for cheap Ukrainian seafarers and transferred the ship's registration to the Bahamas.
Evidence to the Federal Court in April stated that the Ukrainian seafarers' wages were $19,600 a year compared to $52,100 a year for Australians.
The study comes on the back of other reports this week that a failure by employers to offer job security is leading to a collapse in employee loyalty.
Recent studies show that employee loyalty is collapsing in the face of downsizing, restructuring and a lack of job security in the Australian workplaces. This follows studies that show that almost a third of workers do not trust management.
"The most negative view of employers is that of trust," says Ron Callus, director of the University of Sydney's Australian Centre for Industrial Relations Research & Training. "It could reflect that with downsizing, restructuring and a lack of job security; why should employees be loyal?"
According to media reports the recent study showed that a third of Australian employees did not see their pay as encouraging, while the same number felt their jobs could be cut. The survey also found one quarter of Australian workers felt they were working too many hours, and 40 per cent said companies were not doing enough to reduce workplace stress.
"There is a distance between what organisations tell employees and how how those organisations act," says callus. "Management want them to be loyal but they won't offer security."
A study by the Federal Government's own Australian Workplace and Industrial Relations Survey showed that 32% of respondents disagreed that management could be trusted.
NTEU and PSA members at the University of New South Wales demonstrated the power of the union when management recently moved to strip mailroom drivers of their RDO's.
Management had called for a meeting with the drivers to officially try to move the drivers onto flexi-time arrangements. Because of the nature of the driver's work this would have effectively meant an end to the rostered day off for the mailroom drivers.
After management floated the idea the drivers contacted their unions, who were confident that the proposed change could have been resisted.
The drivers then told management that they would like organisers from the PSA and the NTEU be in attendance to represent their interests at the meeting. Management immediately scotched the idea of changing the drivers hours and conditions.
The members reported that management said there would be "no move on the driver's RDO's" and that "the situation had got out of hand".
"The fact that management backed down is a classic example of how union membership means that management can't arbitrarily implement workplace change," says Col Hesse from the NTEU. "It really shows that unity is strength."
The NTEU is continuing to negotiate an Enterprise Bargaining deal with the University of New South Wales that has a pay deal that "meets the needs of all staff".
CFMEU organiser Duncan McLaren is passionate about Australia's treatment of refugees; he was inundated with responses after asking for donations of books for children held in detention centres.
"They already had about 5000 books coming their way, so we thought we'd earmark this stuff for East Timor schools," says McLaren, who believes there are enough books to meet the needs of half a dozen schools.
Nearly 100 cases of books are now headed for East Timor under the guidance of librarian Alex Mandelson. Support also came from other sources, with Amanda Mills of the Australian Army organising to take 20 cases of books to Bougainville.
The big response was due in no small part to the support of the Primary Principals Association of NSW.
"I think its great that support is given to kids in detention. They should be released into the community and should be going to proper schools." says Primary Principals Association of NSW president, John McMillan, who contacted his members about Mclaren's request for books.
McMillan thinks it is "brilliant" that the excess books are now going to Bougainville and East Timor.
"There is a huge amount of support for East Timor," says McMillan. "There are a group of principals who have organised 'school-aid' which raises funds for schools in East Timor."
For information on how you can support School Aid visit their website at www.schoolaid.org.au
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;
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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.
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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.
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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]
Dear Comrades,
Peter Lewis' editorial in the latest Workers Online (No 157) commendably tries to take a step back from the Bali Bombing and argue against a blind anti-Islamic rage. In doing so, however, it falls into the almost equally dangerous trap of formulating a half-apology for the bombers. This deeply unsatisfactory response is the product of seeing the world primarily in national categories - and an ignorance of the dark undercurrents of elite Indonesian politics.
The most credible theory so far in circulation is that the bomb was placed by Islamic fundamentalists. These people, small minorities in the diverse spectrum of the Muslim world, are vile reactionaries in their own right. The bombing is proof enough in itself, not considering any other arguments. In all countries where they operate, they wage war on their own societies even more than on the West. Their self-contradictory aim is to take Muslim countries back to the social relationships of the 7th Century and forward to a 21st Century economy - at the same time. They are deadly enemies of labour movements across the Middle East & in other Muslim countries. Their murders of trade unionists in Algeria, for example, are surpassed only by those of Colombia's death squad "democracy".
Supporting Dubya's "War on Terror", however, is the very WORST response that can be made to fundamentalist terrorism. Most obviously, it can only drive untold millions of Moslems into the arms of fundamentalism, for there is no better recruiting agent for hatred & violence than the US military rampaging all over the Middle East. There are, however, other and more subtle reasons, including ones specific to Indonesia.
Firstly, successive governments of the United States are responsible for the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the first place - and not only through the means mentioned above. For over 50 years, the US has backed reactionary Islamist movements across the Muslim world in order to combat their enemies, be they Left-wing popular movements, secular nationalist generals or brain-dead Soviet puppets. Osama bin Laden himself learnt his bloody trade in a CIA-funded terrorism school, created to train warriors for Uncle Sam's side of the Afghan War of the 1980s. The US government has no principled objection to fundamentalist terrorism. It merely requires that the violence be directed against US-approved targets.
Secondly, the role & nature of Islamic fundamentalism in Indonesia are far more complex than most people imagine. Elite players in Indonesian politics often take the role of the dalang, the puppet master of the Javanese shadow play. Traditionally, the puppet master controls everything, but is never seen. The Indonesian military, long-time allies of the United States government, have a lengthy track record of manipulating other forces, first supporting them against a current rival and then dropping them when their aim is achieved. Since the fall of the Suharto dictatorship, the Indonesian military have been sponsoring Islamic fundamentalist groups, in an attempt to destabilise the civilian government & prepare the way for a coup. The fundamentalists are the sworn enemies of the Left & the independent labour movement in Indonesia, as well as the West Papuan independence movement. There is a curious link to the Bali Bombing in that, barely hours before the blast, Laskar J!
ihad announced that it was disbanding. Laskar Jihad is a private army of Moslems, backed by elements within the Indonesian military, which had been waging a murderous war against Christians in West Papua & Eastern Indonesia. The announcement was sudden & unexpected and progressive circles in Jakarta are certain that the timing was no co-incidence.
Some people in Australia are raising fears of a fundamentalist regime taking control of Indonesia and then setting its sights on its neighbours. These people are ignorant of a basic fact in Indonesia - or perhaps merely relying on the ignorance of their audience. The basic fact which is relevant here is that Islam in Indonesia is split virtually 50/50 between two very different groups. One group is the Santri, who are followers of a version of Islam similar to those in Arab countries. The other group is the Abingan, whose beliefs are a mixture of Islam, Hinduism (the main religion of Java before the arrival of Islam) and the pre-Hindu Javanese animism. Bringing Islam to centre of politics in Indonesia would set off an explosive conflict between the rival branches of Islam and probably lead to a civil war. It would drastically weaken, not strengthen, Indonesia, a fact known to all since the emergence of the Indonesian independence movement in the 1920s. For this reason, the Indonesian military and other nationalist forces there have been determined to keep doctrinal matters out of politics in order to preserve the unity of the country. In these circumstances, it is a measure of the desperation of the military that elements within it are taking this course. While Islamic fundamentalists may come in handy in destabilising the civilian government of Megawati, the military are playing with fire. The Islamists are not like previous puppets. There can be no guarantee that, having let them loose, the Indonesian military would be successful in curbing them when they had served their purpose. In this context, the announcement of the disbandment of Laskar Jihad, if it suggests a connection between the Bali Bombing & the Indonesian military, also suggests that the military have not entirely lost their sanity. The dalang, perhaps, does not want his theatre burnt down.
The working class must wage its own War on Terror. Our enemies are those who park their bombs outside nightclubs and also those who drop them from 30 thousand feet. They are those who would bomb societies back to the Middle Ages and those who would bomb whole countries back into the Stone Age. They are those who would achieve political domination through violence and those who, already having domination on a global scale, threaten nuclear Armageddon to any who dare challenge them. We do not have to choose - it is the one struggle.
Further, we will wage our war in the same way we have waged war on poverty and oppression for over 150 years, through building & strengthening the labour movement around the world. It is through workers organising as a class, through learning the lesson that an injury to one is an injury to all, and through practising solidarity regardless or colour or creed, that we can defeat both the corporate exploiters of global capital and the purveyors of hatred & intolerance of any variety. From Campbelltown to Cairo, our message is the same.
WORKERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!
Greg Platt
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Just wanted to say that i really appreciated and thought that Peter Lewis's open introduction letter addressing the tragic occurence in Bali made a lot of sense and was worldly compassionate. We need to look at the events that are occuring around the world with "eyes wide open", there can be no room for slanging off different cultures and without evidence ~ which can create false cultural/religious blaming.
We are all human, and need to respect and appreciate each other for all our differences and view points. We cannot afford to fall into simplistic modes of "good guy's" versus "bad guy's", life is bigger and better than that.
Lets all strive to live in harmony and remember the bigger picture, i.e. life is short and we are dead for a long time.
Carmel Delprat
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Dear Peter,
Many thanks for this clear statement of what really needs to be said. The hype this week has made feelings of compassion ever more necessary, for all the situations you identify. I have attempted something like this with my first year uni students who also look for other sources
In support
Suzanne
Dr Suzanne Franzway
Senior Lecturer in Gender Studies/Sociology
Research Centre for Gender Studies
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I read your editorial for the 18th October 2002, and I believe there were some worthy points.
Certainly, "border protection" is largely a false messiah. Terrorists do not come in boats. Border protection simply means that refugees will be forced to apply for asylum off shore. This will not stop terrorists stepping off planes.
You are correct in saying we should not turn our backs on our developing neighbours. We should be proactive in assisting the necessary process of capital accumulation. "Putting up the barricades" is not a solution.
But then I think your message becomes somewhat confused. Are you suggesting that Al-Qaeda are reflecting the opinions of the world's poor? It appears that this is where you are heading, especially as the paragraph regarding how we ought to be "focussed on looking at the world from other nation's perspectives" (ie the "outsiders"), is followed by the reminder that the "response to mindless terror is not to dismiss the murderers as heartless aliens whose fanaticism alone and of itself explains their inexcusable actions".
It is time for a reality check. The prevailing Leftist theory is that poverty causes terrorism, and if you solve poverty, terrorism will simply fade away. This is not true. The vast majority of the S11 bombers were comfortable Saudis who were never "oppressed" in any way. They were fanatical criminals. They were not the victims of "Zionism" or any other imagined evils. A Palestinian with no opportunities is one thing, but a rich Arab who hates Western Civilisation despite indirectly benefiting from it is another. Do not ever confuse the two, especially as the Arab countries have worse human rights records on their own people AND on Palestinians, than the Israelis.
Terrorism has very little to do with the world's oppressed. It tends to occur do to the efforts of well-organised, well-financed upper-middle class misfits with too much time on their hands. The Italian Red Brigades, the Black Panthers, Lenin, Pol Pot, the Ku Klux Klan, Al-Qaeda, the list goes on. Terrorists who target civilians rather than the apparent columns of power are not victims.
The various quislings in Australia who seek comfort in fanatical ideologies and who hate the very civilisation that has given them their opportunities tend to be the sanctimonious arts graduates from our declining universities, who have not known despair at any stage of their cushy lives. The leaders of Communist Parties, fanatical religious cults, and others, are in it for power and money. They are the ones which have killed so many millions of people in the last 100 years, and yet they so rarely are "victims" themselves. Hence "Leninism", an ideology which effectively admits that the working class does not agree with Communism, but calls for a vanguard party to attack the pillars of the state on behalf of "workers" anyway.
The Left-Liberal line on Terror has been gutless. No amount of national soul-searching will halt the spread of the Islamo-fascists who will bring down Western Civilisation given the opporunity. They are already smashing up cafes, pool parlours and video game arcades in Indonesia, right on our doorstep. It is without question that a number of Muslims (even in Australia), however small, sympathise with the objectives of Al-Qaeda. These people are not people that need "understanding", nor do they have anything to do with the "underprivileged". They are criminal neo-fascists who hate women, hate queers, hate unions and hate freedom. Their economic management credentials have been on display in Iran and Afghanistan for some time. Needless to say, they are as incompetent as they are malevolent.
I would hope the union movement would see merit in defending the civilisation that gave birth to it. It certainly does not make sense approaching the enemies of progress in the same equivocal manner that we did in 1938.
Yours Sincerely,
Steve Edwards
Perth, WA.
Mother In "WAR"
Was at the video store rapping with my friend Kenny the mgr. Now Kenny the mgr. is such a nice guy, despite his very conservative views. He enjoys reading my columns, yet still will always comment
"Your views are really waaaay out there- but on some of them I actually do agree." Like what I ask?
"Well, I agree that we could have and need nat'l healthcare for all of us, if the gov't would cut down on excess spending- like giving money to all those regimes throughout the world who care diddlysquat about us!"
We got to the subject of conducting a war vs. Iraq. I stated the underlining fact that is rarely discussed on the mainstream media- such a war would cost we taxpayers over 100 billion smackeroos.
Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, this young mother on line with two young sons swinging from her arms, she shouts out "He's got it now- we cannot wait any longer. He has the uranium- he's a danger!" I looked at Kenny who already assured her Saddam must go as soon as possible. Again she jumped in " He can make the big one pretty soon- he's got to go before he uses it!" I asked the two of them why would this guy, if and when he had "The Bomb", why would he risk losing his power, his country and, more importantly, his LIFE? Why would
he use this bomb as a preemptive strike (sound familiar Georgie Jr.?) when it would be the LAST thing he would do alive? I concluded that men like him want to live as much as the next guy (or despot) especially since they live so well - they want to die of old age in a nice warm bed with their power under their pillow- not go up in flames just to say "gotcha first". Finally, I intimated that the only way this clown would use any "weapon of mass destruction" (isn't that phrase played out by now?) would be if he were cornered and trapped like the proverbial rat that he is. Isn't that usually when rats attack?
Mother of two was already swinging her kids, movies in hand, out the door, shouting back that I was crazy to ever trust this madman. I tried to answer her about who had the greater madman, but she was already climbing into her Land Cruiser with (I kid you not) license plates that said "Support Education". I wanted to tell her that the 100 billion we would save could go pretty far in supporting education, as well as better healthcare for me, her and her swinging kids. Too late, she was off into the Friday traffic, getting her 12 miles per gallon. I guess this "War" with Iraq could go a long way for her. Perhaps the 112 billion gallons of oil under Saddam's bed would help lower gas prices.
Finally, I scratched my head in wonder. Isn't it so easy for any of us to send troops into war, like they did in the 60's when many of my schoolmates returned in "zipped bags"? So easy to send some other mother's son to fight and die? I wonder. I wonder if a) "Mother in War's" boys were 18 and 19, not 5 and 6 and b) we had a military draft in place. I wonder how "gung ho" Mom would then be. Perhaps she'd load her boys into the Land Cruiser and gasguzzleit to Canada instead of some troop transport.
That's something for us all to consider. Before we 'signed off" on giving this (or any) President the power to wage war without a Congressional declaration, we and our politicos should have investigated all the facts, and all the options. Hear that "Mother In War"?
Biography: Philip A Farruggio is a baby boomer Brooklyn NY born bred and educated (Brooklyn College '74), Currently, he resides in Florida and is self employed as a mfg. rep for an environmental bacteria company. Philip writes for many publications as a free lance columnist. He has been published on counterpunch.com 12 times this year alone. He can be reached at
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
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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
The student union elections at my university have just concluded, and a broad left ticket has defeated the incumbent alliance of Liberal students and students from the AWU-SDA section of the Labor Right.
This alliance of the Liberals and Labor Right, which I'm told is a feature of student politics on most Australian campuses these days, highlights a disturbing phenomenon which I think has been and continues to be a significant factor in the ALP's present woes. This is that for the past quarter century, students aligned with the ALP Right have seen their main priority in University student unions as opposing the left. Further, they have been so strongly committed to this goal that they have frequently been able and willing to coalesce comfortably with the Liberals, Groupers and other hard right elements around an undiscriminating anti-leftist, anti-feminist, anti-queer, anti-anti-racist, anti-environmentalist, etc., agenda.
Those of us who have had the good fortune to know ALP Right student activists know that for many of them their opposition to the left is not a considered philosophical position or a context-specific political calculation, but a visceral, consuming and politically defining passion.
And those of us who've observed this fascinating sociocultural phenomenon over a period will have noticed that the ALP Right's anti-leftism on campuses has degenerated utterly from the intellectually serious anti-totalitarian social democracy which Frank Knopfelmacher imparted to the likes of Michael Danby and David Cragg in the 1970s, to the kind of thoughtless and reactive neo-conservative anti-leftism which another Knopfelmacher protege, Robert Manne, has criticised in the contemporary Right, and which Knopfelmacher himself warned against in a series of Quadrant articles in 1984-85 on why anti-communist social democrats should support feminism.
This would not be a problem if student politics was as unimportant as ALP hardheads pretend to think it is. However a brief glance at the Federal and State Labor caucuses and ALP organisational office-bearers shows that student politics has been an important training ground and formative experience for many of them. One must ask how much harm is being done by the entrenched and powerful presence in the ALP of people whose original and defining political motivation was (and probably remains) hatred of all the main manifestations of progressive politics - not least within the Labor Party. And one must also ask whether these people can be really serious about fighting the Tories when their earliest political friends and comrades in arms were the unpleasant radical right fanatics of the
Australian Liberal Students Federation - again, often in struggle against progressive members of the Labor Party.
As Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly might have put it: "from little finks big finks grow".
Paul Norton.
Workers Onlines first "DOUBLE DECKER" from the "Voice of the Valley" or as some may say the "Mouth of the South".
1) To Crean,Bracks,Kingham,Cameron,Burrow,Boyd,Jenkins,Hamilton, Maxfield,Trades Hall,Actu,
As I am assisting Charlie Corbett along with Raelene from the Morwell Office,Alan Tyrer and Peter "Buck" Byrne from Construction/Power with Morwell / Latrobe Valley feed the Kids program I thought you may appreciate this piece sent to ALP leaders.
Would a Regional family like ours donate to farmers in current times. Highly unlikely after what the FARMERS UNION the NFF (NATIONAL FARMERS FEDERATION) did SCABBING and taking jobs from Waterfront workers. More likely that OUR FAMILIY'S donation will go toward feeding the many hungry children before school sponsored by the workers on the ground floor, the CFMEU (Construction Union) and the AEU (Education Union). (20 schools in Vic since april with CFMEU workers donating and raising around $30,000 in workplaces to be distributed up to five days per week by AEU teachers at disadvantaged state schools.) More than the "Battlers" friend the ALP are doing !!!!!
Tobruk St Morwell disadvantaged Morwell School nominated by the AEU. Also One SS in Moe - Wirraway Street and one in Traralgon Nominated. (Time for solutions now to problems in communities with or without the ALP).
No Nomination to Churchill by AEU at this stage but perhaps later. Official Launch at Mid Valley Thurs 17th of Oct 10.00.
Why don't struggling Farmers and struggling Manufacturing and other workers get treated the same?
Because one lot it seems predominately votes for the Federal Liberal/National Party or Rotten Johns brother Stan is on the board and the other the ALP. That's wrong. All battlers in Australia should be treated/looked after in tough times the same.
It's also a wonder Rotten John doesn't close down farms like manufacturing and import all foodstuffs from overseas like manufactured goods one sees on the shelf in any major department store."Made in China" on all labels in Coles Myer/Target stores.What an idea that would push unemployment out to 12-15% ,Keep battlers down and stop all that silly credit card spending. The mind boggles -- , maybe we need to get Reithy onto it.................
Steve Presley Morwell - Latrobe Valley Vic 3840
2) As sent to Bracks,Crean,Hamilton,Maxfield,Jenkins etc and Trades Hall,ACTU leaders.
Vic state Government to face rout unless accept failings of first term re- Howard backflips after Ryan by-election.
Premier Steve Bracks relying on the support of three disillusioned independents today announced a radical 4 year plan to prevent future water restrictions in a warming climate. Mr Bracks said two new dams would be built in catchment areas between the Dandynongs and the Latrobe Valley and he explained that even if dam levels remained at 54 %, doubling the capacity would ensure future restrictions would not be needed and when drought conditions eased the state, by planning now would have extra water capacity to feed into growing regions,towns and cities.
A bonus to this proposal would see the creation of 3000 construction jobs and flow on spending effect of an extra 2000 jobs. Mr Bracks went on to say if the Federal Liberal/National Coalition would not do anything to prevent/prepare for drought conditions or provide Jobs the State Labour Government if re-elected would. Mr Bracks also announced a ban of logging in all forests in an area of "........." within all catchment areas .
In a bonus to Australian Tank Manufacturers the plan described as the most radical and innovative water usage plan by an Australian State Leader ever Mr Bracks announced a 50% rebate for all homeowners purchasing an Australian made Water tank for home water use such as gardens and washing cars. (Rebate similar to solar water rebate) Greenies in raptures whilst workers from depressed Dandynong and Latrobe Valley delighted .
In another green twist Mr Bracks announced the co funding to the tune of $70 million for the Basslink cables to be placed underground with the cost shared between Labour States Victoria and Tasmania. Mr Bracks announced the developer Basslink would pay the Government a $ 2 million per year for 35 years for the licence to run such project.Win Win Win Win for all concerned said a beaming Mr Bracks.
It seems the Labour Party has in fact learned from recent losses and begun listening to its heartland constituents.
Reporter Steve Presley on the spot in Moe for todays announcement. Presley Herald.
Democracy has historically linked us to the essential tools needed for survival within diverse cultures and societies. An active citizenry in the United States is meant to protect us from government control and excess.
But those that speak up are labeled "fringe," and "na�ve idealists." Our ideas poisoned with the rationale that our worldviews are skewed by airy hopes and empty realities.
Dissent is no longer viewed as a necessary action in a world of like-minded capitalists. Our corporations influence on education, on the food we eat, the private water we will all one day drink, the dirty air we now breath, and the health care we don't have; you'd think would wake dreamy Americans.
But our corporate culture muddles these essential debates. News pundits rattle over minor differences. Children wash their brains in re-runs of Southpark and video games of war. Grown boys ejaculate over touchdowns and slam-dunks. And the rest simply don't have the time or that energy, they are too busy fighting for their next meal.
Lack of voters in the United States comes less from uninterest than from the perception that one cannot make a difference. It is perceived that our politicians are so a-like that a vote can't break the strangle hold monotony. It is more a lack of candidates with differences, than an ignorant populous, or what Chomsky would refer to as "the bewildered herd." But see, that is where we all come in.
Our concerns over the direction of the world can't be intrinsic qualities. Rather they must be branding tattoos that label us as humans with purpose, with ambitions for the betterment of life on earth. Pre-emptive war, toothless lawgivers, and corporate greed leave democracy in the hands of the people. We are those people, the people with the power to make change. If you've ever felt alone in your thinking, you are not. Dissenting voices exist, and we aren't anti-American, or unpatriotic. In fact we are the epitome of democratic virtue.
As anarchistic and feminist Emma Goldman once wrote, "the most unpardonable sin in society is independence of thought. That this should be so terribly apparent in a country whose symbol is democracy, is very significant of the tremendous power of the majority." Our only protection from the majority now may be our rusted shield of democracy, but it is the only hope we have if we want future inhabitants of earth to enjoy the many qualities life still possesses. We must start at home; talk to our children, our parents, our colleagues and friends. We are the grass roots of hope; the only hope that is still left.
Josh Frank
3355 SE 15th AVE
Portland OR 97202
503-577-2340
Dear Sir,
The recent pontifications of the Archbishop Peter Carnley, Primate of the Anglican Church in Australia on the causes of terrorism in Bali, a province of Indonesia appear to be in stark contrast and contradictory to his silence in relation to the massacres or forced conversions of devout Christians to the Muslim religion by possibly the same Muslim Terrorists and Murderers in Aceh, another province of Indonesia.
Perhaps it would be astute for such an educated, professed servant of Jesus, to once again read the teachings of Christ. Or perhaps it is I who am mistaken , and Jesus actually was ; a bleeding heart , lip biting , bed wetting Nancy boy , and not the Son of God , who threw the money lenders from the temple , challenged the Scribes , the Pharisees , and the Roman Empire , then chose to die a slow excruciating death for our sins.
With leadership such as this, it can be no surprise that many great secular leaders are converting back to Roman Catholicism or Evangelical Christianity at the expense of the Anglican Church.
Is this the same type schism created by the DLP, and nurtured by evil, egocentric and uncompromising leadership? The collective, but anonymous and mysterious stewardship from within the ALP, that converted socialist into capitalists and guaranteed another two decade reign by the Liberals ?
Who is the ALP?
The Alternative Liberal Party!
Yours sincerely
Tom Collins
Local trade unionists, who were instrumental in the victory of a Green candidate in possession of a pure platform, will ultimately achieve little more than a warm inner glow from bashing the ALP hierarchy.
Sure, the Cunningham vote represents a protest against the excesses of machine politics; but it should be seen as no more than that: taking a seat from the ALP will do nothing to promote the labour movement's long-term interests.
The problem with the Greens is that to build their base they must inevitably weaken Labor's - with the only long-term winner being the Howard Government.
Whatever their problems with pre-selection, policy or Party personalities, unions should not withdraw from the ALP; rather it makes the need to engage all the more compelling.
If they don't like the way the party is currently run, unions should get their members active in branches and influence policy from the grass roots; while exercising their institutional influence in a more constructive manner than just bolstering the numbers of their factional masters.
That said, the ALP has a responsibility to select genuine community candidates and develop policy that promotes union values first and then wins over the public; rather than just reacting to the latest poll.
Although the political wing often maddens us with its conservatism and self-focus, unions have a responsibility to its members to work for the election of the party it created more than 100 years ago.
Cunningham is a wake-up call for both wings of the labour movement - the political wing is vulnerable without the support of the industrial wing; but so too does the industrial wing need a political voice.
In reality the Greens will never deliver the unions' agenda because they will never attain power; and by taking seats away from Labor they will only make that agenda more desperate.
In Homer's Odyssey, the crew are on their long journey home when they encounter the Sirens, beautiful maidens who lure sailors to their deaths with an irresistible song.
Odysseus fills his crew's ears with wax to save them from temptation, while he ties himself to the mast so he can hear their tune without being led astray.
Like the Sirens, the Greens' Gong song is sweet, but it will not help us get home. We need to show the discipline to tie ourselves to the mast and sail past their promises and back on a course that delivers real benefits for union members.
Peter Lewis
Editor.
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