E D I T O R I A L

A Capital Idea?
The trade union’s hierarchy will travel to Melbourne to celebrate the ACTU’s 75th Anniversary next week; a journey that says much about where our peak body has come from and even more about where it should go now.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Life After Keating
Labor's foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd looks at the world and wonders what might have been ...

Industrial: That Friday Feeling
Anthony Stavropoulos has been working six days a week for the last eight years and now he wants his weekends back. “Remember that Friday feeling?” he asks. “You just don’t get that anymore.”

Bad Boss: Begging to Work
They may put themselves about as the Saints of the Fourth Estate, but bosses at the Big Issue Magazine have been nominated by their own vendors for this month’s Tony award.

Organising: Project Pilbara
Sydney University’s Bradon Ellem reports on how unions are bouncing back in Rio territory

Unions: Off the Rails
The Federal Government is attempting to turn NSW Railways into a political football with a proposal that threatens the safety of freight and passenger trains in NSW and life in our rail Towns, writes Phil Doyle.

International: Brazil Turns Left
Union stalwarts throughout the American hemisphere are cheering the election of Lula – the peanut seller and shoeshine boy, turned union leader - who has been elected as the first working-class President of Brazil.

Environment: Brown Wash
Stuart Rosewarn argues the Johannesburg Sunmmit was a gripping showcase of Australia’s lack of a strategic vision.

History Special: Learning from the Past
Ray Markey looks at union membership growth in the 1880s & 1900s to argue that today’s unions must engage to grow.

Corporate: Will the Bullying Backfire?
Job insecurity, unemployment, a growing gap between rich and poor, massive global poverty and environmental danger are the big issues for the protests at the World Trade Organisation meeting in Sydney.

Technology: Danger Lurks For The Passive
If unions fail to exploit opportunities on the web to gain members, other organisations are likely to fill the void and provide services to workers on the internet.

History: In Labour’s Image
Neale Towart looks at a long-overdue initiative to around NSW through the eyes of the workers.

Politics: Without Power Or Glory
South Coast contributor Rowan Cahill gives his take on the Cunningham by-election result.

History Special: A 'Cosy Relationship'
Barbara Webster looks at Rockhampton between 1916 – 1957 to debunk the ‘dependence’ theory of trade union growth.

Culture: Blood Stains the Wattle
Former Queensland Treasurer Keith De Lacey has turned up in print with a rollicking tale of life during the famous Mt Isa strike of the 60s.

Satire: Iraq Pre-empts Pre-emptive Strike
Saddam Hussein has launched a pre-emptive strike on the United States to prevent it from pre-emptively striking Iraq first.

Poetry: The Executive Pay Cut
Executives accepting pay freezes, or even pay cuts? This outrageous proposal has been put on the table by some capitalists themselves, and taken up by our bard.

Review: Time Out
When a family man invents a new life after losing his steady job, Tara de Boehmler watches his charade escalate until there is no turning back.

N E W S

Scourers Face Q-Fever Risk

New Vehicle for Entitlements

It’s War on Bullies!

Drivers Pack Down For World Cup

Howard Shrugs off Spanish Shame

Hunted Teacher Tells of Colombian Terror

Cole Bias Appeal Still On Cards

Extra Care To Beat Terrorist Threat

Strains Increase for Aged Care

Trades Hall Welcomes Bracks IR

Rail Campaign Gathers Steam

Workers Win Computer Games

Wine Workers Front Bosses

Regional Job Loss Fear At Unis

Canberra Get In On Outworkers ACT

Hounding of East Timorese “Shameful”

WTO Staff Begin Pay Revolt

Activists Notebook

C O L U M N S

Month In Review
War and Pieces of Work
The Bali Tragedy dominated the news this month, leaving many questioning the motive and wondering if this is fallout from Australia’s unquestioning support of George Dubya’s ‘War On Terror’.

The Soapbox
Beware of Greeks Bearing Historical Allusions
Roland Stephens argues that the current popular line that the USA is a modern day version of the Roman Empire is flawed.

The Locker Room
Over The Fence Is Out
Phil Doyle warms up for another season of hard hitting and fast bowling in the park, making the rules up as he goes along.

Indigenous
The Sea of Hands
Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation are five years old. Spokeswoman Dameeli Coates addressed labor Council to mark the event.

Postcard
Tokyo Youth Call
Tokyo unions are relying on young organisers to infiltrate workplaces as part of a major organising campaign, which focuses on non-unionised companies, reports Mary Yaager.

Bosswatch
Still Crazy After All These Years
With new research suggests CEO carry similar personality traits to psycho-paths, the AGM season is proving that there’s little room for logic in our nation’s board rooms.

L E T T E R S

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It’s War on Bullies!

The site was launched at a meeting of more than 500 safety delegates at Penrith this week, where the CFMEU’s Brian Miller was honoured for his lifetime commitment to workplace safety.

The delegates were briefed by NSW Industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca and WorkCover general manager Kate McKenzie on the impact of new health and safety regulations which came into force in September.

Under changes:

- elected safety representatives have a right to be involved in risk assessment at their workplace.

- safety representatives can also Safety Correction Notices that can be used in prosecutions against employers where they fail to comply.

- representatives will also receive pay for the time they spend discharging their duties

The Unionsafe site - at http://www.unionsafe.labor.net.au is designed to give delegates a one-stop shop to discharge their responsibilities. It will be upfdated with news and information regularly and includes an online help desk and discussion boards.

Bully-Busting

Labor Council secretary John Robertson says unions will focus on bullying as a major area of concern for workers across a range of industries.

"For the first time, the health and safety regulations include provisions for psychological hazards, such as bullying by managers or fellow workers," Robertson says.

"Workplace safety representatives now have enhanced rights to raise safety issues and Labor Council will be encouraging them to target bullying."

The Labor Council has produced new guidelines for dealing with workplace bullying including:

- identifying workplace bullies

- raising bullying with employers

- model workplace bullying policies

- and a workplace bullying checklist.

These are available online at: http://unionsafe.labor.net.au/delegates/index_10.html

"All workers deserve the opportunity to carry out their work free from intimidation and harassment," Robertson says.

"Unions will use their new powers to encourage delegates to tackle the issue head-on and create a more harmonious workplace for everyone."

Brian Miller Honoured

Meanwhile, Labor Council has recognised 46 years of commitment to workplace safety with a lifetime achievement award to OH&S watchdog, Brian Miller. John Della Bosca made the presentation at today's UnionSafe conference.

Miller, who started work as an apprentice cabinet maker in 1956, didn't take long to demonstrate his activist credentials. He was at the centre of a big strike at McDonalds Construction Matraville Paper Mills then, on his first day at nearby ICI Matraville, was elected BWIU union rep and found himself in the middle of a four-week strike over accident pay.

As a BWIU organiser he was active in the ground-breaking 1973 campaign that delivered portable long service entitlements to workers in the industry.

But it was as the CFMEU's widely-respected safety guru that Miller made his biggest mark. He was a central player in making safety the priority issue for a union operating in one of the country's most dangerous industries.

One of his responsibilities, as CFMEU safety co-ordinator, is leading investigations after workers lose their lives. He was at Lake Cagellico and BHP Newcastle within hours of highly-publicised recent accidents.

But his reputation has been built on the unknown number of lives his work has saved.

The successful Safety Field Day Committee, bringing together building industry employers and unions, was a Miller initiative. Ten years down the track he still chairs an organisation that has convinced employers of the need for a more proactive approach to OH&S and injects a major safety message into the annual industry expo, with a stand featuring the latest in safety equipment and materials.

Miller has worked hard to build understanding of the threats posed by asbestos, mdf and a range of toxic substances.

Insiders say one of his biggest contributions has been enthusiastically passing on his encyclopaedic knowledge of industry hazards to other trade unionists. He has mentored relative newcomers like Tony Papa and new safety co-ordinator, Steve Keenan.

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URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/162/news3_bullies.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005