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Terror Australis
When the historians get down to chronicling 2002 their analysis will read simply: the Bali bombing brought the new era of terror home to Australians and heightened our feelings of insecurity and fear at our ill-defined place in the world.
Interview: Taking Stock
Labor Council secretary John Robertson reflects on 2002 and outlines the challenges for the year to come.
Bad Boss: Pushing the Envelope
Ongoing and resolute commitment to principles advanced by Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott have seen Australia Post make history as the first recipient of the Tony Award, recognising Australia's worst employer.
Unions: The Year That Was
From Cole�s witch-hunt to funky union tunes, Peter Lewis reviews the biggest stories from the world of work in 2002.
Republic: Still Fighting
Three years since the constitutional referendum, and despite constant reports of its impending demise, the Australian Republican Movement is still around and active
International: Global Ties, Global Binds
Labourstart's Eric Lee files his annual wrap-up of the year from an international perspective.
Politics: Turning Green
Union support for the ALP is no longer a given, with trade unionists turning to the Greens, as Jim Marr reports.
Technology: Unions Online 2002
Social Change Online's Mark McGrath looks at what worked best for unions online in 2002.
Industrial: The Past Is Before Us
Neale Towart argues that 2003 will be a year where traditional industrial campaigns come back into fashion.
Economics: Market Insecurity
Sydney University�s Frank Stilwell looks back at 2002 from a political economist�s perspective.
Review: Shooting for Sanity
Michael Moore's new movie Bowling for Columbine looks at America's love affair with guns, writes Mark Hebblewhite
Poetry: The PM's Christmas Message
Workers Online has secretly obtained an advance copy of the text of the Address to the Nation that the Prime Minister plans to make. We reproduce the text below.
Culture: Zanger's Sounds of Summer
If 2001-02 was the summer of political and musical terror then this summer 2002-03 is where irreverent Aussie music runs rife.
 Abbott Gears For Grocon Stoush
Delo Brushes Taubmans Pay Off
Restaurateur Takes Knife to Wages Protection
Legal Double Whammy to End Year
We�re Dreaming of a Sweat-Free Christmas
Star Organiser Takes Off
Abbott's Xmas Message: Go To Jail
Nurses Perform Wage Surgery
Woolies Discount Spirit of Christmas
New Collapses Prove Entitlements Farce
Suncorp Ballot Draws Fire
Unions On Big Day Out
UN Migrant Worker Charter Welcomed
The Soapbox
Tread Carefully - Very Carefully
Nick Housten argues that structural weaknesses could keep federal Labor in Opposition for many years to come. The Locker Room
A Year Of Two Halves
It was one of those years. It started with a lot of sport and it ended with a lot of sport. Noel Hester and Peter Moss check the runes and dish out the gongs in this year�s Workers Online Sports Awards. Bosswatch
Footloose Capital
It was a year where the corporate world finally came close to consuming itself with bloated salaries, off the wall options and a string of mega-collapses
Predictions
Into the Beyond
Every year we ask our readers to gaze into the crystal ball. While history shows the view is mirky, we�ve don it again.
Refugee Review
Representative Representatives
Men Only?
Dry Argument
Vale: Phil Berrigan
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News
Abbott's Xmas Message: Go To Jail
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott's announcement of new criminal sanctions on industrial action could result in the jailing of employees trying to save their jobs and entitlements, the ACTU says.
"It's disappointing that the Workplace Relations Minister's Christmas message to Australian workers is a threat to send them to jail," ACTU President Sharan Burrow said.
"Mr Abbott's workplace system is based on conflict and biased against employees and their elected representatives; threatening to fine and jail workers will only generate more conflict and division.
"Most of the cases highlighted by Mr Abbott today involve employees trying to save their jobs or unpaid entitlements.
"Mr Abbott makes no mention of breaches of the law by employers resulting in workers' deaths or injuries and the non-payment of billions of dollars each year in wages, overtime and accrued entitlements," Ms Burrow said.
"Mr Abbott opposes the use of criminal sanctions in relation to negligence by employers occasioning the death of employees but wants criminal sanctions against people attending picket lines."
In flagging tougher fines and longer jail sentences against trade unionists Abbott highlighted car industry stoppages, most of which were aimed at protecting worker entitlements.
Earlier this month Abbott used Parliament to defend his Government's decision to pay $96,000 of taxpayers' money to two Office of the Employment Advocate witnesses found to have lied in court during a failed attempt to frame a union delegate.
Abbott said Government witnesses, such as those strong criticised by a Federal Court judge, were entitled to taxpayer support.
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Issue 165 contents
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