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Issue No. 170 | 14 March 2003 |
Coke or Pepsi?
Poetry: If I Were a Rich Man Interview: League of Nations Industrial: 20/20 Hindsight Organising: On The Buses Unions: National Focus History: The Banner Room International: The Slaughter Continues Legal: A Legal Case For War? Culture: Singing For The People Review: The Hours Poetry: I Wanna Bomb Saddam Satire: Diuretic Makes Warne's Excuses Look Thin
Travelex Wrong-un Stumps Staff No Utopia In Lifetime Contracts Howard�s Navy � Aussies Need Not Apply Intrepid Tourists Buck ILO Bans Whistle Blown on Second Hand Rail Safety Back-Packers Used to Break Hotel Strike Burrow Calls for New Family Formula Central Queensland Sucks on Roche
The Soapbox The Locker Room Guest Report Seduction Bosswatch
A Plea for Legal Action Accord Reconsidered Johnny's Green Card Veto The War Law and Order
Labor Council of NSW |
News Chef Roasts Double Standard
The pair were paid thousands of dollars in a confidential settlement, after claiming six-figure underpayments, by Manly eatery Ribs and Rumps. Government immigration policies, however, have taken the shine off their victory. The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMIA) has given them until tomorrow (Saturday) to quit the country because they are no longer sponsored by Ribs and Rumps owner, David Diamond, himself a South African ex-pat. "We are very, very disappointed," Khumalo told Workers Online. "We lived in Australia for four and a half years and had started new lives here but because our employer did the wrong thing we have to leave. "It is a bad thing, my friend, because it wasn't us who breached any Australian laws but we are being forced out while the person who did breach the law is allowed to stay and prosper." Khumalo said he had enjoyed Australia and would try to get a visa so he could return. His argument reflected submissions made by Labor Council and the CFMEU officials in submissions to both Minister Philip Ruddock and his department. Council assistant secretary Chris Christodoulou, said Section 457 visas were routinely used to "exploit guests and put pressure on Australian wages and conditions at the same time". CFMEU secretary Andrew Ferguson there was no monitoring of the wages and conditions of imported labour and "when these people are brave enough to ask questions there are no sanctions available to dissuade unscrupulous employers". He said the "effective expulson" of Khumalo and Ndlovu was a "classic example" of the unfairness of the regime Ruddock presided over. Workers Online understand that the chefs' legal representatives, Reg and Ros Bartley, were continually frustrated by that unfairness in trying to win a settlement for their clients. It is an issue they will address in letters to the Government and legal papers they are preparing. Reg Bartley thanked NSW unions for their assistance in getting "some justice" for his clients. "We were going around in circles, being frustrated at every turn until the Labor Council and CFMEU got involved," Bartley said. "It's our opinion that if they hadn't organised demonstrations in support of our men they would have got no money at all. "At least, after four and a half years they have got some money to take home to their families."
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