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Issue No. 172 | 28 March 2003 |
Vale: Rule of Law
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
Unions Condemn Protest Violence Hospitals Pick Sweatshops Over Chain Gangs New Faces Part of Labor �Rejuvenation� Test Case � UK 26, Australia 0 Uncle Sam and the Union Busters Calling All Artists � May Day Poster Comp Nipping Surveillance in the Bud Forced Labour Prevails Despite Sanctions
The Soapbox The Locker Room Guest Report Seduction Bosswatch
Tom's Tantie Shameless Extremists Barbarians at the Gate More War Comment Back-Slapping Bob
Labor Council of NSW |
News Nipping Surveillance in the Bud
The changes to the Department's Acceptable Use of the Internet and Computer Network policy restrict the forms of surveillance that management may undertake and introduces protocols on handling and destruction of information about staff use of these resources. Union delegate Paul Petersen says that unions must stop employers using surveillance as a tool of control. Employers often argue for unfettered rights to monitor Internet usage to prevent harassment and fraud but Petersen says that "surveillance is no substitute for good supervision and proper auditing. Our members are entitled to privacy. "We've seen it all before in call centres. The employers use monitoring as a substitute for proper staffing to drive down their labour costs. The result is high volumes and low morale. " The policy: - Requires Premier's Department to respect employees' privacy - Clearly sets out what forms of monitoring will take place (it will not include the content of emails) - Allows and defines "reasonable personal use" - Restricts the circumstances under which a person's use of the Internet and computer network may be investigated - Requires that any changes to monitoring or surveillance must be negotiated with the union - Prevents summary changes to a person's access being used as a punishment/discipline - Requires that any investigation of an individual is conducted in a fair manner (ie principles of natural justice apply). - Requires the Department's Directors to destroy their monthly 'volume of Web usage' reports after four months to prevent them digging up old 'evidence' to frame an employee (they may keep the current month's report plus the 3 previous reports). "Most people don't think privacy is an issue because they aren't looking at porn or committing fraud," Petersen says. "But how would you feel if people started treating you differently because they had made assumptions about your marital problems, pregnancy or HIV status? How would you feel if your confidential exchanges with a union delegate were being monitored by management?
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