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National Leadership
After a week of front-page political chicanery we are to get more John Howard; who at a time of his choosing will pitch for a fourth election victory by going head to head with the son of a Whitlam Minister.
History: Nest of Traitors
Rowan Cahill uncovers a ripping yarn that could redefine the way we look at Australian involvement in World War II.
Interview: A Nation of Hope
Former PM Bob Hawke bemoans the demise of industrial relations but takes heart from the prospect of peace in the Middle East
Unions: National Focus
Noel Hester reports on a soap star rebellion, Howard’s plans to renuclearise South Australia, more historical atrocities in the north, the redundancy test case plus more in the monthly national wrap.
Safety: The Shocking Truth
It’s every power worker’s worst nightmare – and it happened to Adrian Ware. In a flash of voltage, his life changed forever, as Jim Marr reports.
Tribute: A Comrade Departed
From Prime Ministers to wharfies, the labour movement paid tribute to Tas Bull this week. Jim Marr was among them.
History: Working Bees
Neale Towart looks at a group of workers who got sacked so their boss could keep making the Bomb.
Education: The Big Picture
The NTEU’s Dr Mike Donaldson and Tony Brown join all the dots in the current debate around higher eduction.
International: Static Labour
Ray Marcelo argues there’s another side to the recent furore over Telstra’s use of cheap Indian IT contractors.
Economics: Budget And Fudge It
Frank Stilwell argues that Peter Costello’s latest budget plumbs fiscal policy to new depths.
Technology: Google and Campaigning
Labourstart’s Eric Lee argues the latest weapon for campaigning could be the humble search engine.
Review: Secretary With A Difference
Looking for a new job can be hard enough, without having to worry about sadomasochistic bosses and the threat of being spanked for forgetting to cross your ‘t’s, says Tara de Boehmler.
Poetry: The Minimale
The Labor Party leadership is in the news again, inspiring our resident bard David Peetz to song
Satire: Howard Calls for Senate to be Replaced by Clap-O-Meter
John Howard released a controversial policy statement today, arguing that the Senate be abolished in favour of a device measuring noise from the gallery of the House of Representatives.
 Allianz Claims on Sick and Dying
Back Pay Bill From Behind the Bars
Gloves Off for Local Voices
Stabbings Ground Job Cuts – For Now
Red Light for Cut Price Labour Hire
Sacked Workers’ Ultimate Insult
Electrolux Repays Survival With Bastardry
Survivor Urges Compo Rethink
Nurses: Bosses Should Foot Bank Fees
Telstra Workers Show Bottle
Rail Workers Telegraph Press Council Track
Call Centre Leak Shames Stellar
Malaysian Detainees Released
Western Sahara Tests UN
Activist Notebook
Politics
It’s Our Party
Long time union watcher Nicholas Way looks at the changing dynamics between the industrial and political wings of the labour movement. The Soapbox
Grass Roots
In his Maiden Speech, new MP Tony Burke argues that the ALP’s union links are nothing to be ashamed of.
Media
Opinion Forming Down Under
Evan Jones condemns the mainstream’s media coverage of the War on Iraq and the damage it is doing to our national psyche.
The Locker Room
Location, Re-Location!
It’s all fun and games until someone loses a club, writes Phil Doyle
Blowing Holes in Gittens
Negative Campaigning
Response to Gould
Aged Policy Looks Hairy
Tom's Turn
God Save Billy Deane
Solidarity Forever
More Bad Language
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Evatt Foundation
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News
Electrolux Repays Survival With Bastardry
Just three years after trade union action secured its future, Orange’s biggest employer is running a vigorous anti-union campaign.
In 2000 hundreds of unionists marched through the streets of Orange to save Elecrtrolux and then lobbied the NSW Government for vital mfunding to keep the factory open.
But now the same company is at the forefront of a radical campaign by the Australian Industry Group to trick workers into signing non-union agreements.
The Australian Workers Union says the tactics have amounted to 'union-busting' and include:
- negotiating directly with workers at lunch time barbeques rather than through the official negotiating committee.
- having police throw union officials off the site while coordinating legally protected action
- restricting delegates who are on the negotiating committee to their work stations
- spreading lies throughout the community about the progress of the negotiations
- conducting secret ballots
AWU's Matt Thistlewaite says that the attitude of Electrolux is a slap in the face for the workers who took a stand for the company's future.
"Electrolux has joined the AiG in a campaign of 'pattern resistance'," Thistlewaite says. "While employers whine about unions mounting pattern bargaining they seem happy to block every reasonable suggestion we are putting forward in the current wage round."
Thistlewaite said the AiG has instructed employers across the west of the state to reject any increase above four per cent of wages; any improvement to long service leave; any contribution to NEST to protect entitlements'; any improvement to carers leave and any superannuation contribution improvements.
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Issue 181 contents
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