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Issue No. 181 06 June 2003  
E D I T O R I A L

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.

F E A T U R E S

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.

N E W S

 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

C O L U M N S

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

L E T T E R S
 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
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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News

Rail Workers Telegraph Press Council Track


The RTBU has flagged Press Council action after a withering assault on its behaviour over the Waterfall tragedy by Sydney�s Daily Telegraph.

Branch secretary, Nick Lewocki, confirmed lawyers would be studying a Telegraph editorial over the weekend that accused his union of "contempt" for the Waterfall Inquiry, "attempting to control the flow of evidence", and "deceitful behaviour".

A fired-up Lewocki defended his organisation's actions, particularly over advice given an injured guard, to Labor Council delegates.

"Our membership is frustrated and angry," he said. "We do not have contempt for the Inquiry, nothing could be further from the truth. This union has fully co-operated to ensure that what needs to come out of the Inquiry comes out of the Inquiry.

"We look forward to the Inquiry's recommendations to make sure that the Railways are safe for the people of NSW and our members.

"Mr van Kessell, our member, the guard, was seriously injured. He was in hospital shocked, and in great pain when the police chose to ask for a statement. We simply advised our member he should clarify under which powers the police officer was requesting the statement be made."

Lewocki said van Kessell could have been required to give evidence to a police inquiry, a coronial inquiry, under the Rail Safety Act, by the employer, or, by the special commission set up to investigate.

Mr van Kessell, he said, had come to the inquiry now, not because the union had asked him not to but because he had been in hospital and couldn't attend earlier.

Lewocki said careful examination of the transcripts failed to bear out anti-union claims aired by the newspaper.


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