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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.
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L A T E S T N E W S |
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Task Force Sleeps Through Killing
The controversial Building Industry Task Force hasn�t been near a North Bondi site where an accident, this week, left one worker dead and another locked up in Villawood.
�If we ask someone to join the union they�re all over us for months,� CFMEU organiser, Martin Wyer, said, �but a man gets killed, the boss has no paperwork, basic safety precautions aren�t followed and they aren�t interested. [full story]
Go To Gaol � Do Not Collect $500,000
Goulburn Gaol is being recommended as a suitable home for construction company bosses who abandoned construction on the site, leaving contractors owed $1.5 million.
The Department of Resources has washed its hands of the debt, arguing it paid out Waller�s latest progress payment, $519,000, on the strength of company stat decs that said its payments were up to date. [full story]
Green Pollie in Picket Blue
Workers at a printing press owned by a Greens member of the NSW Parliament have shamed her into delivering entitlements in line with state law.
After months of fruitless negotiations, it took one day of picketing and associated media attention for workers at Southwood Press to extract a decent deal from new Upper House MP Sylvia Hale. [full story]
D-Day for Media Diversity
Australia's media diversity is under dire threat after independent senators cut a deal with the Howard Government to dump laws preventing media moguls Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Packer dominating the industry.
Despite indications to MEAA lobbyists this week that they would block passage of the Media Ownership Bill, the key independent and One Nation representative will kill the laws that have kept Murdoch out of television and Packer�s hands off the Fairfax Press. [full story]
Putting Steel into Government�s Spine
Cheap reinforcing steel from Malaysia has reignited calls for the NSW Government to establish a local content policy that protects Australian jobs.
Leightons, the construction giant contracted to build Sydney�s multi-billion dollar western oribital motorway, has been rumbled using cheap reinforcing by vigilant AMWU delegates on the Hilton Hotel redevelopment. [full story]
Fortnight in Killing Fields Anyone?
Australian workers are being urged to visit the most dangerous country on earth for trade unionists � Colombia.
Fifteen places are available on a two-week ACTU-endorsed trip aimed at pressuring the Colombian Government to halt killings and human rights abuses. The ACTU is backing the exercise at the request of Colombian counterpart, CUT. [full story]
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ALSO MAKING NEWS |
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Underpaid Worker Fights Deportation
Truckies Deliver Death Watch
Job Cuts Caught in Spill Cycle
Mum Wins Family Friendly Hours
Allianz Plans Bite the Dust
Aussies Back Zimbabwe�s Gaoled Strikers
Boral Faces Stadium Stoush
Drought Claims More Jobs
Bridge Chaos Looms
Activist Notebook
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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
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