*****
The mighty power of the great and glorious regime presided over by Dear Leader George Bush was defended last week by the clever and seamless efforts of the brilliant and talented Minister for Communication, the Right Honourable Senator Richard Alston.
Senator Alston, while being thronged by thousands of adoring devotees who hang onto ever morsel of wisdom that emanates from his suave and manly lips, confounded the corrupt running dogs of Bolshevik imperialism at the ABC by exposing their puerile attempts to slander and denigrate the peace loving name of his highness, the most venerable George Bush, lord and master to the free peoples and true hope for the liberation of humanity.
Bush, a man who brings joy to millions world wide; a man who leads his people with principles of truth and honesty and a man of unparalleled integrity, was grateful that someone with the intellectual brilliance of Senator Alston would go to such lengths to advance the cause of truth, justice the American way.
Alston, quite rightly, realises that it is the responsibility of the Australian government to defend the rights of other countries, especially America. The Australian taxpayer, who lives in rapture at the thought of the wise ways in which the country is managed by Great Leader, John Winston Howard, would expect nothing less than for a diligent watch to be maintained on the national broadcaster to not report the viscous slanders of the treasonous and despicable body that is sometimes referred to as the opposition to the Great War of Liberation.
In keeping with Senator Alston�s grand and beautiful vision for our fatherland we will soon have no need to refer to those questioning the basis to the war as their corrupt and viscously anti-American displays of moral and intellectual cowardice will obviously need to be outlawed. Senator Alston, along with other members of this firm but fair administration, realize that in order to defeat terrorism we may have to abolish some areas of badthink that have crept into the Australian political processes. In fact it may become necessary, for the good of all Australians, to abolish the Australian political process entirely.
In the event that people continue to show a foolish disregard for the love that our Great Leader, John Winston Howard, has for us UbergruppenFuhrer Alston will institute the necessary measures and accompanying detentions, searches and re-education so as to eliminate any negative sentiment in our glorious and peace loving society. Beloved leader Alston is aware of those citizens not entirely supportive of Great Leader�s policy of Peace through War, and will be addressing them in future.
In the meantime the ABC�s decision to hold up only two of around sixty complaints about it�s anti-American bias is being looked at very dimly indeed by our Tool Of The Week, Senator Richard Alston - A man who is proud to help keep Australia American.
Shadow Workplace Relations spokesman, Craig Emerson, labeled Abbott a "mad right wing lunatic" and "obsessive ideologue" in a stirring address to NSW Labor Council this week.
Emerson pledged Labor would go toe-to-toe with Abbott over every piece of workplace legislation introduced to Federal Parliament.
"Our approach will be if it (legislation) comes from Tony Abbott it will be bad and it will be anti-worker," Emerson said.
"He is the high priest of the new right. Every word he utters and every breath he breathes is anti-worker."
Emerson said a Federal Labor administration would reject Abbott's campaign to strip workers rights by modeling a national workplace regime on the co-operative system operating in NSW.
He said NSW offered a climate, fairer to both workers and employers.
"We don't see employers rushing down to Melbourne or Adelaide to set up businesses because the system here works well for everybody," Emerson said.
Labor would, he promised, build on the NSW legislative base by adding family friendly regulations and legislating to restore the rights of casuals, already stripped away by Abbott or his predecessor Peter Reith.
Other Emerson priorities included fighting the Termination of Employment Bill, currently before legislators, and restoring powers to the Industrial Relations Commission.
He likened the current industrial relations landscape to a footy match in which administrators had loaded the dice against one team.
"This Federal Government has openly sided with one team," Emerson said. "One side has to stand back 10m but the other only has to stand back 5m, one team is allowed to get away with stiff arm tackles and the other isn't.
"Worse still, one side has to follow the rules and the rules, themselves, are set down by the other side."
Labor Council secretary, John Robertson, welcomed the new approach.
He said Abbott's ideological fervour made him a potential political embarrassment.
"On the Morris McMahon picketline he was exposed for not even understanding his own legislation," Robertson said.
"Someone prepared to take it up to Abbott will expose him, not just as a fraud but as an incompetent Minister."
The full bench of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission today ordered Rio Tinto to give "preference of employment" to the former Blair Athol men at its neighbouring Hail Creek operation.
The CFMEU members - "blacklisted" and the victims of management "blood sport", according to earlier findings - battled on as Rio Tinto appealed one decision after another in an apparent bid to lift the financial bar beyond their union's means.
The 16 union activists were sacked on July 21, 1998.
Nearly three years later IRC Commissioner Hodder ruled those dismissals unfair. He said the workers had been subjected to "unfair and unjust" treatment because of their union membership.
Commissioner Hodder ordered their reinstatement with full back pay. Rio Tinto appealed but Hodder's decision was upheld by the full bench on December, 12, 2002.
However, because the Workplace Relations Act restricted unfair dismissal compensation to a maximum of six months pay, the full bench could not impose additional compensation, and refused to endorse reinstatement.
If did, however, confirm the sackings had been "harsh, unjust and unreasonable".
On February 7, 2003, the CFMEU lodged an exceptional matters application arguing the 16 should be re-employed at Hail Creek.
CFMEU Mining president, Tony Maher, said his organisation was "relieved rather than triumphant" about the latest ruling.
"These families deserve the chance to get on with their lives," Maher said. "They have been through an enormous ordeal and, despite the suffering and hardship, they want to put the bitterness of the past behind them."
The win comes on top of the record $25 million settlement to unfair dismissal claims arising from Rio Tinto's sacking of unionists at the Hunter Valley No 1 and Mt Thorley mines last year.
Maher called on Rio Tinto to change tack and "break with the predatory anti-unionism" evident in those cases.
"The Commission has thrown down the challenge to Rio Tinto to heal the wounds of the last five years," he said. "The time has come when even the most powerful multi-national must search its corporate soul over the enormous power it wields over the lives or ordinary people."
Their affiliation as a trade union will give them access to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission as well as assistance from the man who represented the huge workforce for the Sydney Olympics, Labor Council�s Chris Christodoulou.
Rugby League Players Association president Tony Butterfield says the
affiliation is recognition that league players need industrial rights.
"While there are a small number of highly paid stars in our game, the majority are
not, it is these players that the Association is primarily working to protect," Butterfield says.
"Our number one priority is to get a set of decent conditions enshrined in a
legally-binding enterprise agreement."
Key issues for the Collective Bargaining Agreement include:
- minimum wage provisions
- Health, Education and Welfare.
- labour market control measures (eg Salary Cap, Talent Equalisation)
- protection of workers entitlements should clubs go bust
- workload issues, linked to the number of games played in a period of time
- long service leave and annual leave provisions
- and the right to be consulted on key issues
The Association also wants elite players to have improved freedoms and rights to their image and reputation for the purposes of marketing themselves.
"We have spent three years in good-faith negotiations to up-date the now fully professional occupation of Rugby League player." Butterfield says "With the support of other NSW unions our intention is to establish basic employment rights for the athletes that will translate into an attractive and viable career opportunity for current and Junior players"
Thatcher cut his IR teeth as a mandarin ushering in controversial changes in NSW, West Australia and Queensland. He was given credit for the WA regime, described in the Murdoch press as the country�s "most draconian".
He went to Canberra, serving under Peter Reith in the lead-up to the Federal Government's 1998 showdown with the MUA, and was appointed assistant director of the Business Council of Australia.
Thatcher was, most recently, secretary to the Cole Commission into the Building and Construction Industry.
In that capacity, he confirmed to the Senate the Commission was receiving information from wire taps, and raced to Sydney to interview a builder who had publicly questioned the Commissioner's credibility on occupational health and safety.
Subsequent to the Thatcher interview, the builder withdrew claims that struck at the credibility of a Commissioner who would go on to make hundreds of findings against construction industry unions.
Since Abbott took over the Workplace Relations Ministry only two of 16 appointments to the commission have come from worker backgrounds.
Just before the last Federal election he appointed gung-ho Telstra IR boss, Rob Cartwright, responsible for a unprecedented campaign of job shedding and contracting out at Australia's most profitable company.
Thatcher has been appointed to take the place of former TWU secretary, John O'Connor, breaking with the tradition of replacing worker-oriented commissioners with others from similar backgrounds.
The Thatcher appointment drew immediate fire from Labor Party Workplace Relations spokesman, Craig Emerson, and ACTU president Sharan Burrow.
Ms Burrow said it was "outrageous" that Abbott should appoint people as commissioners who were on the record opposing the judicial role and authority of the IRC.
The Metro Group of Companies went into administration earlier this month, tipping 300 production workers and trades people out of jobs, after a Patrick-style corporate reshuffle that leaves workers and debtors trying to recover money from a range of shelf companies, devoid of assets.
Angry AMWU and AWU members demanded action from corporate watchdog ASIC at a Sydney protest rally today.
"We're asking them to investigate the collapse, the structure and restructure of the companies and the conduct of directors," AMWU secretary Paul Bastian said.
"If there are any breaches they should use their powers to prosecute.
"Unfortunately, unless your name is Rivkin or Elliott, no one seems to go after you.
"There appear to be two types of robbery in this country. If someone takes $10 off you in the street you can expect your day in court but if they steal thousands off you at work, bad luck."
Bastian said ASIC wasn't adequately funded to bring corporate shysters to justice.
His union, required to pick up the pieces after workers had been dudded by a string of collapses, is demanding significant changes to corporate law as a disincentive to directors who shut down operations that employ people but continue to operate other commercial entities.
The AMWU is pressing for:
- reverse onus of proof on directors whose companies go into administration or receivership, arguing they should be required to prove their bona fides before being allowed to operate other concerns.
- superannuation to be paid quarterly, as a legal minimum
- related company liability
- entitlements to be paid into individual accounts administered by industry trust funds
Bastian says the last of those demands is the most urgent in practical terms.
"We've got to get our money out of the bosses' hands as a priority," he said.
Protection of entitlements is a key claim being put forward by unions involved in Campaign 2003. Steadfast employer resistance has been a key reason for an outbreak of industrial action around NSW and Victoria.
Initial investigations suggest at least some Metro Group workers were transferred to companies without assets in the weeks preceding the collapse.
It appears, several associated companies remain in tact.
AMWU officials were unwilling to confirm or deny growing speculation about Metro Group shennanigans. Bastian said he would wait until being briefed by the administrator before addressing those issues.
by Carly Knowles
The memorial, organised by Chilean refugees, will highlight US involvement in the violent overthrow of the elected Government and honour those killed, tortured and raped over following years.
When remembering September 11, CFMEU Secretary Andrew Ferguson says, many world leaders forget the atrocity for which the United States, itself, has "dirty hands".
De-classified American security documents have shown the US government was involved in Chile's affairs for some years before the 1973 coup.
The CIA funded and implemented anti-socialist and specifically anti-Allende propaganda prior to the 1964 and 1970 elections and planted spies in the upper echelons of Allende's government from 1970 to 1973.
Documents also show the CIA monitored the careers of several leading military generals and had a relationship with coup leader, General Augusto Pinochet.
This relationship resulted in Allende's socialist movement being replaced by a right-wing dictator who carried out a program of privatisations and worker repression, opening the economy to multi-nationals.
Ferguson says the anniversary also highlights Australian trade union support for Chilean progressives, and the "cruel and barbaric" refugee policy being enforced by the Federal Government.
"In 1973 the Whitlam Labor Government took a different approach to refugees - a humanitarian approach - by taking thousands of refugees from Chile's concentration camps and torture chambers", he says.
"You see a few bronze statues around Sydney - they're normally Kings and Queens and bogus military generals. I'll be pleased to see a statue of a socialist and a leader of an important movement for social change in Latin America."
Coup leader, General Pinochet has been feted by the Hard Right for the economic policies he imposed after the coup.
He recently faced war crimes investigations in Europe before returning to Chile where he is a Senator for life.
Other activities planned to honour the people lost and "disappeared" during the Pinochet years will include a protest rally, film night and concert.
Razborsek died of cancer last week after 12 years as the NSW Labor Council's face in Newcastle and Northern NSW.
He is remembered for bringing warring labor tribes together under the banner of the Newcastle Trades Hall Council and, particularly, for a breakthrough agreement covering Indigenous employees of community development programs.
Razborsek worked long and hard on that campaign, in tandem with Labor Council's Aboriginal Liaison Officer, Joyce Clague.
Their success was recognised by Industrial Relations Commission president at the time, the Honourable Bill Fisher, who recognised the significance of the achievement.
Fisher paid tribute to their efforts in winning award coverage.
"The parties," Fisher said, " have expressed the hope that, in part or in whole, it might serve to encourage other co-operative and land councils to utilise the techniques described here and to advance the cause of a part of Australian society which for far too long was overlooked and neglected".
Labor Council secretary John Robertson said Razborsek would always be "fondly remembered and respected" for his commitment to Indigenous people of the NSW North Coast.
Another of his achievements was bringing Labor Council and Newcastle Trades Hall offices together.
He was centrally involved in co-ordinating improvements for workers on key Hunter Valley projects, including the Tomago Aluminium Smelter extension and the Port Waratah Coal Loader. In recent years he led electricity industry negotiations with Eraring Energy and Macquarie Generation.
At the time of his death he was Labor Council's Newcastle Industrial Officer and assistant secretary of the Newcastle Trades Hall Council.
Razborsek is survived by wife Venetta, daughters Angela and Jessica and son-in-law Tony.
His funeral will be held on Monday, July 28, at the Macquarie Memorial Park, Cessnock Rd, Ryhope, followed by a celebration of his life and achievements at Cardiff Workers Club, Munibung Rd, Cardiff.
As speculation mounts over the future of the global company, local workers and their union, the LHMU, are being kept in the dark
" Using a media release to tell the workforce they are about to get the sack is just not on, " LHMU Victorian Branch secretary, Brian Daley, says.
" We reckon this is a very poor way to treat a workforce which has worked closely and co-operated with management to keep the Kodak name alive in Australia."
The LHMU has called a stoppage of its 500 members at the Kodak plant for this Tuesday to discuss what should be the workforce's reaction to this announcement.
The union has also put in a dispute notice to the AIRC over the lack of proper consultation by the company.
" In the late 1980's it was only because of the effective lobbying of Kodak's unionised workforce that we were able to save the Kodak plant," Daly says. "In the 1990s we again sat down with the management to protect our jobs."
" So in 2003 to find out that we are going to lose jobs from a media release, or a small paragraph hidden in the back of the business pages of local media, is really the height of rudeness and arrogance on the part of management.
Meanwhile, in Sydney, cleaners at Weatherill Park have been thrown out of their jobs because shopping centre management can increase profits by changing contractors.
LHMU Cleaners Union members stopped work this week to demand that the shopping centre and new cleaning contractor maintain their jobs.
The cleaners have sought support from local Labor MP, Joe Tripodi, and invited him to their picketline.
The Federal Court of Australia ruled that Sarah Daghlian had been the victim of indirect disability discrimination at the Manly Post Office last year.
Justice Conti of the Federal Court ruled Australia Post had failed to meet its obligations set out under the Disability Discrimination Act. He ordered Australia Post to pay Daghlian compensation, to be determined on loss of earnings and damages, plus costs of the case.
The Postal workers union, who stood by and supported Ms Daghlian throughout her lengthy ordeal with Australia Post since February 2001, has welcomed the decision as further evidence of Australia Post's 'Bad boss' credentials.
"The Federal Court decision has delivered natural justice for Sarah Daghlian and her fellow Postal workers in particular, retail counter service employees employed at Post Office outlets and workers in general who have a disability", CEPU state secretary Jim Metcher says
"It is now time for Australia Post's Managing Director and the Board of Directors to issue a direction for the re-establishment of worker friendly policies".
The decision is part of a new Nurses Association policy on elder care aimed at addressing the needs of working people who are also caring for a frail older person.
The policy was adopted by the Association's 58th Annual Conference being held in Sydney this week.
NSWNA General Secretary, Brett Holmes, said the policy is a significant development on the Australian employment scene and he expected the idea to be enthusiastically adopted by the wider union movement.
"The community now accepts that working people with small children require affordable, quality childcare services and there are a number of childcare facilities attached to NSW hospitals," Holmes says.
"It is now time to recognise that many working people are also caring for elderly relatives and they often find it difficult to balance the needs of work with their carer responsibilities.
"This is a big issue for nursing, because as professional carers nurses often end up assuming considerable carer responsibilities within their families.
"Such laudable commitment to others should not mean people have to give up or miss work. Providing work-based elder care services will allow carers to keep working without the stress and worry associated with leaving the person in their care unattended for hours on end."
Karvan was amongst a group of actors, campaigning to protect Australian culture by opposing the free trade agreement who took their message to a Senate inquiry this week.
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance has made the trade agreement a priority issue, recognising the massive impact it would have on members in the entertainment industry,
"The regulations that we have in place for our industry are totally crucial," Karvan told ABC radio.
"I mean, they're just not something that can be negotiated in any degree whatsoever... we almost wouldn't have an industry if we didn't have the regulations we have and I wouldn't have a job. I wouldn't be earning a living. "
Karvan says that up against an industry like America, it already has 90 per cent of the Australian film box office.
"Really, we can provide about 25 films a year because of the subsidies," Karvan says. "If we just rely on the private sector to produce films it's going to be really slim pickings."
Howard Told to Come Clean
Meanwhile, the ACTU is calling on the Howard Government to reveal all the details of its proposals for a Free Trade Agreement with the United States amid concerns that the deal could threaten major Australian industries, jobs and essential public services.
Trade Minister Mark Vaile has been in Hawaii this week for talks on the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which reportedly includes plans for zero tariffs between the two countries.
ACTU President Sharan Burrow says that Australia's car and textile industries, film and television production, financial services sector, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and government procurement programs were at risk from the proposed US Free Trade deal.
Burrow also called on the Government to end the secrecy surrounding its negotiating position on upcoming world trade talks on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).
"Australia's existing health, housing, education, childcare, water, energy, postal and telecommunications services are threatened by the GATS proposals," Burrow says.
The LHMU is warning that the new pokies - being imported by US giant International Game Technology- will make workers redundant by printing off winners ticket receipts which can be taken to an ATM-like machine for instant payouts.
LHMU asistant national secretary Tim Ferrari says the poker machine attendants and cashiers in the hundreds of venues across the country won't have much in the way of job prospects if the industry has its way on this issue.
" The club industry is meant to be a community focused movement which has always promoted the fact that it provides good local jobs for community members," Ferrari says.
" The so-called community-oriented clubs will have to answer to their neighbourhoods if they use these high tech machines to kill off more local jobs. These jobs are much needed by the overwhelmingly female workforce looking for regular work near their homes.
Almost 40,000 people are employed in the NSW Club industry, with the 1500 registered NSW clubs employing several poker machine attendants and cashiers.
Another 3000 workers are employed at Star City Casino where these new high tech job-killing pokies are already being promoted. Pub jobs will also be affected in the larger gaming rooms.
Drew Cottle will discuss The Brisbane Line: A Reappraisal, his examination of conspiracy and betrayal on Sunday, July 27, 2pm, at PSU House, 191 Thomas Street, Sydney. Free. Details 9557 8097. Organised by the Sydney Branch, Australian Society for the Study of Labour History.
Dear Readers,
In September 2000, on the eve of the United Nations Millennium Summit the round table debate on dialogue among civilisations was organised by UNESCO and UN. At this occasion Koffi Annan, Secretary General of the UN, stated that alongside an infinite diversity of cultures now evolves a new global civilisation. Its fundamental principles are the celebration of cultural diversity, tolerance of dissent, and universal human rights. The cultural diversity - in his opinion - is not only the basis for the dialogue among civilisations, but also the reality that makes dialogue necessary, since the perception of diversity as a threat is the very seed of war.
Ko�chiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, added that active and mutually enriching exchange between cultures is essential to furthering peace between nations and communities. Knowledge of the cultures of others and listening to what they have to say - dispels hatred, ignorance and mistrust, and helps to build peace both internationally and in the community. Thus cultural dialogue leads to long-term understanding, and helps to sow the seeds of peace.
In our world there exist numerous civilisations which can enrich one another and share essential common values, interests and concerns. People grown up in them need to increase their mutual understanding, and this requires a new "education for dialogue" instead of the old education in the national spirit. Closer international and community co-operation requires a new information network promoting cultural dialogue, mutual respect and understanding.
Those invited to the UN roundtable 2003 are representatives of religious, cultural and political organizations and communities, academics, politicians, and national and international agencies located in Australia and abroad. Dialogue participants will come with some expertise or influence in a relevant area or come with special concerns about these issues.
For exact details of location, transport and accommodation and bookings please visit our web site or contact us and we will fax or email further details.
www.peopleofspirit.net/forum2003/forum2003.html
Regards Wendy Sargent
(co-ordinator of UNDAC Network)
There are two major problems with the code of conduct for pickets as outlined in Workers Online news items (Issue 187).
My first concern is that the code gives control of the picket to the union officials (or delegate) rather than the branch (as a group) who are directly affected. We often hear the movement's officials talk about turning unions into grass roots activists networks, but the minute it really matters (on strike, on a rally, on a picket) control is taken away from the workers.
Instead; the union movement needs to train officials to be advisors and supporters on site rather than be the people who run the show and give directions. The union movement needs to dismiss its top down practices if it hopes to improve recruitment and retention within our ranks. Real participation is the answer. Not just another boss taking control.
The second problem is that the strength of a picket is its ability to hamper trade, therefore profit. The picket is a clear demonstration that the workers create the wealth. This code of conduct suggests that the hampering of trade cannot occur. I'm reminded of the quote "Bad laws are made to be broken". It's a question of who starts the violence and how we handle the PR afterwards.
A third concern is the agreement to shut out community/political groups on pickets. But I'll leave the discussion about democracy to another day. If it's good enough for Howard and Abbott to ignore democracy I guess its good enough for us.
Michael Whaites,
NSWNA Branch Rep RPA
Dear Folks,
I would like to read more articles from members and their delegates re their experiences of Workplace Bullying .How was it handled by the union member employee, how was it dealt with by the Union Representative, what was the Employers response?
Many Newspaper articles reveal the commonness of the scourge that is physical, emotional and psychological bullying in the workplace, yet I see so little on this subject in our newsletters.
Good Cheer,
Lorraine Blaney
It seems that the letter from Mr Greg Mclean (issue No. 187) was written in haste.
For the benefit of Workers Online readers the workers of the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) were there to be seen and heard at the 5th Birthday celebration that Greg attended.
A lot of the credit for the achievements of EWON is attributable to the dedication and abilities of the workers of that organisation (as well as the support of the government, the industry and the Ombudsman).
As a fellow unionist and ASU member to boot, I found it particularly disappointing that this aspect was not acknowledged.
I trust that with less haste and greater consideration this oversight would not have occurred.
Kirsten Cameron
Member ASU (C & A division)
No blue singlet, no fighting words, no bully boy tactics; just committed and intelligent young Australians doing what they need to do to make their working life better.
This is the good news that Workers Online sends out this week, workers from all facets of modern life recognising that the only way they'll achieve their goals is by working together.
In recent weeks the actors have been a revelation. Industrial action from some of the most committed and articulate rank and filers going around, generating what must be the most widespread and positive coverage of industrial action in recent memory.
A week later, Alliance members like Claudia Karvan took the free trade message into the nation's lounge room, driving home the message that without local content rules the cultural lives of us will be secret indeed.
Meanwhile, as Reggie left the House triumphant wired workers were launching a campaign to end routine spying on their emails and net usage by bosses who confuse the information economy with a production line.
Their prize tactic is to switch the Net nanny onto 'union' whenever a dispute is in the air; but it reflects a broader view of master and servant that plays no role in bringing out the best in workers. It is a sham that state Labor governments must step in to clean up.
And bursting down the blind side comes the Rubgy League Players' Association, joining the NSW Labor Council pack at a time when the lustre has worn of the sweetheart deals of the Super League wars.
The well-paid superstars are standing beside the up and comers and journey men to demand a decent deal for athletes, bringing in basic conditions and, importantly, training opportunities to an industry more used to looking at its workers as pieces of meat.
Workers all, joining together and, in doing so, helping to redefine what a trade union is. And not a dinosaur amongst them.
Peter Lewis
Editor
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