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Interview: The New Deal
US union leader Amy Dean expands on her agenda to give unions a real political voice
Unions: In the Line of Hire
Unions have lobbied and negotiated in a bid to stem casualisation and insecurity. Now, Jim Marr, writes they are seeking protection through a formal Test Case.
Culture: Too Cool for the Collective?
Young people are amongst the most vulnerable in the workforce. So why aren't they joining the union, asks Carly Knowles
International: The Domino Effect
An internal struggle in the biggest and strongest industrial union in Germany IG Metall has had a devastating wave effect across not just that country, but also the rest of Europe, writes Andrew Casey.
Industrial: A Spanner in the Works
Max Ogden looks at the vexed issue of Works Councils and the differing views within the union movement to them.
National Focus: Gathering of the Tribes
Achieving a fairer society and a better working life for employees from across Australia will be key themes at the ACTU's triennial Congress meeting later this month reports Noel Hester.
History: The Welcome Nazi Tourist
Rowan Cahill looks at the role Australia's conservatives played in supporting facism in the days before World War II.
Bad Boss: Domm, Domm Turn Around
Frank Sartor might have shot through but Robert Domm still calls the IR shots at Sydney City which pretty much explains why the council is this month�s Bad Boss nominee.
Poetry: Just Move On.
Visiting bard Maurie Fairfield brightens up our page with a ditty about little white lies.
Review: Reality Bites
The workers, united, may never be defeated but if recent episodes of Channel 10 drama The Secret Life Of Us are to be believed, this is not necessarily a good thing, writes Tara de Boehmler.
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Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation
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L A T E S T N E W S |
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Public Backs Services Over Tax Cuts
Australians back the core trade union policy of devoting increased resources to health and education by a majority of three to one.
The polling results were released on the eve an ACTU Congress where 800 worker representatives will thrash out policies to rebuild social services, including Medicare. [full story]
Seafarer Awards � Full Steam Ahead
Five foreign-owned coastal traders have been targeted for Australian wages and conditions as the campaign to drive low wage shipping off domestic routes gathers pace.
Last week�s historic High Court decision, determining vessels on the coastal trade should be subject to Australian industrial jurisdiction, was reinforced when the AIRC this week rejected a CSL application to discontinue ropeing in actions against its ships on the grounds of "public interest". [full story]
Sunnybrand Plucks Workers
Byron Bay chicken boners are fighting a push to contract out their jobs in order to evade Workers Compensation levies.
Thirty five boners at Sunnybrand Chickens struck for two days last week, then weren�t offered work under status quo conditions, when they turned up to comply with an IRC ruling. [full story]
Call Centre Stink Over Time in Loo
Union members at a Chatswood call centre are pulling management�s chain over being timed in the toilet and forced to make up time at the end of the day.
CEPU members at RSL COM, Chatswood, have launched a petition amongst workmates urging the company to end "harrassment, excessive surveillance and monitoring" associated with visits to the toilet. [full story]
Reynolds Banks on Safety
Rogue WA builder Gerry Hanssen is at the centre of a building unions push for banks to deny investment money to operators of unsafe sites.
WA CFMEU secretary, Kevin Reynolds, has written to major lending institutions, urging that loans to builders be made conditional upon ongoing, independent safety audits. [full story]
Workers To Back League Stars
Trade union members who love rugby league could be mobilised to back NRL stars seeking a collective agreement for all professional players.
NSW Labor Council secretary John Robertson this week flagged the prospect of unionists taking action in support of league players after the newly unionised players met to kick off negotiations for an enterprise agreement. [full story]
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ALSO MAKING NEWS |
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Witnesses Line Up for Test Case
Unfair Legislation Dismissal
Tax Office "Bites" Its Own
Bosses Grab Massive Pay Hikes
IR Staff Walk Over Job Cuts
Government Kills Manslaughter Bill
Rail Workers Spitting Mad
Activists Notebook
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Framed: Ingrid Skirka managed to get the hyperactive former Labor Council secretary Michael Costa to sit still long enough to capture him on canvas.
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The Soapbox
Fighting Words
Craig Emerson gave what could be the most spirited Labor spray in a decade to the NSW Labor Council this month. Here it is in all its venom. Education
Out of Their Class
Phil Bradley argues that Australia's education system should not be up for negotiation in the global trade talks. The Locker Room
The ABC of Sport
Phil Doyle argues that the only way to end the corporate madness that is sport, is to give it all back to the ABC. Postcard
Locks, Stocks and Barrels
Union Aid Abroad's Peter Jennings updates on the situation in Burma, where the repression of democracy is going from bad to worse.
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