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Three Year Itch
The triennial ACTU Congress meeting Melbourne this week comes at the most difficult of times for the union movement, as the horror prospect of seven years of conservative government becomes an ongoing reality.
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.
 Public Backs Services Over Tax Cuts
Seafarer Awards – Full Steam Ahead
Sunnybrand Plucks Workers
Call Centre Stink Over Time in Loo
Reynolds Banks on Safety
Workers To Back League Stars
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
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.
Tom’s Tool
Neighbourhood Watch
MUA CD Launch
Trainspotting
The Remittance Man
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Evatt Foundation
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News
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".
In the wake of Commissioner Raffaelli's decision, delivered on Thursday, the MUA confirmed it would seek to have awards made for the Tuscan Arrow, Mandarin Arrow, Teal Arrow, the Ituna and Hakura.
The first three ships are owned by Hong Kong interests and operated by Jebsen of Norway. The Ituna and Hakura both fly Tongan flags but are managed by Intercontinental Ship Management, a respondent to the Maritime Industry Award
All pay wages and conditions well below those contained in Australian industrial agreements.
"The next step in the process is to put in place an award that covers foreign ship owners operating on the Australian coast," MUA lawyer, Bill McNally, told Workers Online.
"It is important that any such award does not put Australian shipping in a disadvantaged competitive position.
"In the past week we have jumped important hurdles on jurisdiction and public interest."
The High Court victory, delivered by unanimous seven-nil verdict, came in spite of Federal Government intervention on behalf of Canadian-based CSL.
The company has indicated that if an award is eventually struck to cover former ANL-line vessels, Stadacona and Yarra, it will continue to employ Ukranians in preference to Australian seafarers.
MUA officials shrugged off the CSL stance.
"We can't force them to hire Australians. We can only make the playing field as level as possible and make sure Australians are not disadvantaged," legal officer, Bill Giddens, said.
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Issue 191 contents
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