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Issue No. 193 29 August 2003  
E D I T O R I A L

Smells Like Community Spirit
Over the past view weeks Labor Council has been undertaking some focus groups to gauge community perceptions to unions. The result is a massive wake up call for those of us who want a union culture to survive into the 21st century.

F E A T U R E S

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.

N E W S

 Iranians Expelled Over Teen Affair

 IR Promises Crash on Motorway

 Telstra Pigs Out on Indian

 Teachers Fight Casual Attitude

 Superstars in EBA Showdown

 Sink One with Billy

 Abbott Asked to Consider Honesty

 Printer�s Win Drink Stink

 WorkCover To Take Robbery Seriously

 Power Blackouts Expose Jobs Shortage

 Qantas Woes Set To Soar

 Sports Workers Walk

 Bigger Money Player Equals Job Cuts

 Indonesian Human Rights Appeal

 Activists Notebook

C O L U M N S

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.

L E T T E R S
 A Nice Letter
 Tom�s History Of The World
 Tony Is A Tool
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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Letters to the Editor

A Nice Letter


Dear Editor,

In response to the jailing of Pauline Hanson and the Howard government minister Tony "Mad Monk" Abbott's admitted role in pursuing Hanson to the point of establishing a slush fund one can only ask how far will this ideologically,maniacal government go to achieve their end. This Miserable, Miserly, Dishonest, Lying, Rorting Federal Government (and I'm being nice) will stop at nothing, ruin the lives of anyone who stands in their way as Shaun Carney (Melbourne Age)recently wrote of securing "Absolute Power".

One would have thought that Howard,Anderson and the likes of state premiers such as Kennett,Court etc have achieved plenty in their short time to belt all battling Australians including Workers, Families, ,Unemployed, Aborigines, Disabled, etc. whilst providing policies to favour the wealthy.

Pay rises to Ministers and Backbenchers of up to $150,000 for postage and election propaganda whilst cutting the benefits of the least fortunate in society including Carers of people with a disibility (up to $87.00 per fortnight)of these meagre entitlements.

Legitimate Refugees fleeing Bin Laden, Hussain or Mugabe, Honest Workers defending job losses and entitlements whilst executives and Government ministers and backbenchers cant get their noses deep enough into the trough, Unions defending such workers are put through a waste of $70 Million in the Royal Commission targeting Martin Kingham as an individual and his union the CFMEU whilst at the same time not one word from the Morally Bancrupt and Corrupt Howard Government or its ministers on the Adler, Williams affairs in our largest corporate loss in HIH.

Should Abbott have pursued these two the way he admits he pursued Hanson?

Ansett workers are still waiting for their entitlements while John Howard pays Stan Howards workers their entitlements with Taxpayers money.Bishop and Kerosene scandal, McGauran staying at his girlfriends flat and claiming $300 per night Living away from home allowance as much as a pensiner or unemployed person gets in a fortnight.McGaurans punishment was he was given a rise and made Science Minister by John Howard.From bringing thousands of Wealthy (and white) skilled people to Australia (pushing up house and land prices because they can pay cash whilst Australian get a 30 year loan if they can find a place.Howard needs an inquiry to tell him this!) whilst imposing crippling Hecs on Australian Youth and selling rich overseas students our own Students University places and bringing trades men and women to this country because its cheaper and easier than training young unemployed Australians including Aboriginal Australians.(Howard would rather look after the Rich from another country than the Poor from his own.

Cuts to Public Schools and Universities while increasing funds to the wealthy private.

This is the worst, talentless, miserable, uncaring,

hypocrytical, Federal government ever in the history of this once great nation and the best part is "History will show/prove it".

To end as much as i DISAGREE with Pauline Hanson's views, Policies and Party as an Australian in a supposedly free and democratic society i DEFEND her RIGHT to say what she believes in.

That was what Australia and Australians used to be about.

Abbott should resign in disgrace from this goverment but after habitual episodes of Lying from the Prime Minister and Corrupt or Incompetant episodes from the likes of McGauran,Ruddock,Bishop,Reith,"Iron Pen"Tuckey, etc one wont be holding their breath.If ever we needed a true Socialist Labour Government now is the time.

Whew i got all that off my chest in time without getting disconnected !

Steven Presley


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