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Coalition of the Swilling
As the world stopped to mark the second anniversary of the September 11 attacks and its horrendous human toll, attempts at writing new rules for global trade were hitting their own immovable object
Interview: Crowded Lives
Labor frontbencher Lindsay Tanner talks us through his new book on the importance of relationships and why politics is letting the people down.
Activists: Life With Brian
Work by men like Brian Fitzpatrick is exposing new Australians to old truths. Jim Marr reports
Industrial: National Focus
A showdown looms in Cancun, Qantas gets bolshie, casual and lazy in its response to aviation challenges, and long festering disputes fester on in Victoria and Tasmania reports Noel Hester in this national wrap.
Unions: If These Walls Could Talk
Trades Hall is preparing for a major facelift but first, Jim Marr reports, it must bid farewell to the colourful bunch who have populated its dusty corridors in recent years.
Economics: Beating the Bastards
Frank Stilwell looks at some of the proposals for building a fairer finance sector.
Media: Three Corners
So its come to this. Four Corners, one of the world's longest running television programs is now under pressure from an ABC Executive that is less cultural visionary than feral abacus.
History: The Brisbane Line
Percy Spender was Menzies' foreign minister, but, Neale Towart asks, was he also prepared to serve as Prime Minister in a Japanese controlled Australia?
Trade: The Dumping Problem
Oxfam-CAA helps set the scene for this month's World Trade Organisation in Cancun.
Review: Frankie's Way
In The Night We Called It A Day Frank Sinatra learns 'sorry' Down Under is a loaded word and refusal to say it when due will lose fans in important places, writes Tara de Boehmler.
Teachers Attack National Stitch-Up
Safety Off The Rails
Lion King Delivers for Kids
Five Grand Extra for Unionists
Telstra Gets Curry for Take Aways
WTO Trips on Cancun Hurdle
Workers Kicking Goals
Dial NRMA for Stuff-Up
This Is Your Operator Freaking
Millionaire Takes Candy from Carers
Working Women Get New Voice
Community Burns Rubber Giant
Grass Roots Campaign Beats Bush
Unions-Council Strike ‘Clean Hands’ Partnership
Call For Campaign To Save Bush Trains
Activists Notebook
The Soapbox
Staking Our Territory
ACTU secretary Greg Combet argued for a fairer Australia in his keynote address to last month's ACTU Congress. The Locker Room
Seasonally Agisted
Spring is a season when a person’s thoughts turn to…horse racing. Phil Doyle reports on the fate of nags and folk heroes. Housing
Beyond the Block
We are wild about the people who live in The Block but not too interested in those who are on the streets outside, writes Michael Rafferty. Politics
The Westie Wing
Workers friend Ian West MLC, reports form the Bearpit about a project to raise awareness about trade unionism amongst young people. Postcard
The Awkward Squad
Paul Smith meets one of the new generation of British union leaders who is taking the ball up to the Blair spin team.
Life Wasn’t Meant To Be Frankie
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Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation
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News
Unions-Council Strike ‘Clean Hands’ Partnership
NSW Unions and Cessnock City Council today signed a ground-breaking agreement to ensure that all goods and services used by the Council do not come from exploited workers.
Mayor John Clarence today signed the Labor Council of NSW's Memorandum of Understanding for Procurement of Goods and Services.
Under the agreement, the Council undertakes to only purchase goods and services from firms that pay workers award wages, work cooperatively with trade unions and ensure high standards of health and safety.
Cessnock City Council is the first council in the Hunter region and just the third council in the entire state to sign the MOU. The agreement was negotiated with assistance from the United Services Union, representing workers within the Cessnock City Council.
Labor Council deputy assistant secretary Michael Gadiel said the agreement was great news for workers in the Cessnock area.
"What this agreement means is that firms that do not treat their workers decently will not get contracts from the Council," Mr Gadiel said. "Labor Council regards the MOU as important because it harnesses the purchasing power of local government to ensure that only employers with 'clean hands' are rewarded with contracts.
"Congratulations to Cessnock City Council and Mayor Clarence for showing leadership, not just for the Hunter, but the entire state.
USU organiser Peter Collins said the workers at the Council would be monitoring the agreement to ensure all contractors comply with established safety and award standards.
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Issue 195 contents
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