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Beyond the Workplace
The NSW union movement�s intervention this week into the debate over the future of public transport is an important step in redefining what unions are all about.
Interview: Union for the Dispossessed
The Welfare Rights Centre's Michael Raper on 20 years of activism, the politics of punishment and how to make Australia egalitarian again.
Unions: Joel's Law
Building Workers have overcome powerful forces to push workplace safety back up the national agenda. But, Jim Marr writes, their "success" has come at an unacceptable cost.
National Focus: Spring Carnival
It must be spring: punting in Victoria, singing in South Australia, fighting in America. It�s all there in the national wrap from Noel Hester plus an Australian union movement rugby world cup class consciousness poll.
Bad Boss: Fina and Fiends
They sacked the job delegate, reinstated him after an IRC hearing, and sacked him again two weeks later. But that was just the beginning.
Industrial: The Price of War
Mass industrial action is brewing in Israel as the policies of the right-wing Sharon Government come home to roost, writes Andrew Casey.
Economics: Who's Got What
Frank Stilwell pours over the latest BRW Rich List to build a picture of the increasing gap between the haves and have-nots.
History: Containing Discontent
Racism against minorities has always been a stock in trade of politicans, writes Phil Griffiths
Review: An Honourable Wally
Most Australians probably look at our politicians and feel they could do a better job but when redundant meatworker Wally Norman gets the chance to find out he realises getting elected is a major hurdle, writes Tara de Boehmler.
Poetry: The Colours of Discontent
A thousand blossoms bloomed during the US President's spring-time colonial visit last month.
 Hamberger Bad for Kids
BHP Faces UN Sanction
Hardie Shareholders Face Death
Road Workers Swing Left-Right Blows
Joy Battles Goode at ANZ
Developers To Kick Transport Can
ACTU Names Its Price
Death By A Thousand Cuts
Ban Holes Water Police Deal
Cleaners Mop Up Contracts Mess
Workers Entitlements Dumped
Overtime Goes Bush
Libs Push Lawyers Picnic
Unions Set To Stand Up To Bullies
Jack Thompson Headlines Launch
Activists Notebook
The Soapbox
Bush's Faith-Filled Life
The President's conversion, 'sense of divine calling' and struggle with sobriety are subjects of a forthcoming book, writes Bill Berkowitz Sport
The Not So Smart Money
Phil Doyle is sick of big money ruining grass roots sport, and he�s taking his bat and going home. Politics
The Westie Wing
The ongoing challenge for Labor members of parliament is to make what the Premier calls the �creative partnership� between the Government and the union movement a reality, writes our favourite MP Ian West. Postcard
Behind the Junta
Saw Min Lwin, Secretary for Trade Union Rights/ Human Rights for the Federation of Trade Unions Burma (FTUB), outlines the struggle for workers in his country.
Burma Up In Smoke
Super Solidarity
Perils Of Pauline
Put A PM On The Barbie
Tom Holds Water
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Unions on LaborNET
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Letters to the Editor
Super Solidarity
We all know the drill - a big company slashes thousands of jobs and its share price immediately rises. Who makes money out of this situation? Not you? What - never thought about how your superannuation makes you one of those ruthless shareholders making money at the expense of others?
While most people's superannuation has been shrinking for the past two years, a couple of things have been happening so quietly that most people may not have even noticed. One is that from March next year, superannuation funds will have to report on whether they have considered "labour standards and environmental, social and ethical factors" in their product disclosure statements. The other is that "ethical" or "socially responsible investments" (SRIs) have been steadily growing, although not yet as popular in Australia as they are in the UK and Europe.
Mind you, the Australian government has not made investing in socially-reponsible superannuation easy: current legislation requires superannuation funds to put making money first. But some super funds have managed to overcome this by proving that ethical funds can make good returns or, in recent years, at least no worse than the rest of them.
It would be great if the union movement supported an SRI choice for existing super funds, as well as improvements to legislation to make it easier for super funds to offer this choice. Solidarity must be more than just talk. As always, the individual must be prepared to put their money where their mouth is, and choose to become wealthy in a way which does not cause human misery or environmental destruction.
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Issue 203 contents
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