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A New Mark for Labor
Few of us who care about the future of the labour movement would not admit to a surge of hope and sense of excitement following the election of Mark Latham to the federal parliamentary leadership.
Interview: Muscling Up
Labor’s Craig Emerson discusses how the changes to his party’s leadership will impact on the industrial relations agenda.
Unions: Thinking Pink
What’s the difference between a Nursing Home and an Aged Care Facility? More than semantics, according to nurses worried Australia is woefully unprepared for the crash at the end of the baby-boom cycle, writes Jim Marr.
Bad Boss: Global Bully
If nothing else, US-based call centre giant TeleTech is consistent. After being nosed out of last year’s Bad Boss gong it is back, bigger and badder than ever in its search for Tony honours.
Unions: National Focus
In this national round up by Noel Hester, Hugh McKay tells us how the young are sticking together in a bewildered society, the gongs get handed out at the ACTU awards and there is a chance to win as a worthy wordsmith.
Economics: Friend or Flunkey?
On New Years Day as you look at the wine stains and tread on a soggy puddle on the carpet, will you look for the phone and call a cleaner? Gabrielle Meagher gives a few ethical dilemmas to confront before you make that call.
History: Young Blood
Youth is no barrier to political leadership, as the 37-year-old John Watson proved 100 years ago, writes Neale Towart.
Industrial: Living For Work?
Mark Hearn reports from a recent conference addressing the dilemma of work, citizenship and community.
International: Fighting Together
The international trade union movement is launching a Global Unions HIV/AIDS campaign to combat the spread of the virus.
Poetry: Medicare Plus Blues
Is the Government's new health plan a plus for Medicare? Asks resident bard David Peetz
Review: Human Racing
Seabiscuit is a great horse movie but more than that it serves as a powerful metaphor for the importance of living for the future while maintaining passion and compassion in the present, writes Tara de Boehmler.
 Peeking Dicks in Pickle
Lights Out on Cheap Labour
Blackout Hangs Over Sydney
Contractors Hang Up on Telstra
Uni Workers Too Smart For Minister
Employer Bullies Vie For ‘Tony’
South Coast Deal to Build Movement
TeleTech Safety Rep Vows to Fight On
Corporates Urged to Come Clean
MP Too Busy For Teachers
Bosses Block Good Shops Code
Engineers Ground Safety System
Workers Win At Safety Meet
Merger Threats
Activists Notebook
The Soapbox
Dear John
In his 500th piece of activist journalism, long-term Workers Online contributor Rowan Cahill sends a personal message to our prime Minister.
The Locker Room
Retired Hurt
Every innings comes to an end, some too soon, and others not soon enough, writes Phil Doyle. Politics
Wedge Watch
Labor's Craig Emerson puts the spotlight on the Howard Government's politics of division. Parliament
The Westie Wing
Workers Friend Ian West MLC is back with his monthly round-up from Macquarie Street.
Feds Ignore Building Deaths
Bob Gould On Kicking The Liberals Out
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IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation
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News
Peeking Dicks in Pickle
Nine hospital workers were trailed around Sydney by private eyes, and illegally photographed and videotaped before being sacked for buying takeaways during 12-hour shifts.
NSW Labor Council made the extraordinary claims to the IRC this week, submitting the actions of both Western Sydney Health Services and Websters Security should be referred to authorities for prosecution under the Workplace Video Surveillance Act.
Labor Council representative, Nancy Carl, said all nine workers - security guards employed between Blacktown and Mt Druitt Hospitals - had been followed and filmed without a warrant for three weeks.
Western Sydney Health Services had applied for warrants, she said, claiming to suspect the guards were involved in vandalism, and the theft of money from vending machines. It hired Websters Security to trail and record their activities, prior to warrants being issued, and at the end of three weeks claimed they had breached policy by stopping at Dominos and a local Chinese restaurant.
Carl told Workers Online it was "obvious" the covert surveillance had borne out none of the employer's stated suspicions.
"All these people were videoed, photographed and secretly followed around western Sydney for three weeks. Then they were called in and summarily dismissed for leaving hospital premises," she said.
"They worked 12 hour shifts between the two hospitals. What they would do, was call into Dominos or the local Chinese for takeaways when they were driving between between Blacktown and Mt Druitt."
Each of the security guards is claiming to have been unjustifiably dismissed. All are seeking to be reinstated to positions they lost in September, 2002.
Seven of the nine are being represented by the HSU (Health Services Union). The Labor Council sought leave to appear because of the significance of what Carl described as " the blatant abuse of workplace surveillance".
Final submissions are expected to be heard by NSW IRC deputy president Sams next Wednesday.
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Issue 206 contents
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