*****
The fact that John Anderson is running the country this week is pretty scary, but even scarier is the fact that mild mannered weasel Senator Robert Hill is responsible for the defence of the shop on an ongoing basis.
Australia's answer to Donald Rumsfeld has been touring the country doing his impersonation of someone who actually has a clue, saving us all from the yellow peril, or whatever the latest foreign threat is.
What exactly that threat is remains unclear, as no one from the Department has briefed the senator yet, but as soon as he gets a whiff we'll be the first to know.
Last week saw a disturbing development for the former Environment Minister, when a breakdown at the Departmental level saw information getting out.
This sort of thing never happened when he was cutting down trees and watching Tuvalu sink beneath the waves.
No doubt our Tool Of The Week is working furiously to ensure that this unhappy accident does not repeat itself and those responsible will receive the appropriate discipline.
Bob has been distracted of late by some photos that don't look good for any country that has its John Hancock on the Geneva Convention and the good Senator has gone to great pains to stress that Australia had nothing to do with anything incriminating.
Obviously not to the sort of pains that the guests of George Bush at the Abu Ghirab holiday camp have gone to, but certainly he doesn't approve of that sort of abuse, or even getting caught committing that sort of abuse, which is worse.
As far as he can ascertain, and this is by no means certain, and remains to be clarified by the Defence Signals Directorate, our close friends in the Pentagon and other members of the coalition of the willing and some junior clerical staff over at the Department, the problem appears to centre in the vicinity of Iraq, and without limiting any of the generality of the foregoing, the Senator is seeking to be well appraised of certain facts and insinuations regarding events in the aforementioned nation which may or may not have happened, and even if they did he wasn't there and if they didn't then no one told him anyway.
Or something along those lines.
Apparently the war that our Bob is prosecuting works like this:
If it's good news we did it; if it's bad news they did it; if it's terrible news our allies did it; and if the news that is culpably atrocious then the head of the Defence Department did it.
Yes, the South Australian Senator is a regular pocket dynamo and, despite being out of his depth and drifting out to sea, maintains a nonchalant superiority regardless of the fact that the jury is still out on whether or not he's still in full possession of his faculties.
But he is carrying on the fine tradition of Australian sacrifice that was so effective in keeping China British.
Our Tool of the Week has managed to prosecute this war, which has been one success after another, while juggling the position of Leader of the Government in the senate, although leadership, especially the responsibility side of things, appears to not be the good Senator's strong suit.
As for government, well, nothings showing on the radar there either.
Mind you, he does cut a fine figure when he stretches back with his arms over his head like he's watching the tea session of the fourth days play between Tasmania and South Australia Second XI, which is where he'd no doubt rather be.
Underachieving megalomaniacs like our Tool Of the Week have to satisfy themselves with the lesser glory. Even so, he till gets to play soldiers and sign Australia up to rather expensive missile defence systems that don't exist yet, but they are effective against the sort of chaps that want to destroy the right of one percent of the population to own fifty percent of the countries wealth. And that's important.
As Senator Robert Hill says, it's important to stand for something.
Just ask the 90% of Iraqi prisoners who were picked up by accident...
Modelling carried out by the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) to be presented to a Senate Inquiry this week, says the deal would give away political sovereignty and kill off any hopes of Australia becoming a Knowledge Economy � at huge long-term costs.
The research, commissioned by the AMWU, disputes the Howard Government's argument that the deal will deliver a $52.5 billion windfall over 20 years.
The stark differences in projections are based on National Economics' analysis that the loss in sovereignty implicit in the trade deal will have long-term economic consequences.
"The United States is a first class knowledge-based economy. Australia is not," the report finds.
"The loss of sovereignty provisions in the AUSFTA will probably ensure that Australian will never become a knowledge-intensive economy."
The economists argue that if governments, state and federal, sign up to the FTA, Australia would "return to its pastoral origins; a return to an economy almost totally reliant on its national resource base".
And they warn that while Australia's overall rate of growth may still be satisfactory, the country will become "more ungovernable as time goes by".
The NEIER report attempts to quantify this loss of sovereignty, projecting a 25 percent chance the economic loss would exceed $52,4 billion and a 75 per cent chance it would be more than $42 billion.
Key drivers in thyis loss would include opening up Australian Government procurement markets, lifting restrictions on foreign capital inflow, ending pharmaceutical benefits and 'knowledge spill-overs '.
It rejects the Howard Government's economic advice from the Centre of International Economics, on the basis that they attribute zero cost to the loss of national economic sovereignty.
AMWU national secretary Doug Cameron will present the research to the Senate Inquiry, backing the union's $100,000 national billboard campaign imploring the PM not to sell off Australian jobs.
The union will erect billboards in Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, drawing attention to massive job losses forecast in the modelling.
After a spirited campaign, the customer service staff will be supplied with up-market Morrissey designer coats after rejecting Qantas� attempts to make them turn up in cheap imitations.
Qantas, which recently posted a half year after tax profit of $358 million, claimed it had found an extra three million dollars in airport costs and couldn't afford to supply coats - despite having made a high profile
announcement last year.
The company argued that Sydney was not cold enough to justify coats but supplied them to workers at Cairns, Bangkok, Darwin and Fiji. Qantas also
supplied the controversial clobber to domestic terminal staff, 2km away.
Worker Anna Romanov-Ruff, who took time off sick last week due to a cold, says over 200 staff signed a petition and called stop work meetings on the
issue every week for a month.
"Qantas tell us which hairstyles we can have, what make-up and jewellery we can wear, but wouldn't give us the coats we were measured for a year ago,"
she said.
But on May 20 they finally coat-hangered anagement when, Melinda Kapp, customer service manager at Sydney International Airport announced staff would receive the coats.
As we go to print, the ASU Service staff are trying on their new winter
coats.
Great Southern Railways, which operates the Indian Pacific and The Ghan, is also alleged to be emptying dunnies on its way across the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains.
According to the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) safety has been an ongoing issue with the operator since its inception in 1997.
Crews, who are often working shifts of up to 17 hours with only one or two breaks, point to understaffing with 75 percent of all trains departing short handed.
Two staff are expected to look after the needs of up to 126 passengers.
"Imagine running a hotel with 126 guests with only two staff," says Greg Harvey from the RTBU, who believes that the company's scant disregard to its workforce is now extending to its passengers. "One person is expected to make 48 bunk beds in an hour while the train is travelling through the Blue Mountains."
Other issues that have been highlighted by workers include hospitality staff having to manually unblock toilets (leaving them covered in waste, for which they have been given an apron), burns from unsafe kitchen appliances, untagged electrical equipment, needlestick injuries and inadequate amenities.
"The carpet in the staff accommodation is so dirty that mushrooms are growing in the corner," says Harvey. "One employee was hit in the face by an unsecured fridge door, which left their glasses broken. The company refused to replace the glasses because they didn't want to 'set a precedent'."
According to the RTBU Great Southern Railways, who are covered by South Australian safety laws, has a high rate of casualisation - leaving workers frightened to speak up through fear of the company failing to give them work.
"There's nine crews operating on the Great Southern Railway and we wanted health and safety representatives on each crew," says the RTBU's. "but they offered us one or two, which is ineffective."
"I'd like to say it was unbelievable but nothing surprises me any more," says Harvey of the use of forklifts for disabled passengers. "Why should they resort to that when there are things like mobile platforms and ramps that have been used in the past."
Management are on the record claiming that the forklift procedure was "100 percent" safe.
Unions are asking how Suncorp-Metway, accused of running a "US-style" union busting operation in NSW, can meet terms of a ground-breaking procurement policy struck last year.
Under the deal thrashed out between Labor Council and the Carr Government, state contracts should only be awarded to companies that meet basic labour standards, including the right to organise collectively.
"The Memorandum of Understanding between the Labor Council and the government is quite clear on what the Treasurer should be looking at," says Geoff Derrick from the Financial Sector Union (FSU). "That includes their attitude to unions, whether they have a cooperative attitude to their workers through their union and whether they negotiate in good faith."
The state government has called for tenders to manage the state's finances and actuarial services, contracts that have been labelled amongst "the largest in Australia". Suncorp-Metway currently holds the existing tender.
"Suncorp-Metway has a pathetic industrial record," says Derrick. "It's in-house 'pretend' union was so clearly in the pocket of the boss that they were refused recognition even under Reith's industrial relations laws."
"They have a pathetic record on OHS consultation, which is ironic given the number of workers compensation contracts they hold."
The company has also been accused of holding compulsory staff meetings were management pushes an anti-union agenda and also one on one meetings that send a "clear message that union membership is discouraged", according to the FSU.
The union also points to the last round of redundancies at the financial institution where a disproportionate number of union delegates were dismissed.
"We're not saying that Suncorp-Metway shouldn't get the contract," says Derrick. "We're just saying they should improve their behaviour."
Shirley Chabet, who works for a mushroom farm, said casual workers were "not on their own" and should "stay strong" after giving evidence in a landmark case that seeks to deliver security to thousands of employees.
Chabet and co-worker Lisa Bowman were inspired to speak out after being employed as casuals, despite years of working 30 hours a week for Hastings Valley Mushrooms.
Bowman was keen to gain secure employment after taking out a home loan, and wanted access to sick pay, holidays, maternity leave and redundancy pay.
The workers said that the owner of the company where they work was not happy they were giving evidence at the Test Case. The owner allegedly told the women that the case had "nothing to do with the mushroom industry".
A former workmate tipped off Chabet and Bowman to their rights. When they joined the union they weren't aware of any award entitlements.
Unions say employer threats have forced other workers to withdraw from giving evidence to the landmark case. Unions are running the Secure Employment test case to give casuals protection from ongoing uncertainty of employment.
"Employers insinuated that if [the workers] gave evidence they'd be dismissed," says NSW AWU organiser Craig Tate, who pointed to "draconian employment conditions" as being the norm for casual workers in regional NSW.
The women were congratulated for speaking out by John Keen, secretary of the Newcastle and Northern NSW branch of the AWU and also received a warm welcome when they attended the NSW Labor Council last week.
After her outspoken stance Bowman's encouraged other casual workers to join their union:
"Don't believe you're on your own. Make sure you're getting your entitlements."
The Secure Employment Test Case continues this week.
An internal RailCorp memo sent by Nigel Howlett, Railcorp manager of Renewals, says that if employees are forced to stay overnight in licensed premises, a supervisor should ensure �excessive alcohol consumption does not take place.�
Unions say the Beer nanny plan is further proof that management is not treating its workforce with respect.
Labor Council secretary John Robertson said the measures, to be applied to rail maintenance workers staying away from home overnight shows that RailCorp's approach to drug and alcohol usage is not working.
"The idea of asking supervisors to be 'beer nannies' shows that RailCorp is not prepared to treat its workers as adults.
"First, RailCorp imposed a drug and alcohol policy that places conditions more onerous than those for police officers or people who are driving their cars on the road.
"Then, rather than increase accommodation allowances to allow them to stay in motels, they have instructed supervisors to monitor alcohol intake after hours.
"It's about time RailCorp got serious and gave their workers the respect they deserve."
"Jack Mundey's spirit of defiance against corporate greed is alive and well in today's trade union movement," Hoff said after a deal was struck to retain two hectares of Sydney Harbour waterfront land in public hands.
"We wouldn't have got anywhere without the CFMEU and the Labor Council."
The newly-elected city councillor placed the Pyrmont community's thanks on the record at meetings of CFMEU and Labor Council delegates, last week.
Labor Council secretary, John Robertson, congratulated Hoff and residents on resisting plans to replace parkland with a high-rise apartment block that would have left nearby public housing in shadow.
CFMEU secretary, Andrew Ferguson, said his members' four-month ban on development had been "just one factor" in beating off the proposal.
"We are delighted to have contributed to pressure on the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority that has resulted in keeping a public park all Sydneysiders can enjoy," Ferguson said.
The agreement, thrashed out last week, awaits final endorsement from Macquarrie St.
State Governments, unions and small businesses have slammed the prospect of Australia's largest companies being allowed to 'self-insure' for workers comp; leaving small businesses carrying the burden of insurance premiums.
.
"Insurance premiums for the employers left in the pool would be significantly increased," says NSW Labor Council OH&S Officer Mary Yaager. "It is irresponsible for the Feds to suggest this and clearly demonstrates that they want to look after the big end of town."
NSW Industrial Relations Minister John Della-Bosca echoed her sentiments:
"We have seen in the Federal industrial relations system what the Howard
Government's motives are. Their record has been one of minimising employer responsibilities and reducing workers rights. In workers compensation, we don't want a minimalist scheme, one that strips back protections. Government should not be about the lowest common denominator."
Helen Ridout from the Australian Industry Group told the Financial Review that there was no doubt the move would affect small business.
The proposal by the productivity commission could spell the death knell for smaller schemes, such as that of the ACT.
"It would appear that the Productivity Commission is proposing a model that would allow large national and multinational companies to withdraw from the ACT private-sector workers' compensation scheme," says ACT Industrial Relations Minister Katy Gallagher. "This would reduce the size of the ACT workers compensation pool dramatically, leaving small business in the ACT facing escalating premiums to support a very small scheme that is unable to derive economies of scale in administration costs and regulatory costs."
The Productivity Commission report strongly recommends that the Government give national employers the option to self-insure, and is confident that its recommendations will be accepted, according to associate commissioner Gary Johns.
Industry commentators believe the findings, if accepted, will benefit big companies, such as Woolworths, Westpac and BHP at the expense of many smaller operators.
Working parents told researchers they wanted family flexible working hours much more than extra money from Government.
When asked what would be most useful for managing the balance of work and family, only 10% cited 'an increase by Government in family benefits'.
But 87% preferred other options, including obligations on employers to provide family flexible working hours, time off work for family emergencies, more childcare and a choice to work part time.
The Government will spend $6 billion dollars in the next month on family related payments.
In light of the results of the survey the ACTU is running the first ever work and family test case in the Industrial Relations Commission.
The ACTU case is seeking flexible working hours and holiday times to accommodate school and childcare, extra emergency leave to care for a child or relative, a choice to work part time, and the extension of unpaid parental leave from 12 to 24 months.
Workers at the Australian Electoral Commission this week confirmed federal elections can't be guaranteed after the government stepped in to quash a pay
deal between workers and management.
After 18 months of negotiations staff are furious the Department of Workplace Relations overturned a proposal that was acceptable to both AEC
management and workers.
"Just when the parties find a form of words they can all live with, a third party wades in and kicks over the apple cart," said the CPSU's Jenness Gardner.
"A central plank of the Howard Government's industrial relations policy is to allow workers and employers to negotiate without the interference of
third parties, the action of DEWR in this matter is deeply ironic."
Eight hundred public servants had pay rises over-ruled in the same week that John Howard okayed $300 a week increases for twenty one departmental heads, earning more than $300,000 a year.
The AEC has around 770 staff located in 140 sites around Australia.
The rectification orders were handed out in the space of four weeks by Workplace Services Inspectors carrying out a blitz on construction safety.
CFMEU secretary, Martin O'Malley, said Workplace Services attention to the issue was "not before time" but still contrasted with the Taskforce which "sat on its hands" when it came to worker safety.
He said the latest Taskforce safety intervention in Adelaide had seen three officers dispatched to the premises of a company working on the federal law courts building.
They had gone there, O'Malley said, to make certain workers hadn't been paid for sitting in the sheds for half an hour while a safety concern was addressed.
"The Taskforce hasn't done one thing to make Adelaide a safer place for building workers," O'Malley said.
"All they are is a nuisance. They don't contribute to the wellbeing of the industry or anyone in it.
"Frankly, our people now treat them with the disrespect they deserve. They are either failed policemen or rejected parking wardens who want to cling onto a bit of power."
O'Malley made his assessment as controversial Taskforce boss, Nigel Hadgkiss, was fending off allegations of corruption and improper use of bugging devices, levelled against his officers at Senate hearings in Canberra.
Heater manufacturer Richard Rees admitted grabbing AWU organiser Tonya Stevens by the shoulders and marching her from his company's Moorabbin premises.
Police are investigating allegations of assault.
Rees counterclaimed that it was Stevens who committed the assault.
After giving evidence in 2001, the Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal, found Lees had "told deliberate lies" and was "evasive and argumentative and prevaricated".
The court found Lees, an accountant, had acted in breach of his fiduciary duties as a director, kept "accounts, minutes and other records in a deliberately incomplete, vague and disorderly way", and had failed to disclose documents which were clearly relevant to court proceedings.
An AWU spokesperson said low wages of $14.00 an hour, poor safety, and intimidation were main concerns at Moorabbin.
A worker from the site, Patrick Fagan, has claimed he was intimidated and humiliated in front of workmates because of his union membership.
Fagan said when he was in hospital suffering from cancer a manager from the company came to his bedside and said he should resign and left paperwork.
Alternative Voice
Workers Radio every Wednesday from 5pm on 88.5FM 2RRR.
Your Alternative News and Information Radio!
Featuring: Current Affairs - Union Campaigns - What's Happening in Politics - Events and Actions - Views and Breaking News - Music
Contact:
Jagath 0419 404 997 Monica 0400 055 081 John 0418 839 026 Martin 0409 911 127
ANDREW WILKIE SPEAKS OUT
7.30pm Wednesday June 9 at the Hutley Hall, North Sydney Council
$10 entry payable at the door
Involvement with the Iraq war is providing alarming insights into the wobbly health of the Australian democracy. The government is habitually dishonest, the public service is increasingly politicised, whistleblowers are vilified personally and the mainstream media is often reluctant to do what it can to turn events around.
Andrew Wilkie will explore all of these issues with the benefit of first-hand observations gathered as a true government insider � until his resignation on principle a year ago.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PHONE THE NORTH SYDNEY COMMUNITY CENTRE ON 9922 2299 OR VISIT THE CENTRE'S WEBSITE AT www.northsydneycentre.com.au
Is Australian Democracy Working for Women?
The Women's Electoral Lobby (WEL) are holding their national conference in Sydney on the 12th and 13th June. Sessions will cover
* legislation as a way to protect women's rights
* measuring the quality of women's lives
* creating a culture for work and family reform
* what women want
Speakers include Elain Thompson, Pru Goward, Reg Graycar, Eva Cox and Mary Crooks
To register and for further information contact WEL on 9212 4374 or logon to the website at www.wel.org.au
Popular Education Activism & Organising
Education is a key to developing activists and active members of organisations. The new activist educator is an organiser, teacher, consultant and theorist. What methods are being used today to equip activists to build social movements? Does activist education reflect a democratic agenda or is it largely instrumental? How do we know if educational practices are working? Are new theories of learning be utilised? This is the second of a three forum series looking at different education, organising and activist strategies being used by movements and organizations pursuing social justice and change agendas. Union activists, environmental campaigners, community advocates, educators and grassroots campaigners are participating in the forums. The forum will actively engage participants in discussing and analysing different experiences. Case Studies Date: Friday, 18 June 2004 Time: 9am - 1.30pm Location: Centre for Popular Education University of Technology, Sydney Jones St, Broadway (Old Fairfax Building) FEES - $30 for one forum; $50 for two forums For further details contact Lee Malone (02) 9514 3861, Daniel Ng (02) 9514 3843 or Tony Brown (02) 9514 3866 email: [email protected] For updates go the Centre for Popular Education website
Alternative Voice
Workers Radio every Wednesday from 5pm on 88.5FM 2RRR.
Your Alternative News and Information Radio!
Featuring: Current Affairs - Union Campaigns - What's Happening in Politics - Events and Actions - Views and Breaking News - Music
Contact:
Jagath 0419 404 997 Monica 0400 055 081 John 0418 839 026 Martin 0409 911 127
ANDREW WILKIE SPEAKS OUT
7.30pm Wednesday June 9 at the Hutley Hall, North Sydney Council
$10 entry payable at the door
Involvement with the Iraq war is providing alarming insights into the wobbly health of the Australian democracy. The government is habitually dishonest, the public service is increasingly politicised, whistleblowers are vilified personally and the mainstream media is often reluctant to do what it can to turn events around.
Andrew Wilkie will explore all of these issues with the benefit of first-hand observations gathered as a true government insider � until his resignation on principle a year ago.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PHONE THE NORTH SYDNEY COMMUNITY CENTRE ON 9922 2299 OR VISIT THE CENTRE'S WEBSITE AT www.northsydneycentre.com.au
Is Australian Democracy Working for Women?
The Women's Electoral Lobby (WEL) are holding their national conference in Sydney on the 12th and 13th June. Sessions will cover
* legislation as a way to protect women's rights
* measuring the quality of women's lives
* creating a culture for work and family reform
* what women want
Speakers include Elain Thompson, Pru Goward, Reg Graycar, Eva Cox and Mary Crooks
To register and for further information contact WEL on 9212 4374 or logon to the website at www.wel.org.au
Popular Education Activism & Organising
Education is a key to developing activists and active members of organisations. The new activist educator is an organiser, teacher, consultant and theorist. What methods are being used today to equip activists to build social movements? Does activist education reflect a democratic agenda or is it largely instrumental? How do we know if educational practices are working? Are new theories of learning be utilised? This is the second of a three forum series looking at different education, organising and activist strategies being used by movements and organizations pursuing social justice and change agendas. Union activists, environmental campaigners, community advocates, educators and grassroots campaigners are participating in the forums. The forum will actively engage participants in discussing and analysing different experiences. Case Studies Date: Friday, 18 June 2004 Time: 9am - 1.30pm Location: Centre for Popular Education University of Technology, Sydney Jones St, Broadway (Old Fairfax Building) FEES - $30 for one forum; $50 for two forums For further details contact Lee Malone (02) 9514 3861, Daniel Ng (02) 9514 3843 or Tony Brown (02) 9514 3866 email: [email protected] For updates go the Centre for Popular Education website
Just a comic comment on Liberals leadership.
How come Cost(h)ello! ( no tax cuts for $52,000.00 or less contributors ) has no guts to challenge How(h)ard for the leadership after all the praise he gets fed for the great ( in their eyes ) Treasurer work he does. If he has no guts to make a challenge maybe that's why the cut - throats on the back bench won't support him. Cause he has no guts and gets fed with sham compliments. Maybe he needs to cry to show his really, really truly has feelings and yearnings for the top job.
By the time he stops feeding off the platitudes he will be baking a cake (ah la John Hewson ) with Alexander - Billy Bunter - the Downer as the ever ready chum to be his deputy. If he's going to do it he should let his guts
go and make a stink. At least the voters and his party will
Roger Taylor
VIC
Personal wealth is at an unprecedented high; property ownership is through the roof, consumer sales are booming; all assisted by an economy that is keeping both inflation and interest rates at a modest level.
But something doesn't add up. When asked, more and more workers say they feel stressed from overwork and given the option, say would forgo a pay rise for improved conditions or more time with their family.
To an economist, whose worldview is based on the premise that individuals chase wealth to maximise happiness, this is most irrational behaviour.
As Clive Hamilton points out in this month's Soapbox, it could well be that it is the economic model - not the humans - that has got it wrong.
Hamilton looks at the seduction of the marketeers and the fools gold of consumerism and finds more and more people opting to 'downsize' - that is forgo high-flier careers and big incomes, for more modest balanced lifestyles.
It's a new factor that the pointy-heads can't fit into their graphs - the yearning for a life less harried, where you can work, rest and play, all in a 24 hour time frame.
For trade unions, this shift raises some interesting issues, particularly around enterprise and award negotiations.
Many are already recognising that time is as important an asset as a pay cheque - construction unions, for instance, recently based negotiations around a claim for a 36-hour week which would translate to a guaranteed seven long-weekends per year.
But the challenge is beyond reducing formal hours, in many industries the very nature of work has changed and real work needs to be done in reviewing job design.
In many jobs, one is expected to be 'on-call' 24-07, mobile phones, pagers and emails are all expected to be answered; how have we moved our ideas of a working day to deal with these pressures?
There is a growing awareness of the need for flexible leave entitlements - such as between provisions for maternity, paternity and careers leave; but what of the period after the 'big event'? There are debates to be run around work-based child-care and maybe even aged care, as some hospitals are now providing for nurses.
These issues are difficult to deal with within the traditional work relationship because they are so difficult to quantify in dollar terms - not just the costs but the benefits.
And until we develop a new economic model that can put a value on goodwill, peace of mind and happiness we will continue to struggle to make sense of a world going mad.
Peter Lewis
Editor
Search All Issues | Latest Issue | Previous Issues | Print Latest Issue |
© 1999-2002 Workers Online ![]() |
|