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Bright Sparks
Australia is facing a major crisis that could affect all of us in the decades to come, a shortage of skilled apprentices, tomorrow�s tradespeople who are the backbone of the economy.
Interview: Power and the Passion
ALP's star recruit Peter Garrett shares his views on unions, forests and being the Member for Wedding Cake Island
Unions: Tackling the Heavy Hitters
Tony Butterfield became a State of Origin gladiator at the unlikely age of 33. Even that, Jim Marr reports, couldn�t prepare him for the knock-down, drag-em-out world of modern IR.
Industrial: Seeing the Forest For The Wood
Proposals to flog off NSW�s forests have raised eyebrows and temperatures amongst some of the key players reports Phil Doyle.
Housing: Home Truths
CFMEU national secretary John Sutton argues for a radical solution to the housing affordability crisis.
International: Boycott Busters
International unions have issued a new list of corporations breaching ILO sanctions to do business in Burma.
Economics: Ideology and Free Trade
The absurdities of neoclassical economic assumptions has never stood in the way of their being trotted out to justify profiteering and attacks on the rights of citizens. The AUSFTA is the latest rort we are supposed to swallow, writes Neale Towart.
History: Long Shadow of a Forgotten Man
Interest in JC Watson's short time as Labor's first Prime Minister should not detract from his more substantial role as Party leader, writes Mark Hearn
Review: Chewing the Fat
As debate rages in Australia about Fast Food advertising, Julianne Taverner takes a look at a side of the industry that Ronald McDonald won�t tell you about in Supersize Me.
Poetry: Dear John
Workers Online reader Rob Mullen shares some personal correspondence with our glorious leader.
Goons, Scabs in Desert Showdown
High Jump for Hardies
Task Force in Hiding
Court Cans Radio Bully
Trade Deal Muddies Water
Union Saves Kevin�s Bacon
CFMEU Bowls Howard Model
Mildura Bans Toxic Avenger
Breakthrough Saves 87 Positions
Two Million Jobs Traded
Death Halts Sydney Tunnel
Trainees Score $200,000
Apprentice Crisis Worsens
Activists What�s On!
Politics
The Westie Wing
As the NSW Labor Government sells its first budget deficit in nine years, the real concern for the union movement is the devil in the detail, especially when it comes to procurement agreements, writes Ian West. The Soapbox
Rubber Bullets
Labor's IR spokesman Craig Emerson launches a few characteristic salvos across the Parliamentary chamber The Locker Room
Tears After Bedtime
Phil Doyle says that it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye Postcard
Postcard from Vietnam
APHEDA's Hoang Thi Le Hang reports from the north of Vietnam on a project being fund by Australian unionists.,
Left Holding The Baby
Tom On Alienation
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Labor Council of NSW
Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation
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News
Death Halts Sydney Tunnel
The death of 42-year-old father of two has halted work on Sydney�s Cross City tunnel project.
Hundreds of AWU and CFMEU members downed tools after learning of the killing and won't return until they have safety assurances on the future of the $680 million Baulderstone Hornibrook job.l
Ronald Shaws, a Maori tunneler, had been a member of the AWU since starting work on the site.
AWU secretary, Russ Collison, said tunnel workers would hold a mass meeting on Monday at which they hoped to learn the contents of coroner's and Workcover reports into Shaws' death.
"Tunneling is a very, very dangerous occupation and we are not apportioning blame at this stage," he said. "But we do have the ability to limit risks and we insist that is done.
"Workers want to know what caused this tragic accident and want some assurances about future safeguards. They will discuss those issues on Monday before deciding whether or not to return to work."
Collison said the union would also be insisting that Maori cultural requirements were observed.
The CFMEU, which has a large Maori membership, is liasing with the community about holding a ceremony to honour Shaws.
State secretary, Andrew Ferguson, said if reports pointed to culpability in Shaw's death, his organisation would insist on prosecutions.
"We again call on the NSW Government to pursue a relentless zero tolerance policy when it comes to workplace safety," Ferguson said.
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Issue 231 contents
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