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True Lies
While the Prime Minister's penchant for the porky finally appears to be catching up with him, perhaps the biggest lie of his leadership remains largely unchallenged.
Interview: Trading Places
New ACTU International Officer Alison Tate cut her teeth delivering aid to developing nations through APHEDA. Now she is helping chart the global union agenda.
Safety: Snow Job
James Hardie has been drilled into our collective consciousness as a story of power, greed and immorality. It is also, as Jim Marr reports, a tale of human tragedy.
Politics: In the Vanguard
Damien Cahill reveals how neo-liberal think tanks have been at the forefront of the corporate assault upon trade unions and social movements in Australia.
Unions: Gentle Giant Goes For Gold
Don�t get between Sydney sparkie Semir Pepic and a gold medal in a dimly lit alley, writes Tim Brunero.
Bad Boss: 'Porker' Chases Blue Ribbon
Perfect Porker, Darren Vincent, brings a history of meat worker shafting to this month�s Bad Boss nomination.
International: Cruising For A Bruising
Europe�s big unions are bruised as they watch companies roll over some of their best-organised unionised workplaces demanding longer work hours � without any recompense, reports Andrew Casey.
History: Under the Influence
Was John Kerr drunk when he wrote and signed the letter dismissing Edward Gough Whitlam from the Prime Ministership in 1975? Geraldine Willissee investigates.
Economics: Working Capital
Where superannuation fits, where it fails and what we should we do about it. Neale Towart gives the tough answers.
Review: Fahrenheit 9/11
There's many a must see moment in Mike Moore's new flick but beating the propaganda machine at its own game wreaks havoc with wearied bullshit detectors, writes Tara de Boehmler.
Poetry: Bad Intelligence Rap
When Flood washed away the PM's sins, the truth was once again left high and dry.
Satire: Osama Bin Manchu
During a recent visit to an elderly relative in a nursing home, I was waylaid by an ancient gentleman who insisted I listen to what he had to say, writes Rowan Cahill.
Hardie Chiefs Dodge Findings
Virgin Wants Them Young
RTA Counts Cheapie Cost
Miners Trump Rio Gold
Suits Star in Big Steel
Boffins Back Sweatshops
Tony Winner Bags an Ernie
Bush Fires Up
Kiwis Unfriendly, say Aussie Bankers
CPSU in Pay Cut Territory
Brains Over Buns Claim
AIG Backs "Cowards"
BHP Makes A Killing
Schools Fight for Equity
Activists What's On!
Parliament
The Westie Wing
The Labor Governments in each State must take the lead to stop the abuse of corporate law in Australia in the absence of action from the Federal Government, as the Inquiry into James Hardie�s has highlighted, writes Ian West. The Soapbox
Cleaners Deserve Our Support
It's time the state's cleaners were given some support, loyalty and long service leave, writes Chris Christodoulou. The Locker Room
Half Time At The Football
Phil Doyle wants to have his pie and eat it too.
Tribute
Faithful Servant
Frank Mossfield was one of the labour movement�s quiet achievers. Former Labor Council secretary Michael Easson pays tribute. Postcard
Lessons From East Timor
Just back from a study tour to East Timor, National Reserach Officer with the Construction division of the CFMEU, Ben Stirling, writes about the experience for Workers Online.
Howard Minor Goes Bush
Dummy Spitting
Tom Relieves Himself
Optimism
System Screws Workers
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IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
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Evatt Foundation
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News
Bush Fires Up
Tenix has locked out 300 rural workers in a bid to keep their earnings $100 a week below those of urban counterparts.
Tenix moved against Albury-Wodonga employees after they rejected an offer that would have left them earning $2 to $3 an hour less than staff doing similar jobs in Australian cities.
"This argument is about more than Tenix," AMWU organiser, Rob Leonard, said. "It's about living standards in rural communities.
"Visyboard has been here about 12 months, using AWAs to pay less than they pay anywhere else in the country. People are not prepared to be used as cheap labour by successful companies simply because they live in the bush."
Tenix, which used Workplace Relations Act author Peter Reith as a consultant, offered Albury-Wodonga employees 12.85 percent over three years. A movement that Leonard said would have "cemented in" inferior rates.
It also failed to address a range of allowance claims, including bids for family-friendly provisions.
When AMWU and NUW members rejected those positions, Tenix locked them off the site.
"It's the old starve them back to work story," Leonard said, "but the fact is some people won't be back anyway. They are accepting alternative jobs because Tenix pays below the going rate for comparable work."
Albury-Wodonga workers are employed at a military establishment that refurbishes vehicles - tanks, armoured personnel carriers, trucks and the like - for the Defence Department.
Representatives of locked out staff launched legal actions against Tenix this week.
The AMWU won reinstatement for 16 "fixed term temporaries" dumped after Tenix informed them they would have permanent positions. Tenix agreed to rehire the workers after the case opened in the Federal Court at Melbourne.
Meanwhile, the NUW is awaiting an IRC ruling on its claim that the lockout is illegal.
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Issue 234 contents
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