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Raking Over The Tea Leaves
Prepare yourselves; you are about to enter the Twilight Zone, a strange world where logic collapses in on itself, where enemies are new friends and assets become liabilities.
Interview: The Last Bastian
AMWU state secretary Paul Bastian has been at the centre of the three year battle to bring James Hardie to account.
Unions: High and Dry
Jim Marr unpacks the recent High Court Electrolux decision to test whether the ruling matches the media hype.
Security: Liquid Borders
The Howard Government loves to trumpet its national security credentials but a close look at its record in shipping sinks the myth argues MUA�s Zoe Reynolds.
Industrial: No Bully For You
Phil Doyle reports on how bringing dignity and respect to the workplace is undermining bullies.
History: Radical Brisbane
Radical Brisbane extends the 'Radical City' series into the Red North. Two experienced activists, academics and writers turn South East Queensland history on its head.
International: No Vacancies
More than 1400 hotel union workers, members of UNITE HERE Local 2, are on strike at four major hotels in San Francisco, California, writes Andrew Casey.
Economics: Life After Capitalism
A situation that all anarchists dream of? Michael Albert has been more than dreaming., writes Neale Towart
Technology: Cyber Winners
Labourstart's Eric Lee looks at a good news story of global online campaigning that has delivered a victory.
Poetry: Do It Yourself Poetry
Teaser: Wondering why the polls are all over the place? Ask our resident bard and psephologist.
Review: Hard Labo(u)r
The Voice of Southern Labor highlights the role music played in the 1930's US textile strikes, but more than that it provides a lucid insight into the roots of modern capitalism and some truly organic organising, writes Tara de Boehmler.
 Cameron Flags Fightback
Latham on Union Mat
Union Shelters WA Roofers
Bosses Trip on Electrolux
Drivers Derail Game Boy
Asses Get Carrot
Families Pay More For Homes
Commonwealth Banks on Sackings
Back Gong Back in Gong
"Joke" Fine Death Boss
Division Over Hardie Laws
Activists What's On!
Politics
True Lies
Labor Council secretary John Robertson argues It�s Time � for an IR reality check. Parliament
The Westie Wing
Much work has been done in the past to ease the plight of clothing outworkers in New South Wales. It's time to step up the pressure, as sweatshops and clothing contract work are thriving stronger than ever, writes Ian West. The Soapbox
Who Started the Class War?
Evan Jones looks across the Australian political landscape and asks who are the real class warriors? The Locker Room
First Past The Post
Phil Doyle is coming up in class and is all the better for recent racing
Parliament
Westie Wing
Our favourite state MP returns for his monthly Macquarie Street wrap. Postcard
Positive Action
Australian unionists are helping give hope to Filipino workers living with HIV/AIDS.
Honesty Is the best Policy
Nothing To Stand On
It�s The End Of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
Dear Mark letter
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Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation
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News
Families Pay More For Homes
Sydney Water outsourcing will cost families an extra $34 million a year.
Development Application costs on the 28,000 dwellings built annually will rise by over a thousand dollars each following the decision to outsource building approvals.
Sydney Water system designs for new homescost of $800 but, by next April, water service co-ordinators who charge around $2000 per approval, will run the process.
Sydney Water will sack 27 staff in the move.
The Australian Services Union says the cuts are another example of the Carr Government passing costs onto consumers by slashing services and shedding staff.
"Making families already struggling with Sydney's House prices pay more for their homes is just ridiculous," says ASU secretary Kristyn Thompson, "it has to be stopped."
"Everytime they cut something the public ends up paying more."
Water Servicing Co-orrdinators have been running in parallel with Sydney Water for some time.
Soon after they were introduced Sydney Water raised it's own pricing from $360 to $800.
The ASU believes this was an attempt to make the privateers more appealing so in-house services could be slashed.
Thompson believes outsourcing will also lead to mains problems.
"Sydney Water has better standards and the over arching interest of the community at heart," she said. "After all it owns the infrastructure and so takes good care of it."
"Sydney Water's licences mean it also has to take great care of the environment."
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Issue 244 contents
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