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What�s In a Name?
McDonalds is doing it, IAG has done it, James Hardie desperately needs to do it � and now the Labor Council of NSW is doing it, re-working its brand to meet the changing demands of their markets.
Interview: The Reich Stuff
Robert Reich has led the debate on the future of work � both as an academic and politician. Now he�s on his way to Australia to help NSW unions push the envelope.
Economics: Crime and Punishment
Mark Findlay argues that the present psychological approach to prison programs is increasing the likelihood of re-offending and the threat to community safety.
Environment: Beyond The Wedge
Whether the great forestry divide can ever be overcome or whether it is best sidestepped for the sake of unity and sustainability in other areas is up for debate, writes Tara de Boehmler.
International: The End Of The Lucky Country
Linda Weiss, Elizabeth Thurbon and John Mathews show us How To Kill A Country
Safety: Tests Fail Tests
Nick Lewocki from the RTBU lifts the lid on the shonky science behind RailCorp testing
Politics: Labo(u)r Day
John Robertson lets fly at this years Labor Day dinner
Human Rights: Arabian Lights
Tim Brunero reports on how a Sydney sparky took on the Taliban and lived to tell the tale.
History: Labour's Titan
Percy Brookfield was a big man who was at the heart of the trade union struggles that made Broken Hill a quintessential union town writes Neale Towart.
Review: Foxy Fiasco
To find out who is outfoxing who, read Tara de Boehmler's biased review of a subjective documentary about corrupt journalism.
Poetry: Then I Saw The Light
Brothers and sisters! Praise the Lord! Brother George has saved the White House from an invasion by infidels, writes resident bard David Peetz.
Unions Dump Labor
Shearers Brush Woolly Mammoths
Girls Should Be Short Changed
Sydney Turns Down Volume
Minister Rides Collie
Staff, Trees Weather the Blame
Offshore Embassy for Families
Visy Paper Folds
Workers Unplug Power Cuts
Silverwater Offers Porridge
Environment Wiped Out In Dubbo
Justice Eludes Kariong Staff
Nelson Flags Another Raid
Five Steps to Sanity
Activists What's On!
The Locker Room
In Naming Rights Only
Phil Doyle has Gone to Gowings The Soapbox
Homeland Insecurity
Rowan Cahill tells us how the Howard Government�s appointment of Major-General Duncan Lewis to head up the national security division of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has received little critical comment, until now. Parliament
The Westie Wing
New proposed legislation in NSW provides a vital window of opportunity for unions to ensure they achieve convictions for workplace deaths, writes Ian West.
Too Young
Let's Start A New Party
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Labor Council of NSW
Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
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Evatt Foundation
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News
Workers Unplug Power Cuts
NSW unions have pushed the state government into back-tracking on compulsory redundancy plans that would have cost electricity workers up to $100,000 in super.
One month after being given five hours to pack up and join the dole queue, 42 workers at the centre of the stand-off are still on the payroll and a meeting, yesterday, agreed they would stay there until at least March 31, next year.
Unions thrashed out the "breathing space" with Treasurer Michael Egan and IR Minister, John Della Bosca, on the understanding state owned corporations and the public service would look to find permanent positions for those who want to stay.
The agreement is an about-face after government denied any obligations to the electricity workers when it green-lighted dismissal notices, delivered on October 12.
Government said the engineering and technical jobs disappeared with the closure of RBMC, the Residual Business Management Corporation left over from the sale of Pacific Power's trading arm.
"The state government claims there is no work available and these people are work shy but that's bullshit," PSA official Bill Ferguson said. "They want to work and they have the skills to help maintain the integrity of our power supplies.
"We have written assurances from the Treasurer and the Premier that there would be no forced redundancies as a result of power reform. We are asking them to stick to their word."
Negotiations have been backed up by support for the no forced redundancy line from stop work meetings around the state.
Transgrid head office staff gave the resolution unanimous support at a meeting in Hyde Park yesterday and Delta Power station workers at Wallerawang and Wallgrave will consider it this week.
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Issue 245 contents
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