
Issue No 25		06 August 1999

News

Fire Fighters Use Net

The Internet has emerged as a key campaign tool in the NSW fire fighters ongoing campaign to secure uniform death and disability insurance for all members.

As the dispute enters its second week, rank and file members have been receiving daily updates on the progress of negotiations from the Fire Brigade Employees' Union home page.

With senior officials caught in the Industrial Relations Commission most days, the new modes of communications has allowed them to maintain contact with members, trade unions and the media.

When the union agreed to suspend industrial bans, the information - and reasons behind the decision - were broadcast over the Net. When talks broke down, the bans were reimposed, again by a virtual order.

The FBEU has pioneered the use of Internet communications, with most fire stations having net access and members being comfortable with the technology.

As the dispute loomed, the union placed relevant background material such as comparisons between firefighters income protection and that enjoyed by state politicians on the net, for both members and the media to refer to.

Sydney Morning Herald journalist Mark Robinson, who has been covering the dispute, says the use of the Internet has been a revelation.

"It's another source of information - it means you don't have to constantly call union officials for updates at difficult times, particularly during a big dispute."

Dispute update

A mass meeting of fire fighters today rejected a state government offer and have reimposed bans of the weekend, meaning that firefighters employed since 1985 will not answer emergency calls. At press time, the Union and the government were before the Industrial Relations Commission.

   For more details check out the Fire Brigade Employees Union home page.

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  Issue 25 contents

Interview: Beneath the Arch
Arch Bevis has been given the job of charting Federal Labor�s agenda for the 21st century. He tells us where he�s heading.

Unions: What If the Bug Bites?
Health workers are planning contingencies for the Millennium Bug. Just in case...

Politics: It's a Wired, Wired World
Labor's federal IT spokeswoman Kate Lundy looks at some of the challenges for politics in the information economy.

International: Lufthansa faces Global Cyber-picket
270 workers sacked for a one�day strike - support the T&G campaign for human rights at Heathrow.

Satire: Outrage as Freed Killer Lives in House
Despite moving away from Waterloo Primary School, controversy continues to follow released killer John Lewthwaite after it was discovered that he is now living in a house.

Review: Reversing Union Decline
A leading labour thinkers asks: how do we turn back the membership tide?

» Unions Embrace Open Shop

» Council Sets Benchmarks for Vizard Deal

» Steggles Treats Workers Like Chooks

» Rail Workers on Collision Course with Carr

» Reith Shamed Into Talk On Entitlement Fund

» Unionists Asked to Defer NRMA Vote

» Fire Fighters Use Net

» Crew of Convenience Behind Sydney Oil Spill?

» Sixty Junkets Join Currawong Hit Squad

» Workers Table Petition for Gay Reform

» Indonesian Trade Union Leaders to Visit Australia

» International And Community Groups Oppose Reith�s Bill

» Guest Report

» Sport

» Trades Hall

» Piers Watch

» Country Labor Asks Question

» The Ombudsman Replies

» Confessions of a German Call Centre Agent

» WorkCover Off the Track

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