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Issue No. 251 11 February 2005  
 
F E A T U R E S

Economics: Super Seduction
Sharks are circling your super. From July 1, banks and financial planners will have access to the nesteggs of an extra four million workers.

Interview: Bono and Me
ACTU Sharan Burrow lifts the lid on the rock star lifestyle of an international union leader.

Unions: The Eight Hour Day and the Holy Spirit
Rowan Cahill bucks conventional wisdom to argue the eight-hour day began in Sydney.

Economics: OEC-Who?
The OECD calls for more reform. But, Asks Neale Towart, who is really doing the calling?

Technology: From Widgets to Digits
How can unions grow and continue to successfully represent workers when their traditional structures are rooted in an industry, craft or fixed location?

Education: Dumb and Dumber
Unions are leading the fight against a political agenda that does away with smart jobs.

Health: No Place for the Young
The support of union members is required to help get young people out of nursing homes, writes Mark Robinson

History: The Work-In That Changed a Nation
February 17 marks 30-years to the day that sacked coal miners at the NSW Northern District Nymboida Colliery began their historic work-in at the mine.

Review: Dare to Win
The history of the militant and often controversial BLF is as surprising as it is fascinating writes Tim Brunero.

Poetry: Labor's Dreaming
With another change at the helm of the Labor Party, our resident bard, David Peetz, can't help but dreamily drawing on some political history.

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L A T E S T   N E W S

Plastic Man Crosses the Line
A businessman with three homes and two Porsches has flicked 110 staff to set-up shop across the road.

ABM Plastics owner, Abe Waisman, is planning the new development, ABM Seal Pac, a stone�s throw from picketing former employees dudded of $2.5 million in redundancy pay. [full story]

Taskforce Loses "Payback" Evidence
Nigel Hadgkiss� Building Industry Taskforce has "lost" interview records at the centre of a former Detective Sergeant�s claims of "payback" and "victimisation".

Father of two, Michael McGann, has been unemployed since being dumped by the controversial Taskforce, last October. [full story]

Court Out � Again
The Federal Court has upheld the right of unions to police health and safety in tossing out another batch of prosecutions run by the Building Industry Taskforce.

Justice Murray Wilcox rejected allegations brought by Taskforce boss, Nigel Hadgkiss, that a Wollongong sub-contractor had been drummed off a site because he refused to join the CFMEU. [full story]

Blue Chips Fried in CBD
Banks and prestigious retailers are among central Sydney businesses profiting from exploited Korean labour.

At least two banks, and an outlet of a national retail chain, were being cleaned by virtually unpaid labour, it emerged, when the LHMU secured $15,000 in backpay for six Koreans, this month. [full story]

Bosses Duck Decapitation
A Sydney building worker was decapitated in the same week company directors called on the Howard Government to water down safety laws.

Brendan Brown was killed instantly, and three others seriously injured, after prefabricated flooring collapsed on the Baseline Constructions site in Rhodes. [full story]

Computer Driven Posties
Management forced a postie to sign a medical release as he lay "doped up" in hospital after an accident where he had been left on his own by Australia Post management.

Other Posties are being "sweated" and bullied to achieve computer driven deadlines, forcing them to be clocked at speeds of up to 60km an hour on footpaths. [full story]

ALSO MAKING NEWS

 Stalking Horses in Safety Stampede

 Low Blow in Ferry Blue

 Howard "Unbalanced"

 Picketers Chase Millions

 Whistleblower Beats Bullies

 Mateship Shines Through

 Queensland Marks Power Grab

 Vale Laurie Aarons 1917-2005

email workers to a friend latest breaking news from labornet
Workers at Walter's are flying the flag in a bid to get the entitlements owed by the failed construction giant.

E D I T O R I A L
Think about it. John Howard is the leader of the international neo-conservative movement � and now he has the means to put their dogma into place.

Why We Need IR Reform

C O L U M N S

Politics
Titanic Forces
There are book reviewers who have not read the book they have just reviewed and there are critics who have criticised films they have not yet seen. I want to review a novel that has not yet been written.

The Soapbox
Labour and Labor
Grant Bellchamber looks at the relationship between both sides organised labour

Postcard
Aussie Unions Help Tsunami Victims
The union movement�s aid agency reports back on its relief effort in Asia.

The Locker Room
Game, Set and Yawn
Phil Doyle asks if tennis is evil or just boring

Parliament
The Westie Wing
As a reshuffle of the State Ministry settles in and the Federal Government throws down the gauntlet, 2005 promises to be a new and vital chapter in the struggle for workers and their families, writes Ian West in Macquarie Street.


LETTERS to the Editor
 Nelson's Double Standard
 Morals Beat Hasty Retreat
 Uncounted Cost Of Asbestos
 Voting Farce Expands
 I Beg To Differ
 Politics Smolitics

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