E D I T O R I A L

Polar Shifts
And so Workers Online makes our belated return to 2005 - and while we may have the same old familiar faces in Federal Parliament, politically, it�s a whole new ball game.

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.

N E W S

Plastic Man Crosses the Line

Taskforce Loses "Payback" Evidence

Court Out � Again

Blue Chips Fried in CBD

Bosses Duck Decapitation

Computer Driven Posties

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

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.

L E T T E R S

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Whistleblower Beats Bullies

A security company employee who blew the whistle on a rampant bullying has had a win over insurance company attempts to deny him compensation.

Insurance company CGU accepted full liability after initially denying that bullying had left John McPhilbin with prolonged adjustment disorder.

McPhilbin's stand against bullying at Chubb Security grew into a widespread union campaign to tackle the emerging workplace safety issue.

He addressed the launch of the Unions NSW Dignity and Respect in the Workplace Campaign in September last year, when his recounting of his experiences left many in the audience visibly moved.

Medical evidence showed that McPhilbin is suffering from a "prolonged adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed moods resulting from the hostility he faced at Chubb".

"I feel vindicated," says McPhilbin. "I had to personally establish that there were guidelines that Chubb and the insurance company ignored at every step of the way.

"It was me who had to point this out to them. I was opposed at every step of the way.

"The way it was managed made my situation increasingly worse."

The decision is another step in tackling workplace bullying following the successful prosecution of a bullying incident at a Lidcombe joinery firm in the Chief Industrial Magistrates Court last year.

McPhilbin is concerned that the problem could still be going at Chubb and wants to see systems put in place to address workplace bullying.

Bullies Taken To Taskforce

Meanwhile the Public Service Association's campaign to eradicate bullying and harassment in the public service has taken another step forward with the establishment of a bullying taskforce chaired by the Public Employment Office of the Premiers Department.

The taskforce will be developing policies and procedures to deal with bullying and harassment in the public sector and intends to invite other agencies to participate on the committee.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005