E D I T O R I A L

Wood for the Trees
In the book that may never become a film, ‘Eucalyptus’, a father will not give his daughter away unless her suitor can name every tree on the property.

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

Families On the Rack

Detention Centre for Darling Harbour

Transit Officers' Close Shave

Truckies Drive Mac Attack

We Have Way of Making You Walk

Howzat – Murali Spun Out

Show Me The Money

Walter’s Mates Pay

Retailer Sells Out Workers

Financiers Squash Capital Idea

Taskforce Stands Over Families

Big Australian Changes the Rules

Bodyguards Stabbed In Back

Big Brother Stirs Up Porridge

Carr Sees Trees for Wood

Activist’s What’s On

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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But Then Again

The feature article "From Widgets To Digits" (and the research therein referred to) missed the whole point of unionism's failure of the worker.

Back in the good ole days of compulsory unionism, union officials just had to sit there and the workers came to them - they had forgotten how to fight - that was the strength of the unions in the early days.

Unions got fat and lazy - along with their officials - the paid ones I'm now referring to. Membership declined because the pubs and long boozy lunches took the place of real activitism by unions.

When the crunch came in the 70's, 80's and 90's, there was no strength to fight with. Union members had voted with their feet in response to unanswered phone calls for help or unanswered letters - union secretaries

had forgotten they were responsible to ensure that their unions were properly run and that members received the service they were seeking - instead of grabbing lazy and lacksadaisical staff by the neck, dragging them

out of their pubs and clubs or just making sure they did the job they were paid for.

That is, to deal with members' work problems and to recruit new members and to make union membership seen to be something of value.

Until trade unions get back to what the did when they were first organised, instead of talking about you-beaut ideas of spreading their services, the will continue to fail because they haven't recognised the first lesson of

selling things - if you don't provide a service to your customers they will soon stop buying.

That is if it's not too late for unions now that the Howard juggernaut will soon be rolling over them and ordinary workers' rights in the new Senate.

(By the way how many people reading this voted for Howard? I hope they will now see the result of their failure to see through the Liberal's electoral

bullshit and lies)

Denis McGrane

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