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And The Battle Begins
After months of skirmishing and waiting for the first shots to be fired, we finally have a picture of the Howard Government’s agenda to tear down 100 years of industrial relations.
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.
 Signs of the Times
Fungal Growth Blights AWA’s
Andrews Apes Big End
Telstra Charge Reversed
Good GEERS Hard to Find
More Pulp Fiction
For Sale - Goulburn
Bosses Admit Pay Too Low
Yachtie Sinks in Bog
Albrechtsen Merits Questions
New Eateries On Menu
Fungal Growth Blights AWA’s
Markets Cheer Pattern Bargains
Mine Managers in Denial
No Interest In Costello
Activist’s What’s On
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.
Boycott Bunnings
Just One Thing
No Dosh For Rupert
Executions Not Fines
Howard Needs To Know
Disability Disgrace
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Labor Council of NSW
Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation
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News
Markets Cheer Pattern Bargains
Sharemarkets are celebrating a successful round of pattern bargaining by the country’s biggest minerals companies.
Investors added nearly $3 billion to the value of Rio Tinto and BHP stocks in a single day after they piggy-backed off Brazilian miner, CVRD's, move to gouge 71.5 percent increases out of iron ore customers.
News broke on Thursday that Rio Tinto had extracted a 71.5 percent movement out of Nippon Steel and analysts predicted BHP would follow suit "in coming days".
As Japanese politicians expressed "fear" over the impact of the price increases on their economy, AMWU official, Jock Ferguson, called the copycat pricing "hypocrisy at its worst".
"Rio Tinto and BHP are at the forefront of pushing the federal government's industrial agenda and the centrepiece of that is opposition to pattern bargaining," Ferguson said.
"We are not commenting on the prices they get for their products but, clearly, this is pattern bargaining.
"The efforts of these minerals giants is self-serving hypocrisy at it's worst.
"They and their friends in the federal government go ballistic about pattern bargain by wage and salary earners and the reason is obvious. It is effective and they know it is effective."
BHP and Rio Tinto have been aggressive champions of John Howard's radical workplace agenda.
At isolated sites in the Pilbara they have pushed aggressive anti-union campaigns, using AWAs and new laws to try and break down collective bargaining.
This month, BHP Billiton reported the biggest half-year profit in Australian corporate history - in excess of $3.5 billion.
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Issue 253 contents
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