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Issue No. 257 | 01 April 2005 |
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Issue No. 257 | 01 April 2005 |
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*****
It's not easy being a boss. Apparently you have to pay your staff.
So found out our Tool Of The Week Evan Hansimikali, restaurateur and sometime industrial relations expert.
Evan, who operates a restaurant on the Seven Network's My Restaurant Rules reality TV show found it a bit difficult coming to terms with the fact that he had to pay his staff, so he thought he's just cut their wages by $300 a week.
Not that this is Evan's doing mind you. He assures us that it is a simple lapse in communication, an editing problem.
And if that doesn't convince you, well, Evan has it hard you know. And he's not afraid to tell you. After all, he's the boss and he has it hard.
Why sometimes he has even had to take out the garbage!
The shame of it all!
Luckily in John Howard's Australia Evan has these things that he calls Australian Wage Agreement (AWA), which apparently allow him to rip $300 a week out of a pay packet.
Maybe he means an Australian Workplace Agreements?
Who knows?
Certainly not Evan.
After all, our Tool Of The Week likes to take Workplace Laws as general set of guidelines. Apparently making sure workers are being paid in more than Pink Salt is waste of taxpayers money - or so our little brat thought after his place was raided by State industrial relations inspectors.
You'd think that if you were on national TV you'd take a little time to at least make sure you were doing the right thing, but when your hairstyle is more important than the working conditions of your employees why should we be surprised.
It's probably just a good example of just how much hospitality operators think of their employees. If this is going on under the glare of TV cameras, imaging what the conditions are like at 9pm on a Thursday night at Westfield's?
Luckily, our Tool Of The Week has decided to share his wisdom with us on his weblog:
Evan's tip for the day: If you are an employee and have a problem with your pay, talk to the boss not the cameras...and the problem will be resolved!
No doubt turning to the TV cameras is a regular option for hospitality workers.
With that sort of fantastic HR skills and brilliant human insight is it little wonder his chef left for greener pastures.
Over the last week or two nearly 1000 people have responded with emails, congratulating Evan on being such a Tool that he'd need a street directory to find the end of his left leg.
You too can congratulate Evan by sending him an email here.
Meanwhile in the Kitchen, life grinds wearily on .
A discussion paper released by Workplace Relations Minister, Kevin Andrews, proposes denying contractors access to the Workplace Relations Act, along with state occupational health and safety, workers comp and anti-discrimination rules.
At essence, it proposes anyone deemed a contractor by him/herself and an employer will be a contractor at law.
The radical shift comes as the National Institute of Economic and Industry Research warns the rush to labour hire and contracting out is exposing taxpayers to a $14.38 billion loss, every year.
That figure, spent on nation-building, could wipe out the public health crisis by funding 42 new teaching hospitals or carrying out an extra 5.6 million operations annually.
Alternatively, it would fund the construction of 770 new high schools or the employment of an additional 1.5 million teachers.
AMWU secretary, Doug Cameron, presented the economic research as part of his union's submission to a parliamentary inquiry into contracting.
The Institute estimates the annual "risk" to the taxpayer, posed by avoidance and evasion, at $13,897 for every non-employee in the economy.
The research mirrored ATO evidence to the Cole Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry.
In damning evidence, largely ignored by the Royal Commission, the ATO said up to 40 percent of building industry income was "hidden", at an estimated cost to state and federal coffers of $1 billion a year.
It pointed the finger at contracting when it said non-compliance levels were "high and widespread" among smaller industry operators.
"This represents a massive drain on the Australian taxpayer and shows outsourcing, labour hire and false independent contractors are really an exercise in cost-shifting from big business to ordinary Australians," Cameron said.
Cameron told the inquiry, increased labour hire and contracting out, would lead to ...
- business risks being shifted from business operators to individual workers
- deepening the national skills crisis by removing incentives to train and develop workers
- undermining safety standards
TWU state secretary, Tony Sheldon, said the legislation would be a disaster for thousands of truck operators who depended on the IRC in legal and health and safety wrangles with multi-national operators.
More than 12,000 "independent" NSW truckies belong to the union which files two to three new cases every week, alleging unjustified dismissal, harsh or unfair contracts, and breaches of safety regulations.
Sheldon said the Andrews' definition of a contractor was a "sham" that would leave small operators and genuine workers at the mercy of multi-nationals and their legal teams.
He said federal government catch-cries like "choice" and "freedom" were "double-speak of the worst kind".
"Where is the choice when you go for a job and the employer tells you, you can choose to be a contractor or not but, if you don't become a contractor, you don't get the job?" he asked.
"That's the freedom this government wants for thousands of Australians who need to work to put food on their tables."
"Bing Lee�s slogan is �Everything�s Negotiable�," says Mark Ptolemy from the National Union of Workers (NUW). "That obviously doesn�t apply to their own workers."
Delegate Miguel Reyes was sacked after a spotless record of five years service.
"Ken Lee [Bing Lee's son] threatened me," says Reyes. "He wanted to pay me off; offered me some money.
"I said no, so he said 'OK, when I give you three warnings, and then you get nothing'."
He received two warnings, one for dumping rubbish in a rubbish bin, before being dismissed over damage that allegedly happened while he wasn't even at work.
"I feel very bad. It's a big company. They make a lot of money. All the money gets spent on advertising. I have a family and a mortgage."
"We're in Australia, you should be able to speak up."
"They flew into a panic,' says Ptolemy of the Bing Lee management. "There has been a campaign of veiled threats against all warehouse staff.
"Ken Lee is anti-union. He has made it clear that he doesn't want his workers unionised."
"They have completely ignored the provisions of the OHS Act and the common sense of consulting with their staff over safety."
Another employee, Daniel O'Connell, was sacked after the NUW was able to secure his unpaid entitlements. That matter is currently pending an unfair dismissal hearing.
Over half of Bing Lee's warehouse workers have joined the NUW after the industrial umpire dismissed Bing Lee's objections to the union being allowed onto the premises.
Why not email Bing Lee and tell them what you think about their campaign against union members.
Thumbs Down for Union Busters
All the telephone threats have been received since union reps went public about a clothing industry sweatshop at nearby, Bexley.
A fire engine and six police cars raced to the union headquarters, around 4pm yesterday, after two female office workers fielded death threats in the space of 40 minutes.
The first caller repeated "gonna kill you, gonna kill you", the second added a specific threat to blow up the building.
Frustrated TCFUA secretary, Barry Tubner, confirmed police officers had attended the union's building six times, in response to phone threats, since the Sydney Morning Herald broke news of an unregistered Bexley factory making garments for fashion labels Jaggad, Pani, Cooper Street and Project One.
Tubner said office staff were "seriously concerned" about the intimidation.
"It is having an affect on the health and wellbeing of people who work here," he said, "but I'm just angry. Health and safety regulations mean we have to take these threats seriously, and we do. So far, risk management planning and security upgrades have cost our members tens of thousands of dollars."
The last time the union fingered a Sydney sweatshop one of its vehicles was seriously damaged but Tubner warned against jumping to conclusions.
"You can't help wondering if it's payback but we have no evidence for that," he said. "Whatever the motive, it's criminal behaviour and that's why we've left it in the hands of the police."
The �sweeping industrial reforms� will hit in a climate where voters of all political persuasions feel the economy is not delivering for working families.
The findings are contained in the annual State of the union report, a major poll of 1,000 NSW workers earning under $60,000 conducted by Auspoll for Unions NSW over the summer.
Among key findings are that an overwhelming 88 per cent of NSW workers support the ongoing existence of unions, including 76 per cent of all non-union members and 70 per cent of Liberal voters.
"It is clear that there is no ground swell of support for an agenda of attacking trade unions," Unions NSW secretary John Robertson says.
"This is important to understand and provides a counter balance to the federal government's claims that unions are an historical anachronism whose passing should be a matter of universal joy."
While unions have broad support there is growing disillusionment with the political process and major parties, including
- 80 per cent (including 77 per cent of Liberal voters) agreeing that while the economy is going well, it is a struggle for working people to make ends meet
- 88 per cent of people agreeing the government has a moral obligation to ensure that every worker earns enough to have a decent quality of life.
- and 71 per cent believing both Labor and Liberal are too close to big business
- and 59 per cent believing that neither major party stands up for working people any more.
Robertson says a vast majority of workers are crying out for some sort of leadership, which allow them to gain a modicum of control over their destiny.
"I'm not saying the return to the central arbitration system - where everybody's conditions were pegged to the Metalworker Award is the answer.
"But I do question, whether their really is the thirst for more wholesale deregulation and an outright attack on trade unions."
The survey, designed to create a snapshot of working people in NSW, has been conducted over the past ten years.
Key trend findings in 2005 include:
- half of all workers agree they 'would rather be in a union'
- 41 per cent of non-members who say they would like to be in a union have never been asked
- there is an increasing satisfaction with the performance of trade unions
- and the growing perception that management has power r than unions.
Click here to read a copy of John Robertson's 'State of the union' speech
Channel Seven reality program, My Restaurant Rules, exposed the truth about AWAs when it broadcast an episode in which Pink Salt boss, Evan Hansimikali, tried to use the non-union individual contracts to impose massive wage cuts on staff.
Stunned sous chef, Stewart, confronted Hansinmikali, on prime time television.
"No one has talked to us. No one has shown us where our pay slips are. No one's shown us our tax, no one's shown us our super," he protested.
"I'm getting the forms so you can sign the AWAs," the Manly restaurant boss replied.
The sous chef estimated that after the AWA-driven pay cut of $300 a week, he would be working for a flat rate of around $10 an hour.
Hansimikali tried to placate him by saying he could make extra in tips.
A NSW Office of Industrial Relations inspector visited the restaurant to brief owners on their obligations, and said he would return to examine time and wages records.
Minister, John Della Bosca, said the episode pointed out how workers could be hurt if the Federal Government succeeded in its bid to over-ride state IR systems.
"Although AWAs are supposed to be an agreement, staff didn't get the opportunity to agree or disagree, they simply opened their pay packets and found they were $300 short," Della Bosca said.
But bullish Employment Advocate, Peter McIlwain, publicly urged Hansimikali to press on with his AWA plans.
McIlwain used a newspaper letters column to offer taxpayer backing.
"AWAs are popular in the restaurant business because they offer flexible working arrangements which benefit both employers and employees," McIlwain wrote. "That is why 37,000 AWAs have been approved for restaurants and cafes in the last three years.
"I hope Pink Salt does offer its staff AWAs my office would be glad to help them with the process."
The workers succeeded in securing a union endorsed EBA � the first for the pharmaceutical plant - with the support of the local community and other workers.
A colourful peaceful protest was maintained at the company's gates, and the workers, many of them first time union members, received support from the local community, workers at neighbouring factories and other unionists.
Merck Sharp and Dohme had been attempting to introduce a US style working conditions.
"The support from other workers gave them the ability to stick with their campaign," says Unions NSW assistant secretary Mark Lennon. "There was a lot of community support; people were driving past, tooting horns."
"It's clear there's a lot of sentiment in the community supporting workers battling the big business agenda."
The peaceful protest received support from Unions NSW, Transport Workers Union, National Union of Workers and CFMEU members as well as their colleagues from the AMWU. Money was raised for the locked out workers and numbers were swelled at the peaceful protest.
"The workers made themselves at home and dug in," says Harry Delaney from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU). "In the end the company offered to negotiate."
Merck Sharp and Dohm met with the AMWU at the union's Granville office and signed off on an agreement securing pay rises for employees and securing existing entitlements.
The company expected one worker with 15 years experience to work unpaid overtime, but the involvement of the union meant they were able to maintain existing entitlements.
Labour Hire introduced during the strike has since been removed from the site.
Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews is proposing massive fines on rank and file workers, and unions, who pursue pattern agreements. At the same time, his Office of the Employment Advocate is offering fast-track approvals to bosses who use pattern AWAs.
In a desperate bid to boost AWA take-up rates, the Office announced, last week, it would also flag no-disadvantage tests for bosses who got employees onto pattern AWAs.
The no-disadvantage test rule was supposed to have ensured workers wouldn't be disadvantaged by moving from collective to individual contracts. But it hasn't stopped call centre rates being slashed by as much as $10,000 a year, or employers using AWAs to dodge penalty rates and allowances.
The latest initiative follows hard on the heels of the Employment Advocate unveiling a pattern AWA for small business that does away with the concept of a 40-hour week, removes overtime entitlements and job security.
AWA's have been touted by federal government spokespersons, including John Howard, Tony Abbott, Peter Reith and Kevin Andrews as "flexible" arrangements that allow workers a real say in establishing wages and conditions that reflect their personal circumstances.
In truth, they are imposed on new starters without agreement; used to deny employees the right to choose union representation; and, in the case of pattern AWAs, are neither "flexible" nor specific to individual circumstances.
The AEU says Andrew Phillips is a victim of retrospective, poorly thought-out law that doesn't take individual circumstances into account.
As a 20-year-old, Phillips pleaded guilty, on his lawyer's advice, to fondling his girlfriend's breasts when she was two months below the legal age of consent.
Now the popular teacher, and father of two, has lost his job at Orbost High School job because of a new state government law designed to keep sexual deviants out of classrooms.
Three months ago, the Education Department asked seven-year teacher to show cause why he shouldn't be punted. When it rejected his explanation, he resigned.
But fellow teachers and parents say the law is an ass and Orbost High cannot afford to lose a professional of Phillips' standing.
Colleagues are prepared to lose pay to attend a meeting with the Education Minister and the school principal, John Brazier, has gone into bat for his former maths master.
"He has overwhelming support not only in this community but throughout
Victoria," said Brazier.
"He's an excellent teacher who is very good with underachievers."
Phillips has the full support of the Australian Education Union. The union has offered to pay for relief teachers if a staff delegation is successful in getting a meeting with the minister.
The Victorian Independent Education Union has also voted unanimous support for Phillips.
When the controversial legislation was originally proposed it contained provisions for ministerial discretion over sackings. However, under sustained attack from the Liberal Party opposition, the government removed that safeguard.
Brazier believes the danger of retrospective legislation is that people can be punished twice,
"I think the minister and premier see it as a sign of weakness to review legislation," he said, "It is a sign of strength to review what you've done, there is no doubt it is wrong, they are just being stubborn.
"This is shoddy legislation. It was poorly thought through and needs to be improved."
A survey of 640 doctors in the state system revealed more than a third were putting in between 50 and 59 hours on the job, then fielding work-related calls throughout the night.
Thirty five percent said they worked between 50 and 59 hours a week.
Just under half, 46 percent, said they dealt with work-related calls between 6pm and 8am when they weren't on call.
Forty four percent said they lacked key support staff.
ASMOF Senior Industrial Adviser, Sim Mead, said doctors were at risk of burnout if better support systems weren't introduced.
"The report shows doctors are overwhelmingly committed to their jobs but require better support to help them continue to provide the quality of health care that is expected of them."
More than half the doctors surveyed said they had insufficient secretarial support and that funding for educational materials was inadequate.
The survey was released as nurses launched a public campaign for another four percent wage increase.
The NSW Nurses Association is calling for public support in a bid to build pressure on a state government facing federal threats of funding cuts if it doesn't slash business taxes.
Later this month the bank's cheque processing unit will be out-sourced to American company, Fiserv, which is slated to take over the cheque clearance operations of the Commonwealth and Westpac banks later in the year.
Australia's big four banks are forbidden to merge under the 'four pillars' policy unless they can prove any merger is in the public interest to the ACCC.
FSU official Cath Noye says the banks are seeking the advantages of a merger by stealth through joint outsourcing arrangements.
Though many of the cheque clearing staff are likely to find jobs at Fiserv, workers have been pursuing guarantees their accrued entitlements will be safe at the new company. Some staff have been working in the unit for over 20 years and are due thousands of dollars in leave and redundancy accruals.
Noye says banks making huge profits should not be outsourcing work for short term gain.
"We are in the middle of a skills shortage, NAB should be employing, training and skilling Australians," says Noye.
"This is a major corporation which makes enormous profits, it's simply not good enough to sell people off like charf."
The FSU is predicting job cuts in other areas of the bank such as settlements, mail distribution and account services. Some market analysts have predicted as many as 3000 jobs might be lost.
Earlier this week the bank announced it would cut 1700 workers in its two UK subsiduaries.
The jobs slashing has been triggered by last year's $360 million foreign currency trading scandal, leading to extended board infighting, revelations of a flawed offshore expansion bid and entrenched cultural problems.
Noye says job cuts will only punish loyal staff and do nothing to improve staff morale or customer service.
The winner was selected by a panel of eminent film makers and historians including Tom Zubrycki, John Hughes, Norma Disher and Dr Lisa Milner selected the best of 10 entries from ships and ports around the nation this week.
While Australian Idol has been attracting record crowds, the MUA has been quietly holding a talent quest of its own - not for the latest rap or rock singer, but for wharfies and seafarers who could help relaunch the union film unit first set up in the fifties.
"Our union has a long history of supporting workers in developing their full potential in every aspect of their lives," says MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin. "Cultural issues are inseparable from industrial and economic issues and we must record and preserve what is ours, ensuring our national identity is not lost in this age of globalisation."
Viron Papadopoulos, 30, a casual wharfie and freelance film maker is an honours graduate in film studies at Flinders University and has been working on documentaries and films for the past 10 years (including the Working Lives series for ABC TV, McLeod's Daughters and the Secret Life of Us). He has also taken out awards for short films in state festivals.
"People's work is their life," said Viron. "That goes for wharfies especially. There is a culture that goes with being a waterside worker. It's iconically Australian. That is one of things that made me want to work on the waterfront. And it's what really made me want to be involved in the establishment of the union film unit."
Sydney wharfie Cooper Silk, 29, works full time for P&O, Darling Harbour while also doing a bit of acting for a film-making friend.
"One of my mates was in Race Around the World on ABC and freelances for television," he said. "I've done stuff for him in front of the camera. So when I saw the union was running a film competition I thought I'd be good at it and I'd give it a go."
Actor and wharfie John Teague, is studying part time at the Actors' PlayHouse in Melbourne while working part time for Toll Stevedoring, Geelong. He took out third prize for his entry MUA News. John has appeared on Blue Heelers and stage plays as well as short films including the 2002 Dendy Awards winner, China Face. He also appears on Hard Yakka and Fox Footy.
"It's hugely important that working people have their say," said John. "A lot of people just clock on and clock off. Work can be really mundane. So I thought I'd highlight some really positive things happening around the place like the wharfies helping out Tsunami victims."
The winning entries will be mailed out to all MUA members, available on the website and screened at stopwork meetings in coming weeks.
Rhiannon believes the major parties are out of step with community opinion that wants workers entitlements protected.
"When a business goes bust and workers are left with no entitlements major party MP's will say how terrible it is but they continually fail to provide legal protection," says Rhiannon.
Workers who lose their jobs when a company goes bankrupt are often last in line to get entitlements after other creditors such as banks. Long serving staff can be left tens of thousands of dollars short of legal entitlements.
Often workers have to make do with the Federal government's GEERS scheme which only offers minimal entitlements, such as eight weeks redundancy.
The Greens plan will either ensuring workers are put ahead of other creditors or make companies put workers entitlements in trusts.
Rhiannon will introduce legislation later this year after consultation with unions and employer groups.
Union Aid Abroad APHEDA raffle
The annual Union Aid Abroad APHEDA raffle is on again. There are wonderful prizes including an around the world trip for two and the proceeds go to UAA-APHEDA's work to help build human rights, workers' rights and justice in developing countries. If you can sell a book of tickets to friends, family and workmates please contact UAA - APHEDA on tel. 1800 888 674 or by email [email protected]
The raffle closes on June 2nd with the winner drawn on June 16th.
Trades Hall hosts Keating! the opera
Trades Hall hosts Keating! The Country Soul Opera We Had To Have. Billed as the simple tale of an Australian political superhero and his valiant battles with assorted mugs, dummies, gutless spivs, clowns, fools and scumbags.
The Drowsy Drivers return with the country, soul, jazz and funk opera we had to have. Historically accurate* and independently verified by skimming through Don Watson's book, it's the simple and time-honoured tale of an Australian political superhero and his battles against assorted mugs, dummies, dimwits, gutless spivs and scumbags.
Come share in the heady rise, tempestuous reign and tragic fall of the Placido Domingo of Australian politics. GASP! as Hawke ignores the Kirribilli agreement! THRILL! as Prime Minister Keating sticks it to the drones opposite! CHEER! as he wins the sweetest victory of all! HISS! as the evil Howard betrays his colleagues in his thirst for power! SCOFF! at the blatant historical revisionism!
KEATING! will be performed at the Old Council Chambers, Trades Hall, in a brave attempt to redefine the boundaries of "preaching to the converted".
Folks of all political persuasions are welcome (though some may feel more welcome than others). You'll have the time of your life!*
(* non-core promise)
The Drowsy Drivers are a talented group of Melbourne-based musicians (Casey Bennetto, Justin Ludowyk, Kevin McFerran, Ross McFerran, Enio Pozzebon, Cameron Rogers and Mike McLeish) who have been performing together in various groups for over 10 years. Indeed, the Drowsy Drivers project itself is now six years old: it began in 1999 as an impromptu gathering of musicians and friends in a warehouse in North Melbourne, playing and recording several quite silly songs written by Casey. The tape of that session has been accidentally shredded, melted and misplaced.
Their last production, Northcote Country Soul, earned them the award for Best New Artist at the 2002 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the 2002 Green Room Award for Best Original Music (Cabaret). The show also received 2002 Green Room nominations for Best Cabaret Artiste, Most Outstanding Show, and Best Musical Direction / Arrangements.
When: March 23 - April 15, Wednesdays - Fridays, 9.00pm
Where: Old Council Chambers, Trades Hall
Price:$20 full / $16 concession
Bookings: www.keatingtheopera.com.
Watson Remembered
The Sydney Branch of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History in association with the Business and Labour History Group, School of Business, Sydney University, will present Ross McMullin speaking on "Chris Watson and the World's First National Labour Government", the subject of his recent acclaimed book (2004). Ross will look at the astonishing press abuse this government received, and examine its record, achievements and its place in history. Wednsday March 23, 6pm, ACIRRT Training Room, Institute Building, University of Sydney. Admission Free. For furter details contact Rowan Cahill (02) 48 612323 or
The controversy of one man - Kisch in Australia
When Czech journalist and peace campaigner Egon Erwin Kisch (1885-1948), came to Australia in November 1934, he challenged a conservative Lyons government, caused a media sensation and won the hearts of many
Australians.
The renowned political activist will be remembered in a new exhibition - Kisch in Australia - opening at the State Library of NSW on 14 February 2005.
The exhibition tells the story of the man who publicly defied the government's ban on his entry to Australia by jumping overboard at Port Melbourne (breaking his leg) in his determination to reach the Australian public with his message of anti-Fascism.
According to State Librarian & Chief Executive Dagmar Schmidmaier AM: "The fascinating story of this extraordinary man will be brought to life through original items from the Library's renowned collection, including Kisch's hand-written notes used in his public speeches."
The exhibition panels also include newspaper reports of the controversy surrounding his arrival, rare protest posters campaigning for Kisch's release and letters written in defence of Kisch's freedom.
Dr Heidi Zogbaum, author of the recently published Kisch in Australia: The untold story (Scribe, 2004) said, "Kisch had the ability to give rousing speeches with limited English and drew enthusiastic crowds wherever he went."
"Kisch was convinced that his ban was the result of Nazi pressure on the Australian government," said Dr Zogbaum, "but he was quite wrong. The newly appointed Attorney-General, Robert Gordon Menzies had staked his reputation on keeping Kisch out of Australia."
After his return to Paris, Kisch worked tirelessly on behalf of his fellow writers who had fallen victim to the Nazi regime. Upon the fall of France in 1940, Kisch managed to escape to Mexico. He returned to Prague in 1946 and died of a massive heart attack in 1948.
"The memory of Kisch is kept alive in Germany through the renowned Egon Erwin Kisch Prize for journalism, which honours the "reporter of truth" in a most fitting way," said Dr Roland Goll, Director of the Goethe-Institut, Sydney, who initiated and is supporting the exhibition.
Kisch in Australia is a free exhibition in the State Library's Picture Gallery from 14 February - 24 April 2005. It will then travel to the Migration Museum in Adelaide.
Community Organising School
In light of the re-election of the Federal Liberal Government, reflecting on and increasing our ability to organise and work across movements is vital. We can gain strength if we learn new strategies for working with people from different sectors and experiences.
The Community Organising School 2005 is a part of a broader project that seeks to link experienced organisers from a variety of movements, including community organisations, the union movement, environmentalists and social justice movements, to learn together and to build our collective strength.
Details of the School
The School will be held at Currawong (Pittwater training facility) from Sunday April 3 to Wednesday April 6 2005. It is the first of a variety of cross-movement, capacity building projects to begin in 2005.
People attending the School will learn, share and build organising techniques for expanding our capacity and effectiveness for social change in Sydney and NSW. It will run sessions to draw out experiences and lessons on effective organising and social change practices from participants.
The School�s residential accommodation only allows us to provide 40 places and we are aiming to have a very diverse range of participants in the school. For this reason we are asking people to go through a registration process. If your or your organisation is interested in participating in the school, we request that you distribute the attached registration form to individuals in your organisation, or to other organisations that you work with, and encourage them to register for the School. Registrations are due by Friday 11 February.
The registration fee for the school will be approximately $300 per person (including three and a half days of training, accommodation and food). However we do not want costs to prevent people from registering. If your organisation cannot afford this cost, please indicate this on the registration form. We are seeking sponsorship from larger organisations to subsidise the costs of others. Please do not see costs as a barrier to attendance.
The Community Organising School is the culmination of a year-long discussion between union organisers, community organisations, adult educators and environmentalists. While the School is the first public project, it will be one of many opportunities provided to reflect and learn about community organising. To find out more about the School or to discuss how you can participate in this exciting and timely project feel free to contact either:
Tony Brown, Centre for Popular Education [email protected]
Christine Laurence, Western Sydney Community Forum [email protected] 9637 6190
Melanie Gillbank, Search Foundation [email protected] 0403 051 606
Amanda Tattersall, Unions NSW [email protected] 0409 321 133
Community Organising School Committee
C/- Centre for Popular Education, UTS
PO Box 123
Broadway 2007
Community Organising School
3- 6 April 2005
Currawong, Pittwater
Aims
To increase our ability to organise and work across movements in order to build cross movement collaboration, by:
o providing the opportunity for organisers and activists to share their experiences with other organisers and activists working in different fields
o identifying differences while examining commonalities and opportunities for working together
o learning, sharing and developing organising techniques for expanding our capacity and effectiveness for social change
o discussing different approaches to strategic campaigning and community organising
The School will draw on the experience, knowledge and expertise of those attending.
Are you organising for social and economic change?
Concerned at the growing power of employers, the state and big business?
Concerned at the state of advocacy and activist groups to influence the agenda?
Wanting to turn the tide and re-build grassroots capacity in local communities and the workplace?
Wanting to build cross movement collaboration?
We are seeking organisers working in/with:
Social movements, young people, environmental advocacy, resident action trade unions popular arts, cultural development and education migrant communities, community organizing and development organisations student organising who are committed to working for social, economic and environmental justice.
What's in it for you?
The School will bring together organisers and activists from across different sites of activism who are focused on developing new ways of working to build strong and effective organizations, enable participants to meet, learn from and work with organisers in different fields of practice, provide an environment where organisers from a range of backgrounds can develop mutual respect, understanding and knowledge, develop networks as a continuing resource of skills, expertise and influence, and challenge you to think and act differently.
The program will run from Sunday afternoon April 3 � Wednesday April 6 2005. The Community Organising School is a residential weekend; applicants must be available to attend the entire event.
Black Diamonds and Dust
Councillor John Tate, Lord Mayor of Newcastle and the Councillors of Newcastle City Council have pleasure in inviting you to attend the launch of
Greg Bogaerts'
Black Diamonds and Dust
to be launched by CFMEU national secretary
and ICEM president
John Maitland
11.30 am, Friday 15 April
The Newcastle Region Library,
Laman Street, Newcastle
Greg Bogaerts Black Diamonds and Dust 0 9580795 1 X rrp $25 www.vulgar.com.au
rsvp 02 4969 4783 or email [email protected]
Councillor John Tate, Lord Mayor of Newcastle and the Councillors of Newcastle City Council have pleasure in inviting you to attend the launch of
Greg Bogaerts'
Black Diamonds and Dust
to be launched by CFMEU national secretary
and ICEM president
John Maitland
11.30 am, Friday 15 April
The Newcastle Region Library,
Laman Street, Newcastle
Greg Bogaerts Black Diamonds and Dust 0 9580795 1 X rrp $25 www.vulgar.com.au
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United We Stand
Red Rag Publications invites you to the launch of Tom O'Lincoln's
United We Stand
Class Struggle in Colonial Australia
to be launched by
JOAN DOYLE
State Secretary, CEPU Communications Division
Postal and Telecom branch
Trades Hall, Melbourne
Saturday 16 April at 7.30pm
It amazes me that the Howard Government has no regard for student rights or their rights as consumers. The Government's attack on student rights will only end up in students having no-one to back them up when they are accused of cheating, being harrassed or bullied or being kicked out of their rental properties.
Here we have a Government that likes to trumpet its success in delivering job growth and job security yet with its anti-student organisation legislation almost 7,000 people will lose their jobs.
Good on you for having Nelson as Tool of the Week.
Alex Schlotzer
It seems to have become very evident that there is a number of serious issues facing the security industry. A historical pattern has revealed some dangerous flaws in recent years that have seen employment and safety standards further erode, which has not only endangered lives, but has taken
lives.
I would suggest that given Chubb's high profile and record that a roundtable discussion be held between, Chubb and other major security companies, Unions, and various WorkCover representatives Australia wide, in order to review work practices and conditions, once and for all.
This should assist in developing a standard model that will help protect the many thousands of employees currently working in the industry.
Myself and others have had nothing but lemons thrown at us for too long, however, now should be a time for making lemonade. Corny?, maybe, but true!
This, I would suggest is a very worthy campaign which also highlights some potential major problems with Mr Howard's proposed reforms.
Regards
John McPhilbin
Dear Editor,
I am writing to respond to some inaccuracies that have been circulated in a recent leaflet by the Rail Bus and Tram Union in the Leichhardt Local Government Area and to a media release that has been posted on the Workers Online Website.
I, and all of the current Councillors at Leichhardt, have always been strong supporters of public transport and lobbied for improvements and better provision of public transport access. Leichhardt Council supports improving public transport, including bus lanes on Victoria Road and in the rest of the municipality, and has been lobbying for this for many years.
No representative of the RTBU approached myself or any Leichhardt Council representative on the matter before circulating the leaflet, if they had Leichhardt Council would have given the campaign it's full support, as we did when approached by unions recently on the campaign to boycott Jamies Hardie.
The RTBU states in the leaflet that "your Council won't organise a bus lane", this statement is untrue and shows a lack of understanding about who has planning authority. The RTA is the sole consent authority for Bus Lanes and Victoria Road.
Yours Sincerely
Cr Alice Murphy
Mayor, Leichhardt Municipal Council
Well done Elizabeth Wynhausen. I shall buy and read "Dirt Cheap" and hope there is some guidance as to what, as a worker we can do to improve things.
Having worked from home, self employed, whilst my child was growing up, I returned to the workforce in 2000 after a 20 yr absence.
I studied to enable me to apply for a reasonably well paid job as medical secretary, and landed a job quickly. Much to my amazement, "training" consisted of a couple of hours, with an irrated co worker, who clearly
expected me to know how to do the job, understand their software programme, billing, accounting, customer service, terminology etc. within a week, because after that, any questions about the job met with a response that I was either stupid or slow.
I left that job after a year, fed up of working with a practising alcoholic And drug user, who had so much time off, that I was doing half of her work.
Management did nothing to address her problem & simply ignored it.
I was "head hunted" from that practice by another very large and very busy radiology practice, a job I had zero experience in and promised training, as
I requested.
My "trainer" told the manager, she was sick and would not train. He walked away and ignored the fact, that I was not going to get training. I was put
immediately on the front desk, dealing with up to 100 patients a day, with 2
other receptionists.
This involved, reading referrals to decipher the type of scan required,
billing, working out which item no. to use, from 100's, deciding which
patients required barium drinks etc etc.
With a queue of patients waiting to be attended to, there was no time for me
to "learn" on the job, needless to say, numerous errors occured, not the least
of which was one patient being given a barium drink, when he didn't need it.
All the staff were constantly being warned, that someone would be "sacked"
so were always on edge, lots of back stabbing and politics. The more passive
agressive resorting to stealing fairly large sums of cash as revenge.
After being chastised by the doctors for "not knowing my job" then the
manager who had promised me "training" I tore strips off him and left. The
"Supervisor" in that job, had a habit of flashing her knickers at staff or
sticking the telephone up her skirt and into her crutch, when annoyed with
callers.
I moved on to another radiology practice, informing them that I had no
experience in the typing of dictation for radiology, then, the doctor became
very nasty and abusive when I didn't learn the terminology in one day, along
with the problem of his thick foreign accent.
At times he would take cash from the taking, not inform us, then we would
spend an extra hour or two, trying to find the missing money. He thought that was amusing.
Although I worked on saturdays too, I was told I would not be paid overtime.
This practice, would bulk bilk the local chinese community, after receiving
referrals from their doctors requesting bulk billing, yet, refused to bulk
bill Australian Pensioners or those on benefits.
I moved on to a Specialist to fill in for 3 months, my hours 9-5, but I was
expected to work until 8pm, wanting to keep the job, I did, and in the
process gave up a TAFE course that had cost me $500. I was not paid overtime rates or reimbursed for the loss of my TAFE fee.
I now work for a private hospital as a secretary to 4 doctors. In the
interview I was promised $20 per hour and a clause to be inserted in my
contact, that I would receive an increase in 3 months.
When I received the contract, I noticed the clause was missing and asked
that it be added, I waited and waited, then 2 weeks later was told, that if I
didn't sign my contact, my wages would not be paid.
After signing it I realised, my rate of pay had been changed to $19 an hour.
I worked 15 hours overtime and since the time sheet had a section for
overtime, I filled my hours in that column. I was promptly informed, that they do not pay "overtime".
I will also not be paid for any extra "ordinary" hours, unless I have permission from the Director, to work extra "ordinary" hours. So at the end of the day, if all the work is not done, I go home and leave it.
Every single job that I have worked in I have heard the same from co
workers, "we don't talk about unions" and "we all have to work extra hours". Most of the younger workers have absolutely no idea of their rights and even if you point them out, they are too afraid to do anything to enforce their rights.
There is an atmosphere of fear about losing a job and not wanting to cause
waves which leads everyone to passively accept bad conditions and pay. It
is time for Unions to have the strength that they used to have, if workers are
to have any rights and time for workers, to stop being afraid and stand up for
their rights.
Kathy Sullivan
Even if you don't like his politics, you have to admire his ability to defy political gravity and ask yourself: how does he do it?
His secret has been a sturdy craft that has proven to be remarkably durable through turbulent times.
One wing has been his command of conservative family values, a mainstreaming of the political epicentre around Howard's battlers, the people Labor lost in the nineties with their foray into identity politics that seemed to somehow belittle their ordinary lives.
The other wing has been the perception of economic competence - bedding down the seismic reforms of the Keating years and keeping the market indicators looking good, even if they have been pumped up on bucket loads of personal debt.
Now he is soaring higher than any leader in a generation, free of the constraints of the Senate from July 1.
Towards the sun! That golden light which he has pursued since the wilderness years when he was just another right-wing zealot looking for friends at the HR Nichols Society.
The light is industrial relations reform, a simple concept that has been dressed up in forests of technical legal jargon designed to cover up Australia's best kept political secret - that is, industrial relations reform is really an attack on rights at work.
The Howard Government's vision is an extreme one - an economy made up of individual units of labour, engaged under secret contracts where wages, conditions and hours are a matter for the employer to determine.
The breaking down of the 100-year system of industrial laws is Howard's final dream - it would hurt his political enemies and help his backers in big business.
It would also cement his place in the international neo-conservative movement, with Australia becoming an international outlier with the 'free-est' labour market in the developed world.
There is only one problem, his battlers aren't applauding; in polls and focus groups they say that their rights at work are important to them; more surprisingly, so are unions - whether or not they are members.
And if they have kids, those feelings are only stronger - job security and certainty of working hours are the foundation stones of a functioning family unit.
If labour market deregulation is bad for families, evidence is mounting that it is also bad for the economy.
An analysis released by the AMWU shows the shift to contractor arrangements is already white-anting the tax base to the tune of $14 billion per annum in legal and illegal tax evasion and will only accelerate under the Howard reforms.
It is also a key contributor to the skills crisis, with no incentive for disposable units of labour to be trained, nurtured or even protected from workplace injury, a recipe for less not more productivity.
The course Howard is charting will only weaken the family and the economy - the wings that have taken him this far.
How ironic if at his moment of greatest power, the man who flew so high came crashing to earth because he flew too close to sun. It would be the stuff of legends.
Peter Lewis
Editor
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