
Issue No 26		13 August 1999

News

Oakdale Injustice: Six Weeks Is All It Takes

Sacked Oakdale miners could be repaid the $6 million in unpaid entitlements that are owed if the Howard government agreed to extend the life of an industry fund for just six weeks.

The proposal has been tabled as coal employers commence court action to test tough anti-strike provisions in the Workplace Relations Act to personally give miners who walked off the job nationally in support of the 125 Oakdale families.

In a bizarre twist of justice, miners could be pursued by a government that refuses to secure their legal entitlements. With coal companies in the Supreme Court at press-time, the provocative act could lead to a major confrontation.

As mines around the country closed for 24 hours in support of Oakdale miners, the CFMEU has released details of a plan to recoup the money owing without costing the taxpayer a cent.

The coal industry's central Long Service Leave Fund has assets of $243 million and will be come completely self-supporting in January 2003, after which time employers will be freed from the minimal contributions they currently make to it.

By delaying the self-funding date by just six weeks, the CFMEU says all the Oakdale families could receive their rightful entitlements, which disappeared when their employer closed the mine, while continuing to operate other profitable businesses.

The CFMEU called the snap-strike after being swamped with demands for action across the industry.

The NSW union movement has vowed to support the miners in any protracted stoppage, with Labor Council secretary Michael Costa foreshadowing targeted action against the Howard Ministers who are refusing to act.

And all supporters are being urged to contribute to a fund established by the Transport Workers Union to assist Oakdale families struggling to meet mortgage and food bills.

More Political Chicanery

The strike was called after a meeting between representatives of the Oakdale miners and three Howard Government ministers - Reith, Fahey and Minchin - who cancelled an earlier meeting after all were on overseas trips.

The miners presented their simple proposal, but walked away empty-handed with the Ministers stonewalling until another meeting is held at the end of the month.

The Liberals were also putting tricks ahead of substance when it blocked a move by the Labor Opposition to bring on debate on legislation to ensure another Oakdale never occurs which has been lying dormant since before the 1998 election..

Labor Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Arch Bevis, attacked the Government for refusing to bring forward Labor's private member's bills, following indications by Peter Reith earlier this month that he would be prepared to look at the issue.

This is the text of the motion that the Howard Government blocked:

That the House:

1. condemns the Government for its failure to protect workers' legally accrued entitlements and its continued obstruction in not permitting Labor's private members bills on this issue to be debated;

2. condemns the Prime Minister for his continued support of the immoral practice by which employers use employee entitlements for day to day cash flow and investments as if these workers funds were an unsecured interest free loan to their employers

3. notes in particular the Prime Minister's defence of this practice in a radio interview with Alan Jones in which he said; "But the point I am making ... is that in reality, because of cashflow needs, many firms actually use this money for the day to day operation "

4. calls for Private Members' Business Orders of the Day Numbers 19 and 27 standing in the names of the Member for Brisbane and the Member for Prospect respectively, to be brought on forthwith, with a view to dealing with the issue of protecting employees' accrued entitlements without further delay.

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Issue 26 contents

Republic: Looking Forward
With the Republic referendum threatening to run off the rails, supporters of an Australian Head of State need to reclaim the debate from the lawyers.

Interview: Chatting With Kate
Workers Online�s first ever Net night was held in the Yap chatroom this week. Labor IT spokeswoman Kate Lundy stepped up to the plate to talk Politics in a Wired World.

Unions: Simply the Best!
A major international study has ranked Australian seafarers the world's best.

Technology: Unions Log In to Online Yap
A Conference on Unions and Information Technology for the Australasian Region will be held in Melbourne: November 15-17.

History: Edmund Who?
John Passant lifts the veil on Our first Prime Minister, a bloke called Barton.

International: Turkish Miners' Leader Murdered
Semsi Denizer, President of the Turkish miners' union Genel Maden-Is, was shot dead outside his home last Friday evening.

Labour Review: What's New at the Organising Centre
Read the latest issue of Labour Review, Labor Council's resource for students and activists.

Review: Working Class Boys
silverchair might have a new sound, but they�re part of a rich Australian music tradition.

» Workers to Star in Second Wave Rally

» Oakdale Injustice: Six Weeks Is All It Takes

» Chook War Widens - Woman Who Walked Wants Job Back

» Rural Council Workers Push to Quit ALP

» Push for Action on Millennium Leave Bug

» Pay Equity Inquiry Sidelined

» NRMA Candidates Address Union Concerns

» Ceiling Dust a Deadly Cocktail

» Sex Discrimination Head Warns Against Complacency

» DIR Launches Indigenous Employment Unit

» "Big Drum Up" For East Timor

» Eric Lee Public Forum

» STOP PRESS: Fire Bans Lifted But Dispute Not Over