Workers Online
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  Issue No 26 Official Organ of LaborNet 13 August 1999  

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News

Rural Council Workers Push to Quit ALP


Country delegates of the Municipal Employees Union moved this week to disaffiliate from the Labor Party over Carr Government policies before being convinced it was better to fight from within.

The flashpoint has been reached amidst growing concern of the impact of contracting out and competitive tendering in NSW country towns, driven by Transport Minister Carl Scully and his Road Transport Authority.

Scully is pushing on with competitive tendering, where big multinational companies compete for work against small local councils.

MEU state secretary Brian Harris says its a contest the councils just can't win, given the big companies often have economies of scale that allow them to offer artificially low prices to snare a contract.

Harris says what the accountants and bureaucrats who judge these contracts overlook is that for every country job lost, another 2.5 are lost in the flow-on. He's called for a full Social Impact Assessment before Scully drives any further down this path.

The union estimates more than 1700 rural jobs are at risk, totally gutting small towns where the local government is the largest employer. The northern NSW town of Kyogle, for example, has just lost 18 positions - a massive impact on the community.

When rural delegates were asked to vote to pay affiliation fees to the Labor party this week, Harris says there was great reluctance amongst the delegates. Ultimately, the MEU resolved to remain affiliated - but only to pressure for a review of contracting out policies at the October conference.

The MEU joins a growing number of unions including the CFMEU, the AWU, the RBTU and the ETU who have voice their disgust at the Carr Government's position on the issue. The MEU has earmarked September 16 for a major rally against the government.


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*   Issue 26 contents

In this issue
Features
*  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.
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*  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.
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*  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.
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*  History: Edmund Who?
John Passant lifts the veil on Our first Prime Minister, a bloke called Barton.
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*  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.
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*  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.
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News
»  Workers to Star in Second Wave Rally
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»  Oakdale Injustice: Six Weeks Is All It Takes
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»  Chook War Widens - Woman Who Walked Wants Job Back
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»  Rural Council Workers Push to Quit ALP
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»  Push for Action on Millennium Leave Bug
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»  Pay Equity Inquiry Sidelined
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»  NRMA Candidates Address Union Concerns
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»  Ceiling Dust a Deadly Cocktail
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»  Sex Discrimination Head Warns Against Complacency
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»  DIR Launches Indigenous Employment Unit
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»  "Big Drum Up" For East Timor
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»  Eric Lee Public Forum
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»  STOP PRESS: Fire Bans Lifted But Dispute Not Over
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Columns
»  Guest Report
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»  Sport
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»  Trades Hall
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»  Piers Watch
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Letters to the editor
»  Piers Fans Fires
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»  Some Views Of Einstein
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»  Group Homes Sell-Off Fears
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»  Privatisation Of Prince Of Wales Hospital Maintenance Department
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»  Call for Wage Freeze Action
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