E D I T O R I A L

Praying Mantras
The election of a new Pontiff is a moment of cultural significance, a point where the world�s moral compass comes under scrutiny, and not just for the world�s billion-odd Catholics.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Australia@Work
Labor's Penny Wong has the job of getting more people into the workplace and keeping companies honest. In her spare time ....

Unions: State of the Union
Unions NSW secretary John Robertson unveils the annual survey of attitudes of workers to their jobs, thier lives and the union.

Industrial: Fashion Accessories
Jim Marr unpacks the unlikely claim of a suburban house to be considered the New Mecca of the New Right �

Legal: Leg Before Picket
Chris White looks at how the federal industrial changes will impact on the basic right to strike.

Politics: Business Welfare Brats
Neale Towart asks why the only form of legitmate welfare seems to be going to the top end of town.

Health: Cannabis Controversy
Zoe Reynolds looks at how drug and alcohol testing is leading to some addled outcomes.

Economics: Debt, Deficit, Downturn
As the indicators head south, Frank Stilwell wonders whether it is the way we do economics that is to blame.

History: Politics In The Pubs
Phil Doyle reports on the increasingly-popular Struggles, Scabs and Schooners day out.

Review: Three Bob's Worth
Doing their best Margaret and David, Tara de Boehmler and Tim Brunero have different takes on the new Australian flick Three Dollars.

Poetry: Do The Slowly Chokie
Workers Online bard David Peetz teaches how workers to dance to Howard's industrial laws.

N E W S

Pope Backs Rights At Work

Trade Deal Built On Corpses

AWAs Go � So Do Long Hours

Sunday Too Far Away

True Lies at RailCorp

Mushrooms Mums Fed Bull

Sewage In The Streets

Taskforce Stands Over Vet

Engineers in Driving Seat

Backyard Funerals Targeted

Work Deaths Get Permanent Reflection

Yanks Brawl With Mall

Activist�s What�s On

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Notes From a Laneway
Mental Health Workers Alliance member Toby Raeburn shares a week on the frontline.

The Locker Room
War, Plus The Shooting
The Socceroos aren�t their own worst enemy after all, or so says Phil Doyle

Culture
Life Imitates Art
The jokes have been around for some time about the economic rationalist's approach to the orchestra, writes Evan Jones.

Parliament
The Westie Wing
Ian West takes the secret passage out of Macquarie Street to deliver his take on NSW Parliamentary Committees and other goings on.

L E T T E R S

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Engineers in Driving Seat

The Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia says a continued shortage means engineering professionals have the strongest ground for demanding higher and more appropriate remuneration packages in twenty years.

In a circular to its engineering members, highlighting the current labour market trends APESMA urges members to not only seek higher salaries but better conditions, including:

- extra leave in compensation for longer hours being worked

- payment for further training and education

- payment of child care expenses

- extra superannuation

- and provision of motor vehicles.

APESMA engineers are employed under a mixture of collective agreements, individual contracts and Australian Workplace Agreements.

Chief Executive of APESMA John Vines says the time had never been better for engineers to bargain for better wages and conditions.

"With significant increases in spending and planned spending on infrastructure both nationally and internationally together with an ageing engineering workforce and a decline in university enrolments, the demand of engineers is often exceeding supply in some areas.

"In this climate we are encouraging members to use their strong market position to secure better pay and a set of conditions that will push the entire profession forward.

"For too long engineers salaries have not reflected the true value and contributions of engineers.

"Our members don't run big industry wide campaigns, but they do have bargaining power in the context of the skills shortage and now is the time to assert a bit of that power."

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URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/260/news74_engineer.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005