*****
When John Howard was Malcolm Fraser's Treasurer he visited a steelworks in Newcastle. While he was there a worker desperately wanted to shake Howard's hand. Howard asked why, and the worker explained that he'd always wanted to shake Howard's hand - as it had been in his pocket for the last two years.
Howard was at it again this week, trying to grab more dosh out of workers pockets. This time it was on behalf of those charming people who live on a planet where no one believes in fairness, the economic Frankensteins and Deficit Daleks who miss the days of sending ten year olds down mine shafts.
It was good to see that Howard got to meet a worker all those years ago, as he doesn't seem to want to meet them anymore. Within hours of announcing that he was going to reform the workplace in much the same way that a semi trailer is liable to reform a stray cat on the M4, Howard hastily shifted a press conference so that he didn't have to meet any of those nasty working class types.
"This is the end!" Howard had crowed the day before, and one thing's for sure, it probably is.
When you have a policy that is about as popular as rabies and you try to introduce it at a time when most people are drowning, not waving (in the economic sense) - your brilliant dreams of spending your entire public life hiding your incompetence are liable to come unstuck.
"My guarantee is my record," Mr Howard told parliament this week, and what a record it is.
Howard's record shows that, as the friend of the Australian worker, lowest paid workers would be $2300 a year worse off under his regime.
Howard's opposed every pay rise since Judas struck for twenty pieces of silver. The only difference between Howard and Judas though is that at least Judas had the decency to hang himself after betraying his community - Howard just keeps on bullshitting them to keep in their good books
"We provide people with the choice of remaining under the existing award system or entering into workplace agreements," says the Lying Rodent, knowing full well that the choice is actually between his delightfully Orwellian "workplace agreements " and starving on the dole.
The King Canute of Conservatism plans to legalise unfairness, justifying it by saying that the inability to treat people like a dried up piece of dog turd is hindering small business.
Apparently sacking people creates jobs. This is the sort of economist porn that treats workers and consumers and entirely separate beings. It is right up there with his next piece of subtle logic.
"Mr Speaker," said the Prime Miniature with a straight face. "The era of the select few making decisions for the many in Australian industrial relations is over."
It won't be a select few, just the few he selects.
Still, at least he didn't try to describe the nineteenth century industrial relations system that would have done Micawber proud as being a twenty-first century reform!
It was the select few who said that: The Business Council of Australia, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Notional Farmers Federation.
And they should know - they've put the bullets in the gun that our Tool Of The Week is going to shoot himself politically with.
Storeman Daniel Pestano is not happy about the prospect of his workmates at Appaloosa Holdings, Banksmeadow, becoming the first victims of John Howard�s latest IR experiment.
In a vision of the Prime Minister's workplace of the future, they were outsourced without warning to labour hire firm, E.L. Blue, who offered them their existing jobs conditional on "agreeing to the terms of employment contained in the Australian Workplace Agreement".
"We're not happy about it," Pestano said. "There was no choice. They offered the contract as take it or leave it."
The NUW's Derek Belan said more people would be "chewed up and spat out" by companies or agencies "offering a pittance" if Howard got his way on workplace deregulation.
"The 'sign here or you're sacked' employment offer would become the norm," he warned.
Appaloosa Holdings employed 18 people, aged 16-25, working under a State Award. Fourteen have signed a petition saying that they don't want to be put on an AWA.
The AWA they have been offered strips their conditions, putting them on a seven-day roster where they can be employed anywhere and at anytime with minimal notice. They lose guaranteed weekly hours.
"Well if these kids don't sign, they're gone," E. L. Blue senior operations manager, Victoria Keeys, told the NUW.
"The way that Appaloosa Holdings have treated their employees is appalling," says Mark Ptolemy from the NUW. "These young workers have been fed to an aggressive and greedy labour hire agency, with an offer much less then what they had.
"They have been given an ultimatum that they either sign their individual contracts or hit the road."
Entrenching AWAs is a key part of the Howard Governments workplace law reforms announced this week.
Under the new rules workers rights to not be disadvantaged by the introduction of AWAs would be dumped, with the test being set against the proposed Fair Pay Commission and conditions set by the government.
Over 4000 union delegates attending meetings held at over 50 venues across the state were told, via the racing network, that a campaign against Howard�s workplace rights was winnable.
"When Unions NSW asked the general public in January this year if they thought Australia would be a better place without unions, the answer was a resounding 'no'," Unions NSW secretary John Robertson told the meetings. "Ninety-three per cent of the people said Australia would not be a better place without unions." "A campaign to harness this goodwill is winnable provided we play it smart; we are disciplined; and we have the energy and courage to engage directly with the community." John Howard announced in parliament this week a wave of sweeping changes to workplace laws described as "more extreme than anywhere in the world". They include proposals to:
Their "reasonable workloads" clause, won by a three year campaign, has been credited with starting to turn around shortages that had pitched the public health system into crisis.
Anne O'Connor, a registered nurse at St George Hospital, warned federal government moves to take over state IR systems and strip awards back to 16 allowable matters would seriously disadvantage colleagues and impact on the public.
"Nursing is a high-pressure job but our award has got better all the time to reflect that," she said.
"Our (state) award provides all our conditions. To lose our conditions would be frightening and it would mean losing nurses. The conditions we have won are very much worth fighting for."
O'Connor specified a range of entitlements, besides "reasonable workloads" that appeared to be on the line.
She pointed out that Howard's slimmed-down awards made no provisions for existing entitlements to uniform allowance, leave, overtime or parental leave.
NSW Nurses Association president, Coral Levett, said nurses faced losing more than 30 award clauses if Howard got his way.
She described their reasonable workloads breakthrough as crucial to nursing's future.
"We know many nurses have returned to the workforce because of that clause," Levett said. "To lose it, would mean nurses exiting again.
"It has taken nurses many years to improve our award. We have more than 50 clauses, setting out our wages and conditions. To strip them back to 16 would destroy the Nurses Award."
Levett pledged nurses would be on the resistance's frontline.
"We will continue to fight for the Nurses Award. Basically, we will fight every inch of the way," she said.
Banton, who has fielded Hollywood offers to put his life story on film, became the human face of a successful campaign against James Hardie�s effort to dud asbestos victims of compensation entitlements.
Today, in Sydney, he said victims, and their families, would never have won their $4.9 billion settlement without strong, active union support.
The asbestosis sufferer pledged his backing to delegates from across the movement at a Sydney meeting, organised by Unions NSW.
"As long as I can breathe I will be fighting to defend the Australian union movement," Banton said. "I take this opportunity to pledge my uncompromising support for your campaign to defend trade union rights.
"I condemn the Howard government's industrial relations attack on Australian workers and their families. The proposed laws are unjust and unfair.
"However, I am confident the community at large will recognise the unfairness of these new laws and join your campaign. I assure you of the support of asbestos victims and people who value the principles of social justice and a fair go."
Banton said asbestos victims owed a debt to trade unionists who spearheaded the battle against James Hardie's plan to move off shore and leave thousands of families without compensation.
The corporation was exposed and hunted down by a campaign spearheaded by the AMWU, CFMEU, MUA and Unions NSW.
In the end, Banton joined ACTU secretary, Greg Combet, in negotiating a deal that committed James Hardie to funding compensation claims for the next 50 years.
Meanwhile, the Uniting Church has branded elements of Howard's agenda "immoral".
National director of UnitingJustice Australia, Rev Elenie Poulos, said the labour market was not like any other.
"People are not commodoties in the service of greater profits and should not be exploited," Poulos said. "The Government's decision to strip workers of their rights to challenge unfair dismissals is immoral."
Poulos said her church was already concerned for the well-being of increasing numbers of casual workers, especially women, and could see nothing in Howard's proposals that would improve their situations.
"We must remember that the purpose of a strong economy is to help Australians access secure and equitable standards of living," she said.
The move, blocking Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore�s plan to turn the historic footy ground into a "passive recreational space" tackles new laws that forbid building workers from participating in political campaigns.
Workplace Relations Minister, Kevin Andrews, has announced that when special building industry legislation is passed in federal parliament, penalty provisions, including prison sentences and massive fines, will be imposed retrospectively.
Key features of construction industry legislation, introduced to parliament this week, include ...
- making it illegal to backdate wage agreements, even if the parties agree
- making political or industrial stop work meetings or strikes illegal, except after an EBA has expired
- making it illegal for workers to campaign for equal pay for equal work
- declaring legal strikes illegal after 14 days
- making legal strikes dependent on time-consuming secret ballots to be run by an outside agency
- $22,000 fines for rank and file workers who breach the legislation
- $110,000 fines for unions who breach the legislation
- allowing courts to order unlimited damages against unions
- allowing third parties to sue unions, and workers, for losses
These laws will be enforced by the Building Industry Commission, a special industry police force, which will have the power to prosecute unions and their members on behalf of employers and third parties.
Building workers can be compelled to appear before the taxpayer-funded commission and may be forced to give evidence under oath. The commission can order them to hand over personal documents.
They can be ordered not to divulge what transpired during interrogations to anyone but their lawyer, and, unlike criminals, will be stripped of the right to silence and protections against self-incrimination.
Failure to comply with any of these provisions will make building workers liable to $3300 fines or six months in prison.
CFMEU assistant secretary, Brian Parker, said the red and green ban had been imposed to win time for community involvement before Redfern Oval was lost as a recreational facility.
The union supports George Piggins' proposal for the NRL club to return to a revamped Oval that would double as a base for indigenous, youth, aged and welfare organisations servicing the inner city.
Parker said to focus solely on top-level footy was a mistake as Redfern Oval was a base for the South Sydney Junior Rugby League which catered for 10,000 local players.
Every year it attracts thousands of fans for Junior League semis and finals.
Parker made it clear building workers would picket the site in an effort to prevent the ground being lost.
"Our members are trying to protect the oval's heritage and make sure that inner-city youth have adequate recreational facilities," Parker said.
During the week, the Australian Industry Group (AIG), Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), the Business Council of Australia (BCA), National Farmers Federation (NFF) and the Australian Mines and Metals Association outed themselves as likely beneficiaries.
AMWU national secretary, Doug Cameron, said the backing group included the "most reactionary employers in Australia".
"They want to be able to make more profits at the expense of working people and their families. There's nothing new in that," Cameron said.
"This government wants to make it very easy for them by taking away fundamental rights that have been part of Australian life for 150 years.
"The AIG, for example, is saying we have to compete with China. What it really means is, Australian families need to reduce their living standards."
AIG boss, Heather Ridout, lined up with employer radicals as federal cabinet was finalising its proposal in Canberra.
Specifically, Ridout called for weaker unfair dismissal laws; an end to equal pay for equal work; and making it more difficult for workers to improve living standards through the use of industrial action.
When Howard emerged from Thursday's meeting, he endorsed her entire wish list.
His program won quick and enthusiastic support from representatives of the ACCI, BCA, the National Farmers Federation and the Mines and Metals Association.
Cameron said nothing less could be expected of the ACCI, NFF, BCA and Mines and Metals Association who had form on backing radical and divisive plans to strip workers rights.
The ACCI and Mines and Metals Association pushed non-union AWAs into small WA mining settlements, causing bitter division to split towns and even families.
The NFF was an active player in efforts to deunionise the waterfront through the use of mercenaries, goons and dogs.
Cameron, however, accused the AIG - representing manufacturers from small workshops to giants like BHP - of "rank hypocriscy" for adding its voice to the chorus.
As Western Australian authorities confirmed charges would be laid under the state's Mines, Safety and Inspection laws, it was revealed Australia's largest company had recorded a staggering 32 "near fatalities" since Wadley, and two other workers, lost their lives.
BHP Billiton documents, seen by Workers Online, show the company has identified 32 "potential level four incidents" in the past 10 months.
In BHP-speak, level four equates to a "near fatality".
"Potentially fatal incidents are continuing to occur across all of our operations," the company's document concedes.
"The number of potential level four incidents recorded at BHPB Iron Ore since July, 2004, is as follows: Port and Rail 16; Mining 16."
A source, with years of mining industry experience, said some of the level four incidents recorded had endangered the safety of multiple workers.
This week's charges stem from a lengthy inquiry, conducted by Perth solicitor Mark Ritter, that found BHP's safety procedures had been compromised by its industrial relations policy.
In a scathing report, Ritter fingered AWAs at the centre of John Howard's industrial relations agenda.
Ritter found BHP Billiton's drive to individual contracts was a "factor which has impacted and continues to impact on the successful implementation of safety systems".
The inquiry was launched at union insistence, following the deaths of three workers at BHP Pilbarra sites, in the space of a month.
AMWU delegate, Corey Bentley, lost his life at a Port Hedland iron facility, on May 2, 2004. Following his death, company reps removed posters exhorting employees to "aim high, move fast", and graphically illustrating how far they had fallen behind million-tonne production targets.
Wadley died when a gas explosion tore through the nearby Boodarie hot briquetted plant. Royal Flying Doctor Service aircraft from Derby, Meetkatharra and Port Hedland were mobilised to transfer injured workers to hospitals.
On the same day, a 19-year-old apprentice had his head crushed at BHP's Ore Body 25, near Newman, by what the company described as "a piece of equipment".
AMWU state secretary, Jock Ferguson, welcomed the prosecutions and urged authorities to pursue them vigorously.
"This decision is vindication of Port Hedland workers who stood up and demanded an arms-length inquiry at a meeting we held up there, last year," Ferguson said.
"They wanted an inquiry because they believed BHP's production at all costs mentality was endangering their safety.
"Unfortunately, these charges are no help to James Wadley or his family. But, hopefully, they will encourage mining companies to start behaving responsibly.
"These employers have got to be made to understand that if they continue to treat safety in a cavalier manner, the law will come after them and make them pay."
There has been a 50% increase in employees working 50 hours a week or more over the last twenty years, with long hours now standard for two out of every five full time employees.
The research by Dr Iain Campbell, Senior Fellow at the RMIT University's Centre for Applied Social Research, is to be published later this year in French journal, Revue de l'IRES.
It shows that Australia has become an "extreme" example of working hours, with working hours moving in a direction that flies in the face of most other OECD nations.
The disturbing trend is that much of the overtime being worked is now unpaid - researchers have sheeted this home to a direct product of creating insecure jobs and using fear to motivate people in the workplace.
Researchers have called for better regulation of working hours.
Unions have pointed out that planned the planned Federal IR revolution will only make the situation worse.
"The issue of working hours has galvanised the union movement from day one," says Unions NSW secretary John Robertson. "Unions formed around the issue of the eight-hour day. Union activism saw working hours progressively decline throughout the twentieth century."
"All of this has been placed under threat by a surge in working hours driven by deregulation of the labour market."
Things Fall Apart
The growing issue of excessive hours will be examined at a special seminar being hosted by Unions NSW.
It brings together leading experts in the fields of ethics, family, work and social research to examine the effects of an increasing workload on society.
The seminar, Things fall Apart: What is work doing to families and community, is set down for the 3rd June 2005 at the Australian Museum Theatrette, College Street, Sydney
For more information, or to RSVP, contact Neale Towart at Unions NSW on 9264 1461, or email [email protected]
"RailCorp are not protecting their own workers or the public," says Phillip Kessey from the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU). "Here we have undesirable characters who have more rights than rail workers."
The guard had requested a passenger extinguish a cigarette. Instead the passenger got off the train and began hurling abuse at the guard, threatening to kill him.
Two weeks after this incident the same passenger noticed the guard on another train at Fairfield and ran down the stairs hurling abuse and threats.
The guard got off his train in a bid to deal with the matter in a way that would not endanger passengers on his train.
The passenger ran at the guard, who took evasive action, however, a very short struggle ensued.
Despite no complaint from the passenger the guard was sacked for entering into a physical struggle.
The guard appealed to the Transport Appeal Board, RailCorp's 'independent umpire', but his appeal was dismissed. Evidence was given at the Board that the passenger was undesirable and that he was "well known" to station staff and police.
"RailCorp is fostering a 'blame the worker culture' and using dismissal as a first step in any disciplinary action rather than conducting proper internal investigations," says RTBU secretary, Nick Lewocki. "The guards have expressed concern that this style of management is being endorsed by the Transport Appeals Board who is supposed to be the independent umpire."
"This situation makes the work of honest rail workers almost impossible and severely restricts their ability to provide a quality service to the travelling public of NSW."
In another case a guard with 9 years service was dismissed after RailCorp received a complaint claiming the guard had something in his hand and was attempting to take a photo or "something like that".
The guard appealed to the Transport Appeals Board where the allegation he faced was dismissed - despite this the Board confirmed the decision of RailCorp to dismiss the guard.
"The guy walked in the door defending one allegation, " says Kessey. "But they found him guilty of something else and he walked out without a job."
Train guards called for stop work meetings if the current culture within RailCorp management is not addressed.
The RTBU wants to see a review of the process of how complaints against RailCorp staff dealing directly with the public are investigated, rules of evidence and procedural fairness introduced into internal investigation processes, and a review of the Transport Appeals Board's role as an independent umpire.
After 15 years on the job, the performers who provide voiceovers for Mexican screenings of The Simpsons have been locked out and told the dubbing company is seeking cheaper actors.
Humberto Velez, who plays Homer and his colleague Nancy Mackenzie (Marge) were receiving less than fifty Australian dollars per episode for their efforts, with no repeat or residual fees.
Velez said it was important the union received support in standing up to an employer, that wants to pay non-union performers just half the current rate.
The Simpsons actors began taking strike action, picketing and blocking entry to non-union replacements earlier this year when contract negotiations broke down between their union and the dubbing agency.
"The only thing we know how to do is act. But we will never let people that aren't interested in agreements take away our rights for their own benefit," Velez told BBC News. "How am I supposed to take care of my kids?"
The Mexican Union of Performers says the dubbing agency is breaking provisions of an agreement which requires it to use union labour.
A government arbitrator has been appointed to help try to resolve the dispute.
The welders, sea fastening a barge for Global Labour Hire, were being paid flat rates of $24 an hour, at least $8 below going tradesmen's rates.
"Now the guys are getting close to $34 an hour, all purpose, with travel, overtime and site allowances on top," AMWU state secretary, Jock Ferguson, said.
"We insist on equal pay for equal work but the money wasn't the big issue. Safety-wise, the place was sub-standard. There had been no site inductions and there were no emergency procedures."
Ferguson said the workers sat in the shed for half a day until the employer came across on safety issues, and the back pay was a bonus.
The welders had been doing 84 hour weeks, preparing a barge for a trip to Africa.
Global has work on another four or five barges before the contract ends.
The company agreed to safety inductions, tool box meetings, a safety action plan and emergency procedures. Workers elected three health and safety representatives.
"They're hard case some of these employers," Ferguson said. "They spend half their time complaining about a skills shortage and the other half exploiting trades people."
He said John Howard's workplace law changes would have made this week's settlement near impossible.
"It would have been hard to have held a meeting in the first place," he explained. "Howard is trying to keep unions off jobs because he doesn't even want people to learn what they are entitled to."
The Development and Environmental Professionals' Association says the Council just can't seem to get it into their heads: fathers wanting to spend time with their children should be encouraged not punished.
The Council boasted it was a family friendly employer in the job ad that netted the man and maintains its claim but refused to let him condense his 35 hour week from five days to four - even after he proved it could be done during a three month trial.
Following further meetings this week, DEPA secretary Ian Robertson said was it unclear what sort of response the Association could have given the Council for them agree the man's desire to spend time with his kids was acceptable.
"I find this appalling. I bet if we were acting for a woman there would be a degree more sympathy.
"There's a suggestion that because our member is a bloke the explanation that he simply wants to spend a day a week with them, watching them learn and play and grow up, is unacceptable. Not a good enough reason.
"All he wants is to spend one day a week with his kids, before they go into schooling. They just don't get it that this bloke likes his kids and doesn't want to miss out on seeing them develop."
Robertson said the Council made several suggestions that could not be supported by DEPA including: the man should keep his children in childcare because everyone else did, that he should leave his company care at work on any days he does not come in, and that he should consider working his fifth day on Saturdays, sans penalty rates.
"All the stuff that happens with kids after two-years-of-age is missed by most Dads and we will pursue this to the bitter end to provide this lifestyle choice," Robertson said.
NSW Liberal Party leader, John Brogden, was rebuffed in an attempt to address the anti-land tax rally but Shadow Treasurer, Peta Seaton, joined the march and IR spokesman Chris Hartcher rushed out a media release commending the CFMEU's "neutral streak".
The union championed the call to axe the taxes on the basis they threatened thousands of jobs and risked causing a slump in the building industry.
CFMEU construction division state secretary Andrew Ferguson said the building workers marching at the rally were breaking the law under Howard Government's legislation and that by marching in the protest Seaton condoned the breach.
"This passionate anti-industrial manslaughter law campaigner was apparently unfazed by endorsing a rally which could be deemed illegal under her own party's retrospective and draconian legislation," Ferguson said.
Hartcher said in his media release that he looked forward to "working with the CFMEU and other unions to formulate policies which will benefit NSW, employers and workers".
Ferguson said he was "unfazed" by Hartcher's glowing endorsement but hoped his pledge to work co-operatively with unionists would prove to be more than just talk.
"While the union appreciates that the Liberal Party saw sense on this occasion we would call for more consistent support of the CFMEU in working for a strong, safe and fair building industry.
"Brogden should speak to his federal leader and work out whether the CFMEU should be attacked or be worked with," he said.
In a win for the marchers, the NSW Government has since reinstated the tax free threshold for properties with land values under $330,000.
Federal Minister for Vocational and Technical Education Mr Hardgrave, has released a media statement dated 25 May 2005 entitled 'NSW Teachers Federation refuse to reward TAFE teachers'.
Far from opposing increased salaries for NSW part-time casual teachers in TAFE, the Federation made the claim in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission that resulted in the increased salaries. Says President of the NSW Teachers Federation Ms Maree O'Halloran said today:
'Federation notes and welcomes the full funding of the TAFE part-time casual teacher settlement as announced by the Minister, Carmel Tebbutt.'
Workplace Rights Not For Sale
the news comes as TAFE teachers join their colleagues in the university sector for a national day of action against the Howard Government's proposed workplace law changes.
In the tertiary sector the Howard government has threatened to withhold education funds to universities that refuse to push their workers onto AWAs.
On 1st June 2005, higher education workers will take action against the threats from canberra.
NSW TAFE teachers and higher educational staff will stop work to attend public rallies in major centres, or to take other action including protests outside the offices of the Federal Government Members of Parliament.
A major lunchtime rally is planned for Sydney on the 1st June to protest against this interference by the Federal Government.
The rally will be held at 12 noon at Sydney University for a march to Belmore Park where there will be a rally commencing at 1pm.
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.
The Wages of Spin
From the company behind the smash hit stage production of the
"Children Overboard" Inquiry, CMI: version 1.0 presents
The Wages of Spin
Does it matter we went to war on a lie?
Sydney: May 20 - Jun 5 Canberra: July 20 - 30
> "You went abroad in our name on a just cause.... Thank you from Australia." - John Howard
> "Nobody knows, nobody has asked and nobody even tries to establish what the level of casualties might be. That is true, isn't it?" - Senator John Faulkner, Senate Estimates Committee
> There is no point in producing information that may be misleading or unhelpful." - Defence Minister, Senator Robert Hill, in response.
Last year Sydney's version 1.0 went overboard with its surreal and gut-wrenching CMI (A Certain Maritime Incident), taking the transcript of the Senate's "Children Overboard" Inquiry as a performance text. Now the company has turned its attention to the war on Iraq, and the fabricated (and shifting) justifications for it, with a new show, The Wages of Spin (Performance Space, May 20 - June 5).
The Wages of Spin is political theatre, version 1.0 style - playful, surreal, visceral and tragic, with no easy answers. There may be casualties. There certainly will be liberties taken with the found texts. So, in the words of a thousand arts journos and a thousand PR hacks, what can the audience expect to see? Expect to see kittens in gift-wrapped boxes, flag gags, fake blood, shock-and-awe slapstick and Benny Hill-esque puns about weapons of mass destruction. Expect to laugh... until you're confronted with the horrors of POW interrogations. Expect to see some serious grappling with the horrific possibility that the Right may have been right... the war may have been a good thing.
The Wages of Spin plays to Sydney's chardonnay set at Performance Space (May 20 - June 5), before entertaining Canberra's political elites at The Street Theatre (July 20 -30). Bookings: Sydney, 02 9698 7235 or [email protected], Canberra 02 6247 1223.
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Artists Performer/Devisers: Stephen Klinder, Deborah Pollard & David Williams Dramaturgy: Paul Dwyer Outside Eye: Yana Taylor Lighting: Simon Wise Video: Sean Bacon Sound: Gail Priest Producer: Harley Stumm
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Sydney Performance Space, 199 Cleveland St Redfern. 20 May - 5 June (Wed - Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm) Tix $25/20/15. Bookings: 02 9698 7235 or [email protected]
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Canberra The Street Theatre, Cnr Childers St & University Ave. July 20 - 30 (Tue - Sat 8pm + 2pm matinee, Sat 30th) Tix $29/24. Bookings: 02 6247 1223
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Media Info Harley Stumm 0411 330 654 or [email protected]
Print-friendly Attachment contains more info about version 1.0 & the artists
Tim Anderson on Civil Liberties
Dr Tim Anderson understands like almost no one else in Australia what hysteria about terrorism can mean.
On 13 February 1978, a bomb exploded in a garbage truck outside the hotel housing delegates for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Regional Meeting, killing three men. The Prime Minister ordered out the army, the media called for a crackdown ... and Tim Anderson spent over eight years in gaol for a crime he did not commit.
In this special meeting, Tim offers his unique perspective on why the erosion of civil rights under the war on terror should concern us all.
Other speakers include Margarita Windisch from the Socialist Alliance and Melbourne Stop the War Coalition and Les Thomas, the brother of Jack Thomas, who currently faces trial on 'terrorist' offences, on the basis of evidence gathered under duress in a Pakistan military prison with no access to a lawyer.
Tuesday 2 June
7pm RMIT Kaleide Theatre
360 Swanston Street City
$5/$3
Organised by Justice for Jack Thomas Campaign
O409 399 429/ O3 9639 8622
For more on the Anderson case, see http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/hilton.html
SLAPP in the face of democracy
Public forum on how corporate legal actions try to silence community groups
6:00pm - 8:00pm Friday 17 June 2005
NSW Law Society, 170 Phillip St, Sydney
Committee Room 2, Level 2
Bob Brown - Gunns 20 defendant, Greens Senator
Peter Cashman - General Counsel, Maurice Blackburn Cashman
Robin Banks - Director, Public Interest Advocacy Centre
The legal limits of political protest in Australia are being squeezed by law reforms and SLAPP suits (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) which pit corporate interests against community groups.
On 13 December 2004, logging company Gunns filed a $6.3 million writ in the Victorian Supreme Court alleging damage had been caused to Gunns' business in the course of a forest campaign. Defendants in this action include Senator Bob Brown, The Wilderness Society and individual activists.
Meanwhile at a federal level, the Howard Government is pushing for a uniform defamation law, which will allow corporations to sue community groups and individuals for defamation.
All welcome - entry is free
Organised by Greens MP Lee Rhiannon and
the Legal Observers Project (Sydney)
For information contact Jemma Bailey on 0401 666 434
Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA Study Tour
Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA is inviting applications for of East Timor a study tour between July 17th and 24th. The ideal participant will be active in the Australian trade union movement, deeply committed to international solidarity, and keen to investigate the effectiveness of APHEDA projects in East Timor. An ability to have fun and enjoy warm weather is also a must!
The cost of the study tour is $2,050 which includes airfare ex-Darwin, accommodation, in-country transport, interpreter services, breakfasts and the study tour itself. For more information about contact Thomas Michel (02) 9264 9343, 0410 814 360
We would like to apologise to all our readers over a gremlin that has been holding up our automated Send-A-Letter system.
The problem is being rectified and we once again encourage readers to contribute to the lively debate at Workers Online.
This week we belatedly publish those letters we have managed to retrieve from the system.
The Workers Online Team
Dear Sir.
Whilst browsing the net I came across an article on the "Employer from Hell" who is a mining contractor and won this award in Tasmania.
I have recently had the unfortunate experience of working for this company and would say without fear of contradiction that this company displays an attitude towards safety and it's employees that I have not seen for the previous 20 years within the mining industry.
I was employed as a shift supervisor and was expected to have my crew work with unsafe equipment and this was actively encouraged and promoted by the site manager and foreman. Danger tags placed on equipment by my crew were torn off the next shift and the gear sent back to work and this gear was then presented to us a shift later in the same unsafe condition.
This came to a head when I advised the foreman that my crew would under no circumstances use unsafe gear. Two days latter I was advised that I was being "Culled" and was finished up on the day.
I have no problem with this and am happy that my association with this company has ceased. My concern is that these type of mining contractors will continue to put people at risk and employee "Dinosaurs" to manage their sites and even more worrying manage their people.
This cost me a position that paid in excess of $100,000,but it would not be enough for me to lower my standards to these peoples level of safety and regard to their well being of their people.
Unfortunately we did not have any union representation on site and the OHAS rep was frightened that he would lose his job to the extent that he could do nothing.
As an industry the mining industry still has a long way to go to eliminate these donkeys and there is a need for a greater union presence in the Wa industry.
We all need to come home at the end of the shift.
The best of luck in your endeavours and congrats on a good read.
Robert Warburton
I am not sure what to call you guys-somehow the usual "To Whom It May Concern" just doesn't seem right. Anyhow-I think you are magnificent. I have been reading back issues & as they come out. I think your stance about industrial homicide is the only morally correct one. Here in the States-when a story about someone being killed on the job due to management F**K-ups DOES make the news, it's 9/10ths about how the company "Thinks it's regretable -but OH NO! it's not OUR fault.. blah blah! They are criminals & shld be treated w/all the contempt & outrage possible-jail-time-hell, yes. In fact, I think that a new category of assult shld be added to the books-Industrial Assult-& it shld be used whenever an employer's blatent disregard for safety standards has lead to some-one being injured. AND it shld be in the newspaper AND on T.V-& said employer shld be exposed to the world as the piece of shit he is-no matter how small or large the company.I have to admit, in all honesty, that this is a position I have arrived at recently,& it is due to bitter personal expierience.I am a machine operator-by trade & by choice-In
december of 2004 I had the hell torn out of my left index finger ttrying to run a drill-press set up that wld've embarrassed a freshman shop student. Nerve damage,tendon damage,artery damage-no guards on the machine-& a major asshole boss who says that "I must've driled my own hand" & thinks I had no good reason to leave his employ. Unemployment agrees w/him.
Jennifer Martin Cirino
U.S.A
His new vision of a workforce liberated from their rights is every bit as contrived and dishonest as the white picket, white bread cliche' of Australia that delivered him his first victory.
Strip the rhetoric about 'efficiency', productivity' and, laughably, 'fairness' from Howard's speech introducing his attack on workers rights this week, and you have the absurd proposition that taking work rights away from you will somehow make you stronger.
In Howard's words, the collective rules that have delivered Australia a fair society are the product of the 'elite' few.
He believes workers will welcome the opportunity to jump onto individual contracts and set their own wages and conditions, free of all but the most cursory of minimum standards.
Holding out this nirvana of a society of individuals all thriving as single units reminds me of that wonderful scene from 'The Life of Brian' - the mass gathers and chants 'we're all individuals'; then one chap out the back shouts 'I'm not', then another 'neither am I', until the whole crowd is chanting again.
To expose the woolliness of this proposition takes a little bit of reasoning, but it is well worth the effort.
Step One: A society based on a decent minimum wage, does not just ensure a decent quality of life for the low paid; it also ensures social cohesion for all of us.
Step Two: Awards that give all workers basic standards, rather than putting rights like leave, penalty rates and reasonable workloads on the bargaining table, is more than just an industrial agreement. These are the pillars that give working people certainty in their lives, allowing them to plan their family lives and commit to community activities.
Step Three: And this is the key point to the Howard mythology; individual bargaining is a recipe for conflict - between employers and employees with unequal bargaining power; and between workers, who are pitted against each other. Promote flexible workplaces, by all means, but do it as a team and the benefits will flow right through the organisation.
How anyone, other than an employer advocate with no interest in lifting their eyes up from the balance sheet can see the Howard changes as a recipe for a fairer society defies belief.
Back to John Howard - and Monty Python - the point is that without a set of common rules and collective rights, individuals do not have the chance to thrive.
Cutting work rights is not some exercise in personal freedom, but the opposite: less certainty of income, hours and work-flow placing pressure on families and entire communities.
We already see it with the deregulation that has been imposed to date; work has never been as stressful, economic security has never been as elusive.
It is a mistake to see the upcoming battle over work rights as an industrial campaign or even a political campaign; this is the next cultural battle, about the sort of society we leave our kids.
And the first step is to be honest about the sort of Australia we are - and would want to be; not a nation go-getter entrepreneurs who would climb over their neighbours to get to the top, but a nation founded on mateship and cooperation.
It is through this frame that the Howard agenda is not just anti-worker but down-right un-Australian.
Peter Lewis
Editor
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