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| Issue No 27 |  |
20 August 1999 |
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Letters to the EditorRallying Cries
I have to respond to your claim: " Another rally won't defeat Reith's Second Wave. But ordinary workers telling their stories of how the push into the unknown territory of deregulation is damaging their lives might. How else do you suggest that we get our message across, how else should "ordinary workers" tell their stories? What better forum than a series of mass rallies, taking our message to the streets? Rallies are empowering to be part of, you don't feel as isolated as you can as an individual in a workplace or even as a unionist at work. And seeing hundreds and thousands on the streets speaks loudly to those who are either not yet unionists or are feeling isolated, thinking it's just them this is happening to. However, I do not advocate rallies with alleged labour movements stars like Jenny George and Kim Beazley. Neither of them have done much at all for workers. They may have appeared to leave alone the union movement while Labor was in Government, but...! What did they do for the "non-unionists" University students spring to mind -- fees were introduced by Labor, not the Libs! Working class participation was beginning to increase at unis until Labor made it harder by introducing fees! And wasn't it Labor which first tossed around the idea of a consumption tax (Hawke)? And what of the NSW Labor Council secretary, hell-bent on selling off worker's heritage for a few pieces of silver...and hasn't he presided over the gentrification of Trades Hall and the bastardisation of worker's history? Ah, the list is long and the betrayals are many. Workers need to stop pretending Labor is a union friend, and begin to organise themselves in their own political party which would look after the interests of working people, and their families. Labor looks after its mates, as you can see from the overwhelmingly white male ageing front bench! Susan Barley PSA member
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   Interview: Stepping Up To The PlateACTU secretary-in-waiting Greg Combet talks about his report on international trade union trends and the need to adapt for the future. Work/Time/Life: The Good Type of Wharf Security The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has locked in better job security for casuals as part of its collective agreement with P&O Ports. International: Venezuela Warned By Global Labour GroupVenezuela's new Constituent Assembly has drafted a decree providing for the dissolution of the country's national trade union organisation, the CTV. Legal: Politically Motivated Case Against Unionist FailsA politically motivated extortion case against Eric Wicker, a long-time trade unionist on the Port Kembla waterfront has failed. Republic: Direct Election Republicans who say YES � and MORE!Despairing at the sight of Ted Mack and Phil Cleary fronting for Kerry Jones and the Australians for A Constitutional Monarchy? Appalled at the disastrous strategy and paralysis of the Australian Republican Movement? A significant group of Republicans has an answer for you! Unions: Technology for the TimesNew technology offers exciting opportunities which help union growth, according to this extract from Unions@Work. History: Australian Unions and Industrial Action 1788-1900A project is under way to compile a comprehensive record of unions, informal worker organisation and strikes from the period of European settlement to 1900 using a specially designed computer database. Review: Stage Left! - Workers Theatre Hits the Mark'Rare' is the word on the Melbourne Workers Theatre production, 'Who's Afraid of the Working Class?' currently touring the eastern states of Australia. Satire: Australia's Most EarnestStrewth magazine scours the cultural landscape for its inaugural Earnest Bastard of the Year Award.
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