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Polls Apart
The tragic bombings in London may knock industrial relations off the front pages over the next few days, but it is unlikely to end the groundswell of opposition to the Howard Government's mad grab at workers' rights.
Interview: Battle Stations
Opposition leader Kim Beazley says he's ready to fight for workers right. But come July 1, he'll have to be fighting by different rules.
Unions: The Workers, United
It was a group of rank and filers who took centre stage when workers rallied in Sydney's Town Hall, writes Jim Marr.
Politics: The Lost Weekend
The ALP had a hot date, they had arranged to meet on the Town Hall steps, and Phil Doyle was there.
Industrial: Truth or Dare
Seventeen ivory towered academics upset those who know what is best for us last week.
History: A Class Act
After reading a new book on class in Australia, Neale Towart is left wondering if it is possible to tie the term down.
Economics: The Numbers Game
Political economist Frank Stilwell offers a beginners guide to understanding budgets
International: Blonde Ambition
Sweden can be an inspiration to labour movements the world over, as it has had community unionism for over 100 years, creating a vibrant caring society, rather than a "productive" lean economy.
Training: The Trade Off
Next time you go looking for a skilled tradesman and can’t find one, blame an economist, writes John Sutton.
Review: Bore of the Worlds
An invincible enemy has people turning against one another as they fight for survival – its not just an eerie view of John Howard’s ideal workplace, writes Nathan Brown.
Poetry: The Beaters Medley
In solidarity with the workers of Australia, Sir Paul McCartney (with inspiration from his old friend John Lennon) has joined the Workers Online resident bard David Peetz to pen some hits about the government's proposed industrial relations revolution.
 Then There Were Three
Dad's Choice Goes AWAL
OEA Invokes Sgt Schultz
CFMEU Resists Standover Tactics
Tall Tales and Two
Corrine Throws Stones
Cardinal Adds Weight to Concerns
Bosses: Unions Beat AWAs
16 Hours to Recover Worker
Choice Gets Confusing
Attack Derailed In Qld
PM Pulls Rank On Ads
HT Lee Gravely Ill
Activists Whats On!
The Soapbox
State of the Union
Unions NSW secretary John Robertson lifts the lid on ‘The Nine Myths of Modern Unionism’ The Locker Room
Wrist Action
Phil Doyle trawls the murky depths of tawdry sleaze, and discovers Rugby is behind it all. Culture
To Hew The Coal That Lies Below
Phil Doyle reviews Australia's first coal mining novel, Black Diamonds and Dust. Parliament
The Westie Wing
Our favourite State MP, Ian West, reports from Macquarie Street that the Premier is all the way with a State Commission.
Don’t Call Me Customer
Do It Yourself?
Goodthink
Vale the Eight Hour Day
The vision thing
Campaign Pushes Right Buttons
It’s Time to Punt the PM
Bob Each Way
Ads Value
Travel Allowance?
Hits the Mark
Reforms not an Erosion
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Unions on LaborNET
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News
Choice Gets Confusing
Prime Minister John Howard was spruiking choice over the airwaves as Canberra public servants protested the lack of choice for new workmates.
Howard told 2GB's Alan Jones last Thursday every worker will have the right to indicate a preference for award conditions over an AWA when they apply for a job.
His assurance came one day after, Department of Workplace Relations staff in Canberra held a rally to protest new employees being forced to sign AWAs.
"The Prime Minister's statement seems to be starkly at odds with the policy in place for staff at the Department of Workplace Relations," a CPSU spokesman said.
"To get a job there you have to accept an individual contract - no AWA no start."
CPSU Assistant National Secretary Margaret Gillespie told the Canberra rally the situation highlighted the hypocrisy and dishonesty in the Government's workplace agenda.
"[Workplace Relations] Minister Kevin Andrews likes to preach to the Australian community about flexibility and choice," Gillespie said.
"What choice do the new starters in his own department have when they have to sign an AWA to get a job?"
It was revealed last month that 15 new DEWR employees were presented with documents with a 'yes' box already ticked, alongside the statement, "I acknowledge my commitment to sign an Australian Workplace Agreement".
The Canberra protest followed DEWR rallies in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
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Issue 271 contents
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