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Issue No. 276 | 12 August 2005 |
The Power of One
Interview: On Holiday Unions: One Day Longer Industrial: Never Mind the Bollocks Politics: Spun Out Economics: If the Grog Don't Get You .... History: Taking a Stand International: The Split Legal: Pushing the Friendship Poetry: Simple Subtractions Review: Sydney Trashed
Sick Days Get Hadgkiss Sniffing Fun Guy Skips Work, Docks Staff Nurse Launches Neighbourhood Alert Feds: Inconsistency “Not Inconsistent” PacNat Troops Won't Be Railroaded
Parliament The Soapbox The Locker Room International Postcard
Govt Has No Case Logon to IR Ears and Minds Howard on the Couch Which Bank? Kevin the Tool Man Tom On Safety
Labor Council of NSW |
News Cameron Gets ‘Fair Dinkum’
The AMWU national secretary made the proposal while backing farmers' demands for clear food labeling at a rally in Sydney. "The AMWU is calling on the federal government to fund a $20 million campaign to promote Australian grown food, over three years," Cameron said. "The government is spending $20 million in six months trying to brainwash Australians about industrial relations changes that will cost conditions and wages. Why can't they spend that much helping keep Australian farmers and workers in good, honest-paying jobs?" Cameron congratulated farmers on their Fair Dinkum Food campaign - designed to force supermarket giants to accurately label products on their shelves. Farmers are objecting to the companies importing product, and materials for generic brands, and hiding the fact behind incomplete labeling. The Australian food industry supports over 600,000 jobs and boasts a $10 billion trade surplus. That situation is under threat, however, with McDonalds sourcing chips from overseas and supermarkets agitating for watered-down labeling requirements. Cameron told farmers their industries were under threat because politicians had capitulated to the "madness" of free trade. He said they had picked a "David and Goliath" fight in which they would have to confront corporate giants like McDonalds, Coles and Woolworths. "These companies are greedy, arrogant and uncaring," Cameron said. "Woolworths profit is in at just over $440 million, and that's just for half the year. It's CEO, Roger Corbett, makes more than $4 million a year. "Coles profit is $576.5 million and it pays CEO John Fletcher $4.7 million. "How much profit is enough for these people?" Cameron called for an enquiry into the Coles-Woolworths supermarket duopoly, and a code of conduct for Australian food companies that would protect farmers and workers. The code, he said, should include ... - a requirement that "home brands" be 100 percent Australian - that "cost downs" on suppliers must be fair and not at the expense of jobs - a fair allocation of supermarket shelf space for Australian products - a labour standards test for suppliers - clear country of origin labeling to allow Australian consumers to make informed choices
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