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Issue No. 280 09 September 2005  
E D I T O R I A L

The Perfect Storm
The mayhem and misery engulfing New Orleans and its surrounds is more than a human tragedy of mammoth proportions, it is the product of a convergence of events that could shift our worldview every bit as much as the attacks on September 11, 2001.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Polar Eclipse
Academic David McKnight challenges some sacred cows in his new book "Beyond Left and Right".

Industrial: Wrong Turn
Radical labour reform is on the horizon but some workers, like Sydney bus driver Yvonne Carson, have seen it all before, writes Jim Marr.

Unions: Star Support
It wasn't just families who backed workers' rights at The Last Weekend, but a bunch of musicians who set the tone, writes Chrissy Layton.

Workplace: Checked Out
Glenda Kwek asks you to consider the plight of the retail worker, and shares some of her experiences

Economics: Sold Out
The Future Fund and industrial relations reform are favourite projects of the PM and the Treasurer. Both are speculations on the future and the only guarantee with them is that you will be worse off, writes Neale Towart.

Politics: Green Banned
The impact of new building industry laws won�t be confined to one industry, writes CFMEU national secretary John Sutton.

History: Potted History
Lithgow is a place with a proud history as a union town. The origins of broader community solidarity lie in the early industrial development of the town and the development of unions. The Lithgow Pottery dispute of 1890 was a key event.

International: Curtain Call
The curtains have opened for East Timor�s young theatre performers, thanks to a Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA project.

Review: Little Fish
At last! An Aussie film with substance, suspense and a serious dose of reality, writes Lucy Muirhead

Poetry: Slug A Worker
In a shock development, the Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, gave a ringing endorsement to the poetry pages of Workers Online, writes resident bard David Peetz.

N E W S

 Telstra Cuts Off Sick Mum

 CFMEU Pulls $3M Bank Job

 Life Imitates Ad

 Equal Pay Unlawful

 AWA Threatens Kids

 Howard�s Porky Exposed

 STOP PRESS: Bank Pinged

 Thongs Flap Into IR War

 Dad Sacked Over Safety Fears

 News Leader in Advertising Stink

 PM�s Spin Hit for Six

 Daffy Ducks Dud Deal

 Canada Shamed

 Combet Stars At Rooty Hill

 Vanstone Backs Ciggie Salaries for Detainees

 Flicking the Super Switch

 Activists What's On!

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Families First
New Senator Stephen Fielding turned a few heads with his Maiden Speech to Parliament.

The Locker Room
The New World Order
Phil Doyle declares himself unavailable for the fifth and deciding test.

Parliament
The Westie Wing
Our favourite MP, Ian West, reports from the NSW Government's Safety Summit

Postcard
On The Bus
A bright orange bus travelling the state has become the focus of the campaign against federal IR changes. Nathan Brown was on board.

L E T T E R S
 Telstra Trauma
 Telstra�s Calling
 What Poor People?
 The Day
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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Food for Thought....

Don't miss out. Tickets selling fast!

Support Global Solidarity and book your tickets for the Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA annual dinner. In the current climate of threats to workers rights in Australia it has never been more important for all unionists to sit at the one table. Hosted by The Chaser/CNNN team, with guest speaker Jenny Macklin MP, Deputy Federal Labor Leader. Great prizes and a FUN night!

Date: Wednesday 21 September, 2005

Time: 6:30pm for 7:00pm

Place: Petersham RSL Auditorium (7 Regent St, Petersham-Close to Petersham train station and 412 bus stop)

Cost: $50 per person, $450 for a table of 10

To secure your tickets please phone Candice at APHEDA on (02) 9264 9343 or email [email protected]

Neilson comes to Sydney

An exhibition of new paintings by Peter Neilson will be held at Australian Galleries in Sydney from September 6 to October 1, 2005

Drifting South, Always South

Australian Galleries

15 Roylston Street

PADDINGTON

NSW 2021

02 9360 5177

[email protected]

"The art of Peter Neilson is very much a product of urban Melbourne radicalism. He was born in East Melbourne in 1944 and grew up in the inner - Melbourne suburb of Essendon where he formed a life long affiliation with the local football club." (Dr Sasha Grishin 2002)

Union Avoidance and Union Recognition: A Research Seminar

1-3pm

Wednesday 21 September

Board Room

The Darlington Centre

City Rd

The University of Sydney

Spaces are strictly limited to 35. RSVP (see below) is essential

Reconfiguring Union Avoidance: Evidence from the European Union

Dr Tony Dundon

Tony's research looks at the strategies and tactics employers use to remain union-free, covering small family-run and large multi-national companies. It argues that managerial ideologies remain at the heart of the hostility to union organisation and collective representation. In addition, structural factors and cultural dimensions are found to be important aspects in the managerial union avoidance arsenal, to which union organisations campaigns can look towards in terms of future representation campaigns.

Australian Employer Responses to Union Organising Campaigns: Preliminary Results of the 'Campaign Survey'

Dr Rae Cooper

Rae presents the preliminary results of her recent survey of NSW union officials especially in relation to employer responses to union organising campaigns during 2004/2005.

Union Avoidance in a White-collar Setting: Experiences and Prospects

Stephen Jones

Stephen will reflect upon the Australian experience of union avoidance, the likely impact of the proposed Federal IR changes and implications for union strategy.

RSVP to Dr Rae Cooper on phone 029.351.5241 or email [email protected] by Wednesday 14 September. Spaces are limited to 35 so please RSVP early to be assured of a seat.

A More Diverse Media - Can the Club be Busted?

As the Howard Government prepares to overhaul Labor's cross media laws we ask what needs to be done to open up Australia's small media club to more players and a greater diversity of voices and points of view? Our speakers will consider what the new reforms may mean, and how to genuinely invigorate an homogenised and concentrated media.

With:

Mark Scott - Editor, Sydney Morning Herald

Julianne Schultz - Editor Griffith Review and ex-ABC digital strategy

Andy Nehl - TV Producer (Chaser Decides & CNNNN) and Head of TV, AFTRS

When: Wednesday 21 September from 6.00pm - 7.30pm

Where: Theatrette NSW Parliament House

Cost: Free

Chair: Tony Moore, Member of the NSW Fabian Society, Pluto Press

Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA Dinner

Join us for our Annual Dinner and celebrate 21 years of global solidarity on Wednesday 21 September, 2005

Hosted by members of The Chaser/CNNN team. The dinner will feature live music, fabulous prizes, great food and free parking.

Date: Wednesday 21 September, 2005

Time: 6:30pm for 7:00pm

Place: Petersham RSL Auditorium (7 Regent St, Petersham-Close to Petersham train station and 412 bus stop)

Cost: $50 per person, $450 for a table of 10

To secure your tickets please phone Candice at APHEDA on (02) 9264 9343 or email [email protected]

Tribute to HT Lee

Photojournalist - Independent film maker

Trade unionist

Activist for East Timor

07.08.1946 - 27.07.2005

Saturday 8th October

2-6pm

Gaelic Club

64 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills (upstairs)

Speakers include;

o Andrew Refshauge (former Deputy Premier)

o Andrew Ferguson, State Secretary, CFMEU

o Katherine Thomson (Playwright)

o Kim Gago (East Timor Community)

o Neil McLean

o Peter Chandran

o Carmela Baranowski

Other speakers to be confirmed

Performances by Enda Kenny and a choir

Entry by donation

Money raised will go to the HT Lee Memorial Political Film-makers Fund to assist people going to East Timor to work on film documentaries

Jointly organised by Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union

(Construction & General Division) and

the Australia-East Timor Association (NSW)

www.cfmeu-construction-nsw.com

AUSIRAQ union solidarity Jazz night.

Money raised to go through Union Aid Abroad (APHEDA) to unions in Iraq.

Entry donation: $39 dinner & live jazz. $19 jazz only

CFMEU auditorium, 12 Railway St, Lidcombe

Tuesday 18 October

From 6:30pm to 10pm.

Children & unwaged 1/2 price. Drinks available

AUSIRAQ union solidarity Jazz night fundraiser

Money raised to go through the ACTU's Union Aid Abroad (APHEDA) to unions in Iraq. Best to book ahead for the meal so AUSIRAQ knows how many to cater for.

Contact Lynn Smith: 0439640118

One Year Down & Two to Go - Can Labor Win in 2007?

With John Singleton (Advertising Executive), Geoff Walsh (former ALP National Secretary) & Julie Owens MP (Member for Parramatta)

When: Wednesday 26 October from 6.00pm to 7.30pm

Where: LHMU Auditorium, 187 Thomas Street Haymarket

Cost: Free

Chair: Michael Samaras, Secretary NSW Fabian Society


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