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| Issue No 29 |  |
03 September 1999 |
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Letters to the EditorIs Bevis a Butthead?
An answer to your pertinent and timely question-Is Beavis a Butthead-Yes Yes and thousands of times Yes. Now for the reasons, industrial, economic and political. Industrial-Beavis has agreed with the Eco rats that low wages are a solution to unemployment,he has tacitly accepted the proposition that young people and working families must pay subsidies to some of the biggest and wealthiest corporations in this country and he clearly believes that there is no mutual obligation owed by these emplolyers whom the Commission found, undertook no proper structured and recognised training of their cut price labour market. Well done Arch. Now for the social reasons-Hey, Arch, 18 year olds have the vote-or did you think it was still 1971? Baby, why should one group of citizens in this counrty be expected to cop ongoing and unacceptable discrimination. What next, homemakers wages? Now for the last and perhaps the most ironic (sorry to use this post modern linguistic treasure). Lets see the political scorecard-my estimate is as follows:- For a score of ten, this decision rates as follows: - Dems 10/10-they look caring and sharing once again; - Reith 6/10-he can crow about a win against the unions and and show the ALP as being swayed by the tacky and tawdry arguments his government used in the Inquiry into junior rates;. - ALP 0/10-they look weak, opportunistic and desperate. They have handed the Democrats back an opportunity to look good after the GST debacle, and provided Reith with another opening. Worst of all, this is the party that will need the votes of young people at the next election. Hey, I can see it now-'ALP backs discount votes for 18 year olds" Get real! Please withold my name for publication. While I am at it what about NSW LC hosting an annual award for worst and most biased reporting and broadcasting about unions and the movement. It could be called the (S)PIERS and be a fat old toad cast in plasticine. Seriously, these kind of events get good publicity, and it could provide a focus on just how biased the ruling class press is against ordinary workers. Remember the Ernies started with just four tables of women and idea was hatched in a pub somewhere. Now the publicity is great. Even Richo interviewed Meredith Bergmann today. Strewth you could have knocked me down with a bottle of '54 La Fitte! Cheers and continue the great work with W's OL. It is my media fix each week. NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST A Catalyst for Change Federal Employment Minister Peter Reith said it was a great day for junior workers and would ensure 200,000 youths kept their jobs. The Youth Affairs Council of SA executive director, Mr Kym Davey, said there was no evidence to prove lower rates of pay rates stimulated employment in SA. In South Australia "Despite the earnings of young people falling over the past two decades compared to adult wages, the youth unemployment rate in S.A. has risen from around 15% in 1989 to around 30% in 1999" The Labor Party has completely ignored the Trade Union movement and their own rank and file members reguarding the question of youth pay rates. Return to Canberra is proving to be the main purpose for it's existence and the electors are casting around for some alternative solutions to answer their frustration at their present political impotence. This, despite having umpteen ex- ACTU leaders who moved over to put posteriors on seats in Canberra. Perhaps the time has arrived to consider producing a Genuine Democratic Political Organisation or Party that concerns itself about the interests of the wage earners of this country. A Genuine Democratic Constitution would put such a party in the hands of it's members and supporters. Democracy is the flavour of the XXI st Century world wide. New thinking for new times. The future of all working mankind and the whole of society may well rest in it's own hands. Ian Ferguson
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   Activists: Virtually Here - Eric LeeFrom the Kibbutz to cyberspace, Andrew Casey profiles the work of an Internet class warrior. Interview: Net BenefitsSean Kidney has been combining business savvy with social justice for more than a decade. He gives us his take on unions and the Net. International: Dateline DiliAs the United Nations attempts to begin counting the votes from East Timor�s independence referendum, the capital Dili is rapidly spiralling out of control. Unions: Secret Herbs and SpicesRead KFC worker Claire Hamilton's speech to last week's Second Wave Rally. Politics: Loosening Labor�s Links?Is Labor under Kim Beazley fundamentally changing its social appeal and turning itself into the Australian equivalent of Bill Clinton�s Democrats? Labour Review: What's New at the Information CentreOur regular update on papers and articles for union officials and students. History: Immigration, Racism and the Labour MovementAn upcoming conference asks some hard questions about the politics of immigration. Satire: Crime Figures Down: NSW Elections PostponedThe release of statistics showing decreasing crime rates has threatened to delay the next NSW election. Review: Trains of TreasureA new CD of poems and songs pays tribute to our rich locomotive history.
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