E D I T O R I A L

The Long March
Half a million Australian workers turn out for the largest industrial protests the nation has ever seen, an old style symbol of resistance linked by new world technology, opposing laws from another galaxy.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Public Defender
The CPSU's Stephen Jones has confronted the Howard Government's IR agenda at close quarters.

Legal: Craig's Story
An inquest in western NSW is a cautionary tale of the use of AWAs, writes Ian Latham

Unions: Wrong Way, Go Back
The WorkChoice legislation sends Australia down the wrong economic road by smashing the instittutions that have made it strong, argues Greg Combet.

Industrial: WhatChoice?
The Howard Government has shown itself to be the master of illusion, writes Dr Anthony Forsyth

Politics: Queue Jumping
The changes to industrial laws, betray a new vision of Australian society, writes James Gallaway.

History: Iron Heel
Conservative governments using laws to take away basic civil rights. It's nothing new, writes Rowan Cahill

Economics: Waging War
When was the last time you heard an Australian politician talk about incomes policy, asks Matt Thistlethwaite

International: Under Pressure
The push for UN intervention in Burma is intensifying, following a report by Vaclav Havel and Bishop Desmond Tutu into slave labour.

Poetry: Billy Negotiates An AWA
More and more people are meeting Billy, the hero of page 15 of the WorkChoices booklet, including our resident bard, David Peetz

Review: A Pertinent Proposition
Nick Cave's "Australian western" touches on some themes still relevant today, Julianne Taverner writes.

N E W S

Aussies Shrug Off Threats

PM Executes Back Flip

National Rally Boosts Local Action

Restaurateurs Do a Runner

St Hilliers No Angels

Penalties Frozen on Sundaes

Slammer Threat for Operators

Sunday Light on IR Shadows

Sol Dials Up 12,000 Scalps

Boss Likes Women 'Work-Hardened'

Bread Winner on $9 an Hour

King Goes the Gouge

Jo Jacks Up

Currawong Funds for IR Battle

Howard Joins IR Rogues

Arnie Terminated

Activist's What's On!

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Men and Women of Australia
What makes a perfect speech? Michael Fullilove has scoured Australian history to find out.

The Locker Room
The Hungry Years
Phil Doyle gets the feeling we�ve been here before

Culture
From Little Things
Paul Kelly's song about the battle for land rights misses one important character, writes Graham Ring

Parliament
The Westie Wing
Ian West takes a look at Public Private Partnerships, and wonders if we should all just drink rum�

L E T T E R S

WHAT YOU CAN DO

	About Workers Online
	Latest Issue
	Print Latest Issue
	Previous Issues
	Advanced Search

other LaborNET sites

Labor Council of NSW
Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation

Slammer Threat for Operators

A memo, dated October 26 and written by a Telstra manager, warns of penalties for leaking "customer" information - in this case the Federal government - and says staff may be searched and questioned regarding privacy breaches.

It also warns of fines of up to $10 million for Telstra, which was running the call centres, as well as potential damages for "humiliation and anxiety" of the government.

The memo followed the leaking of the entire operator script, as well as a log of callers complaining about the industrial relations reforms.

"I have previously spoken with all of you regarding this matter and have reminded you that you have signed a confidentiality and privacy document which I handed out to each of you last week to have a read through again," the memo states.

One former operator, who worked at the Canberra call centre, told Workers Online, security seemed to be more important than supply accurate information.

The 21-year-old student, who asked not to be named, said a fellow worker was sacked for taking pictures of the outside scenery.

"Apparently that breaches privacy laws, which seems incredibly ridiculous

to me," she said.

She said she had often heard operators, including supervisors, giving wrong information to callers.

One caller rang with concerns about negotiating an AWA.

"The floor walker [supervisor] was saying something like 'no, they can't negotiate to take away all your rights - there's lots of protection for you - and if you're concerned, the Office of Employee Advocate can step in on your behalf and negotiate for you.'

"I was thinking for one thing, it's the Office of the Employment Advocate, not Employee Advocate.

"They're a government-appointed body that will be doing nothing - and the whole point of the AWA is for it to be negotiated individually."

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 290 contents

© 1999-2002 Workers Online
Workers Online is a resource for the Labour movement
provided by the Labor Council of NSW
URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/290/news62_sla.html
Last Modified: 18 Nov 2005