E D I T O R I A L

A Free Vote
This week’s charade of the Senate amending the Howard Government’s workplace laws raises fundamental questions about the sort of democracy Australia has become.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: The Binds That Tie
Dr Don Edgar has demolished the Prime Minister's credentials as a family man.

Unions: Worth Cycling For
Pedal power joined the Your Rights At Work campaign on a 350km journey to take a message to Canberra’s politicians, wrties Phil Doyle.

Industrial: The Elephant in the Corner
Jim Marr takes a look at what the government has secreted away in the WorkChoices package, revealing what is really at stake - and what can be done about it.

Legal: A Law Unto Themselves
In this extract from the Evatt Foundation's 'State of the States' Jeff Shaw & Monika Ciolek look at the constitutional issues rasied by WorkChoices.

Politics: Ethically Lonely
At a forum in the Australian Stock Exchange sponsored by big end of town solicitors, you would expect at least one person to be in favour of John Howard’s industrial relations laws, wrties Rachael Osman-Chin.

History: Women, Unions, Banners and Parades
Trade union banners reveal more about union history than their male designers and makers intended, writes Neale Towart.

Women: Relaxed and Comfortable?
Suzanne Hammond from WEL argues there are many hidden nasties in WorkChoices for working women.

International: The Last Social Democrat
A trade union leader's victory marks beginning of class politics in Israel, wrties Eric Lee

Review: The Corpse Bride
Come to a world where decay, loss and broken dreams are everywhere - and it's not the Federal Senate.

Culture: Tony Moore Holds His Own
In his new book, Tony Moore argues that today's generation of political leaders has much to learn from Bazza McKenzie.

N E W S

Read His Lips: WorkChoices Too Much

Joyce A Christmas Goose

Workers Leave Boss in Tool Shed

Costello Chokes On Asbestos Compo

Telstra Hangs Up on Former Staff

Bank Check on Bras

Bill of Work Rights on Agenda

Funny Film - Scary Message

Sign Of the Times

Unions Chip In for Lauren

Company Raids Own Ship

Activist's What's On!

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Whitefellas - You Just Can’t Trust ‘Em.
Racial stereotyping is a bad business. That said, Graham Ring has discovered a segment of society that drinks too much, behaves unreliably and can’t seem to adapt to change. Sadly, the conclusion is inescapable…

The Locker Room
Fore!
Phil Doyle slices one into the car park.

Parliament
The Westie Wing
Ian West makes a midnight dash to Workers Online, slides his State political report under the door, then heads back to the Macquarie Street Chamber of Horrors…

L E T T E R S

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Tom A World Away

I note with bewildered bemusement, the call by the "ITF" for the United Kingdom government to mount an investigation into the apparent raid by Irish Ferries, on its own ships, the Isle of Inishmore in Pembroke and the Ulysses in Holyhead, in order to remove the unionised crews and install cheaper scab crews from Eastern Europe.

Are these the same trade union complainants who have in the past condemned not only fellow unionists employed in the Belfast Shipyards, but also the government of the United Kingdom in its efforts to maintain democracy in Northern Ireland, and rejected the FAVOURABLE findings of all the inquiries into allegations of inappropriate behaviour by law enforcement bodies entrusted with this responsibility?

It would appear that the Union movement in the United Kingdom has all but run out of friends as it continues to alienate the common man (and woman), and the British Labour Party moves further to the right.

We in Australia should be aware that with Globalisation, these changes no longer take years to reach us , rather weeks and months.

As for the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Bill 2005, I am currently (temporarily) employed under an AWA , and have found the conditions and wages in this agreement more amenable that any agreements I have been employed under for over 25 years.

Having said that, I will continue to salivate at the prospect of Comrade Beazley, on the election of the ALP at the next federal election, actually implement his gesticulated promise of tearing up this abhorrent legislation, and tossing it as political garbage.

Perhaps in the same manner as HIS Roll Back of the GST!

Tom Collins, NSW

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