 |
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.
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.
 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!
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…
Million Mum March
Pension Pinching
John Bares All
Radicalising Yoof
Tom A World Away
|
| other LaborNET sites |
|
Labor Council of NSW
Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation
|
|
|
News
Read His Lips: WorkChoices Too Much
A Liberal MP has fessed up that he hasn’t even read the WorkChoices laws, as he prepares to vote for the most radical workplace changes Australia has ever seen.
Member for Robertson, Jim Lloyd, admitted to ETU members that reading the laws was not “humanly possible” but he said he would support them anyway as he was a “Liberal team player”.
Ben Lister, from Energy Australia's West Gosford depot, was part of the delegation that met with Lloyd, an achievement he described as "a definite win" and "a turning point" in the Your Rights At Work campaign that came after weeks of persistence.
Lloyd had refused to even discuss the WorkChoices laws until electricians delivered a dozen frozen chickens to the MP's office last month.
Lister said Lloyd was open about his lack of understanding of how the new laws would impact on workers, especially how stripping back awards to just five conditions would remove protection for people such as labour hire and contract workers.
Lister pointed out to Lloyd that WorkChoices would allow contractors to be brought in and paid below existing rates, something prohibited under existing agreements.
Lloyd would not guarantee to the delegation that any workers would not be worse off and defended the legislation by saying it would create jobs, but could not provide any evidence when pressed. "If the bloke was selling vacuums I wouldn't buy one," said Lister.
 View entire issue - print all of the articles!
Issue 292 contents
|
