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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
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Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation
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News
Telstra Hangs Up on Former Staff
Retrenched Telstra workers are being shut out of the telecommunications industry by policy that blocks them from starts with companies holding Telstra contracts.
Telstra policy excludes retrenched staff from being “re-employed or engaged” by the company or any contractors “carrying out Telstra works” for 12 months after their departure.
If a company does employ a retrenched worker within 12 months to perform Telstra-related work, that company is slugged 64 percent of the worker's redundancy payment.
CEPU NSW secretary Jim Metcher said the policy effectively meant former staff could not be employed in the industry as Telstra owns the network and is the dominant telecommunications provider.
The policy of John Howard's claim that 12,000 staff, marked for the axe, would have no trouble finding jobs elsewhere.
Keith Matson, who was knocked back from a job after he was involuntary retrenched from Telstra, said he laughed when he heard the Prime Minister's comments.
"He doesn't know what he's talking about," the 62-year-old said. "He wouldn't even know how to plug in a phone."
The former line serviceman said a job offer he received was later withdrawn because he had been retrenched from Telstra.
"I was shocked when I found out I couldn't get back in [the industry]," he said.
Metcher said the Federal Government, as the majority shareholder, needed to ask serious questions of the telco.
Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo has announced that up to 12,000 jobs would be shed within five years.
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Issue 292 contents
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