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Issue No. 294 10 February 2006  
 
F E A T U R E S

Interview: Court's in Session
As the silks line up to challenge WorkChoices, Jeff Shaw is fighting for his own legacy - the NSW IR system.

Industrial: Whose Choices?
The Howard Government's WorkChoices legislation has been dissected by lawyers and the commentariat; now it's the turn of political economists.

Politics: Peter's Principles
Forget John Howard. The force behind WorkChoices is Peter Costello. The Prime Minister-in-waiting has devoted a lifetime to undermining the security and living standards of Australian families, Jim Marr reports.

Environment: TINA or Greener?
What does the greenhouse effect and legislation to control workers have in common, asks Neale Towart

History: Its Not Just Handshakes and Aprons
Power. They have it, we want it. Friendly societies tried to keep it for working people, writes Neale Towart

International: US Locks out Jose' Bove
The US Government has refused to allow France's most famous farmer Jose Bove into the country to address a conference

Education: No AWA - No Job
The Howard Government has given the Australian community its first view of the future by forcing new staff at Ballarat University to sign an Australian Workplace Agreement if they want a job, writes Jenny Macklin.

Culture: Jesus was a Long-Grass Man
The writings of a Middle Eastern theologian may provide guidance to those grappling with indigenous issues, writes Graham Ring

Review: Charlie the Serf
Nathan Brown takes the sledgehammer (and sickle) to Mr Wonka's Chocolate Factory.

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L A T E S T   N E W S

Capital Punishment on the Menu
Howard ministers have been wining and dining at a bar tied up in allegations of exploitaiton and bullying of Filipino guest workers.

The infamous 'Holy Grail' is one of three Canberra eateries that have been fingered in an IR stink that threatens to become a fullblown diplomatic incident.  [full story]

Della Builds Fortress NSW
The NSW Government is devising a plan to protect state workers from a hostile Canberra takeover as the union movement braces for the WorkChoices assault.

As the High Court commenced hearing a challenge to the constitutionality of the laws and the CFMEU bedded down a collective deal with a key industry player, IR minister John Della Bosca, was finalising plans for 'Fortress NSW'. [full story]

Unfair Sackings Face Challenge
The NSW Industrial Relations Commission is challenging John Howard's plan to strip Australians of the right to contest unfair dismissals.

In a shock ruling, the full IRC bench has found that under Section 137 of the NSW Industrial Relatons Act it can order the reinstatement or re-employment of employees covered by federal awards or agreements. [full story]

Slave Contractors Sprung
The Federal Government is turning a blind eye to the use of illegal cheap labour by two of its contractors in immigration detention centres.

In a case currently before the Supreme court, Alan Clifton, a former operations manager at Woomera detention centre, gave evidence of Australasian Correctional Management paying detainees the equivalent of $1 an hour to work in the kitchens, despite being contracted to supply enough properly paid staff of ots own. [full story]

Holden's Bad Deal for Adelaide
GM Holden has been sprung using cheap Croatian labour at its factory in Adelaide, despite one in five locals being out of work.

Employees stopped work last week to discuss Holden's use of 35 Croatian workers through a German subcontractor. [full story]

ACCI Never Sleeps
Australia's skills crisis hasn't stopped big business coming up with a proposal to slash hundreds of dollars a week off the rates for senior nurses and trades people.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry unveiled its plan to compress nine lead pay scales, across industry, into one minimum rate to the federal government's award review taskforce, last week. [full story]

ALSO MAKING NEWS

 STOP PRESS: Guest Worker Plan Goes to Water

 Taking a Punt on Melbourne Cup

 Backlash on Job Cuts

 Howard Coy on Ad Orgy

 Newcastle Rails Against Contracts

 Union Man Eyes Cuts

 Free Enterprise Kills Hundreds

 Aussie Icon Moves to China

 Activist's What's On!

email workers to a friend latest breaking news from labornet
Make them here or jobs disappear - Newcastle puts pollies on notice

E D I T O R I A L
For the union movement in 2006 the only certainty is that there is no road map to what is about to come; no precedents, no business as usual; just the need for good people to make history.

Riding Into the Sunset

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Hitler in Bowral
Political censorship has made its wasy to the sleepy Southern Highlands, wrties Rowan Cahill.

The Locker Room
No Laughing Matter
Phil Doyle tries to take Australian sportspeople seriously, and fails.

Parliament
The Westie Wing
Ian West is mistakenly sent an advance copy of John Winston Howard�s Little Blue Book of Australian History�


LETTERS to the Editor
 The Best for the Best
 Belated Merry Whatmas?
 The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
 I Think Therefore I Scam
 A Taxing Answer
 Leslie John Turner

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