*****
When the Liberal Party set up a youth wing they quickly became known as the Young Libs. When the Country Party set up a youth wing they changed their name to the National Party.
For most of last century the Country/National Party made itself relevant with policies designed for the century before that.
It was a proud tradition based on the universal belief in a bunyip aristocracy, the Masters and Servants Act and the salacious benefits of animal husbandry.
The party that the Anthony family treated as a personal family heirloom turned established political wisdom, and most other wisdom, on it's head by bringing socialism in our time to the wealthiest sections of what stoically passed itself off as the rural economy.
Founded by Earl Page as a boarding school prank gone wrong, the party really hit its straps under Tenterfield's answer to Joseph Stalin, Black Jack McEwen.
McEwen brought the unlikely policy of socialising losses and privatising profits to the Menzies' government by a unique combination of mulesing and crutching of Liberal members in three-cornered contests in what ephemerally became known as the bush, which was anything west of Doonside.
Of course the party gained some popularity by offering both a brimming pork barrel and a jingoistic nationalism that was useful for rounding up malcontents.
The party reached its zenith under the subtle genius of Joh Bjielke Petersen, who was just about to appoint his horse to the Senate when things started to go horribly wrong.
The first hurdle was the fact that there was no possibility of recreating the Queensland gerrymander, and the fact that 90% of the population south of the Tweed couldn't stop laughing when Joh launched his eponymously named Joh for PM campaign.
That was when the rot set in.
Amazingly the now re-badged Nationals thought Ian Sinclair would be their saviour, which made sense if you wanted a party that offered creative accounting as a selling point for its ideology.
Tim Fischer tried to steady the ship, but even a gawky trainspotter from the Riverina couldn't give the party credibility.
By the time the party turned to John Anderson it appeared that they were trying to sleep their way to power, but luckily that one-time Tool Of the Week has gone to Queensland drovin', and we don't know where he are.
With the brains trust settling on Mark Vaile as the leader it came as no surprise that Julian McGauran, the master of the one-fingered salute, decided to show his commitment to Rural Victoria by joining the party of Peter Costello.
With half the state on fire at the time he could have helped fight bushfires, but that has never been the McGauran way.
Still, the party that gave us the expression "as mad as a Katter" does have Warren Truss, which must be some consolation for someone, somewhere, but we can't think of any.
Our collective tools of the week have vowed to come out fighting, which is a bit like getting threatened by a cranky chook, they are already well on their way to being the feather duster.
And why? Because they never really have looked after people in the bush, just people with money, and the people with money have all moved to the city so their phones work, they can afford petrol and their kids can go to a halfway decent school and there's a hospital handy if they get gored by a vicious forex trader in Hunter Street.
Like banks, shops, schools, services, phones, roads and jobs, it's the end of the line for the Nationals in the bush.
The only humane thing to do would be to take them around by the back of the woodpile and put the poor bastards out of their misery.
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.
Senator Kate Lundy named posh establishments The Holy Grail - the home base of the Canberra polito-ratti -along with Milk and Honey, and Zeffirelli Pizza Restaurant in federal parliament this week.
She said workers, imported from the Philippines, had been underpaid, treated like slaves and subjected to racial vilification.
The issue blew up after the LHMU alleged two guest workers had been locked out of their workplaces after filing complaints. One, it said, was so worried by employer threats that he had taken out an AVO.
Workers Online understands that the treatment of its nationals has prompted the Philippines Embassy to lodge a complaint with the Immigration Department.
The issue arises as the Howard Government opens the way for the mass importation of labour, skilled and unskilled, on terms that undercut negotiated minimums.
Lundy told Parliament a Canberra businessmen had recruited Filipino hospitality workers, last year, and "sold" them to their employers $6000 - $8000 a head.
She said at least 15 imported workers had lodged complaints and some had said the Canberra conditions were the worst they had ever experienced.
The Canberra Times quoted one worker as saying he had been forced to eat food reclaimed from a rubbish bin.
"He repeatedly said to me, 'I paid for you to come to Australia, if you don't work hard enough I will send you back to where you belong," the Times reported.
The LHMU says Canberra businesses have identified chef, Dario De Guzman, as a "ringleader" amongst the guest workers and moved to have him deported.
The row comes hot on the heels of a string of imported labour rorts uncovered by Workers Online in the hospitality, construction and resources sectors.
ACT Chamber of Commerce chief, Chris Peters, has rejected all allegations against the Canberra restaurants. He criticised Lundy for naming the businesses under Parliamentary privilege.
Lundy said she hoped her action would help bring justice to the workers and remind employers who chose to do the wrong thing that they would be challenged.
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'.
The basis of the plan is a broad series of administrative, regulatory and legislative measures that will maintain coverage for the bulk of the NSW public sector.
"Unlike the NSW Opposition, a Iemma Labor government will not jeopardise vital frontline services by condemning nurses, police, fire fighters and other personnel to the Commonwealth's unfair and conflict-ridden workplace model, " Della Bosca says.
The work is being done parallel to the High Court challenge to the laws, which commenced hearings this week.
The High Court ruled it has the jurisdiction to hear the challenges launched by the governments of NSW, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland. Tasmania and Victoria attended, although they have yet to file.
The matter will be heard by the full bench of the High Court from 8-12 May 2006. A further directions hearing is scheduled for 9 March.
Big Builder Goes Union
Meanwhile, the CFMEU has reached an agreement with one of Australia's largest construction companies that will protect its workers
Bovis Lend Lease, has struck a collective agreement with the CFMEU that will provide certainty and security on construction projects across Australia for the next three years.
CFMEU national secretary construction division John Sutton says the Joint Development Agreement will provide security of wages and conditions of employment for employees of Bovis Lend lease.
Sutton says the agreement, endorsed by CFMEU members this week, showed that the industry was getting on with business, rather than being distracted by the federal government's anti-union witch-hunt.
The agreement allows for an increase in superannuation entitlements as well as consolidating a number of allowances to a base hourly rate and provides for a 13% increase.
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.
The full bench ruled it had the power to hear the case of a Carter Holt Harvey employee sacked for refusing to name a fellow worker involved in a safety breach. The man contended that he had reasonable concerns for his, and his family's, safety if he did so.
The Commission found it had the power to reinstate the worker under a dispute order but that such a remedy would only be available in cases that involved some "collective element".
That part of the ruling ushers trade unions back into centre stage for employees wishing to have some protection against unfair sackings, throwing another spanner into the works of federal legislation that aims to sideline collective organisations.
CHH barrister Roderic Crow admitted the decision opened "a new avenue for reinstatement of federal employees".
Barrister Adam Searle, who ran the case for Unions NSW, said the ruling could provide state-based unions and their members with an alternative to the "severe emasculation" of the IR system envisaged by WorkChoices.
Former NSW Attorney General, Jeff Shaw, said the decision challenged WorkChoices because most workers could demonstrate a "collective element" to their cases if they were supported by their union, or workmates.
He said it could leave NSW employees with an alternative avenue for redress, even if constitutional challenges to WorkChoices failed.
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.
The revelation follows confirmation by the Department of Immigration that around 20 detainees in Villawood detention centre were being used as cheap and possibly illegal labour by Delaware North Australia.
Both companies have contracts with the Commonwealth Government to provide enough staff to carry out such services. Using detainees to undertake such work is a possible breach of the Immigration Act.
"The Department knows detainees work in the Villawood kitchens and food halls under the supervision of Delaware North Companies and are paid in cigarettes and telephone cards, " said Unions NSW deputy assistant secretary Chris Christodoulou.
"But it refuses to acknowledge Delaware North's opportunity to make enormous profits from the situation at the taxpayers' expense."
Mr Christodoulou received a letter from Villawood detainee Motahar Hussein complaining about his and other detainees' working conditions. Based on information provided by Mr Hussein and by the Department, Unions NSW believe Delaware North could be pocketing upward of $500,000 a year in saved wages for catering services alone.
Mr Clifton's evidence is part of an action by a 10-year-old former Woomera and Villawood detainee who is suing the Federal Government for damages after suffering serious and ongoing psychological damage while in detention.
Employees stopped work last week to discuss Holden's use of 35 Croatian workers through a German subcontractor.
Unions claim locals were overlooked to perform the work and are concerned the foreign workers are being underpaid and treated poorly.
"Firstly, in a local area that has unemployment of up to 19 per cent in places, how could it be that Holden needed to import these 35 workers from Croatia?" Australian Manufacturing Union national secretary, Doug Cameron, asked.
"Secondly, the union was contacted when one of the workers was threatened with deportation because he was sick and could not attend work."
The subcontractor, Reschka, initially told unions it was paying the workers 12 Euro ($A19.43) an hour, which is below the standard rate of $20 to $25 and does not include allowances.
Reschka later revised its figure to 23 Euro ($A37.20), but the workers confirmed with the AMWU they were being paid 12 Euro.
Holden gave assurances the situation would not occur again, but the AMWU is blaming Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone for allowing the visas in the first place.
"The Immigration Department's own guidelines say that businesses importing labour must be unable to meet their skill needs from within the Australian Labor force," Cameron said.
"However, there was obviously no attempt by the company to find local workers."
AMWU SA secretary John Camillo said car manufacturers had a responsibility to the local community.
"A big concern for us is that, with a high unemployment rate in the northern suburbs and the 1000-plus workers retrenched at Holden (late last year), why haven't these people been given the opportunity to be trained for this work," he said.
The Croatians were brought in to install a paint line in Holden's factory.
A Holden spokesman told Australian Associated Press it had no control over how the foreign workers were hired and did not condone any unfair work practices.
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.
In a bid to head off wage cut fears, the Chamber suggested grand fathering clauses to protect current employees from its proposed cuts.
But its submission makes it clear that slashing wage rates is what it is about.
"A savings clause will ensure nominal or minima based changes cannot translate into any reduction of wages payable to existing employees," it says.
ACTU president Sharan Burrow says the plan would affect the earnings of around 800,000 Australians with the highest skilled categories looking at cuts of up to $400 a week.
Groups affected would include nurses, emergency service personnel, skilled trades people, senior civil servants, experienced teachers, engineers, chemists and IT workers.
Burrow said it was a "ridiculous" proposal when the Australian economy was trying to come to grips with skills shortages.
"It is not only grossly unfair but would encourage the de-skilling of the workforce at a time of chronic skills shortages," she said.
The ACCI urges a "safety net approach" on the taskforce and urges against any award review process that results in wage increases.
Under current award procedure, Australians are paid on one of 14 levels, based on skill and experience. The ACCI, head by former Peter Reith staffer, Peter Hendy, wants that slashed back to four minimum rates.
The Award Review Taskforce was established by WorkChoices legislation. It is scheduled to give its recommendation to the federal government next month.
The proposal to allow workers to be assessed on whether they met Australian standards in their country of origin was on the table at the Council of Australian Government meeting in Canberra.
Under the COAG agreement 'A New National Approach to Apprenticeships, Training and Skills Recognition' explicitly states there will be no change to skills accreditation.
"COAG has agreed to new arrangements to make it easier for migrants with skills to Australian standards to work as soon as they reach Australia. It does not involve any change to the migration policy," the document says.
CFMEU construction national secretary John Sutton welcomed the decision, but warned that there were on-going attempts by the federal government to undermine Australian trade standards.
"The importation of guest workers on short term visas in our trades is a sign of the failure of Howard Government to address Australia's skills crisis," Sutton says.
"Our commercial construction industry is one of the most productive in the world thanks to its properly trained and experienced workforce. Offshore accreditation can only lead to the erosion of these standards. Inadequately trained workers pose an additional risk for safety in this most dangerous industry.
Sutton called on the federal government to end its witch hunt of building unions and focus on supporting increased funding for the already existing Trade Recognition standards,.
"The union insists that any system of skills assessment must ensure migrant workers pass suitably rigorous skills testing, which fairly balances the interests of both the foreign worker and the Australian construction industry in general.
The ACT government has already locked in a day through legislation; while retail workers have secured their day through a NSW Industrial Relations Commission ruling that changes the name of the day to avoid the prohibition.
Instead of a picnic day, the SSDA will now celebrate the 'second Tuesday in November' - known to most as Melbourne Cup Day.
Unions NSW John Robertson said WorkChoices was making union Picnic Days a legal minefield, where the casualty for workers is quality time with their families. He is calling on the Iemma Government to pass a law to preserve the award conditions.
"The NSW Government needs to protect the important right to a picnic day for all workers," Mr Robertson said.
"Unless they are protected by state governments, picnic days will be the first right to be trampled under Work Choices.
"Picnic days are a right that were fought for by the union movement, to allow working people that little bit of extra time to spend with their families."
That's the message from NSW voters in key state seats, the public no longer believe the private sector delivers either better quality services or better value for money.
Wholesale public sector job cuts are on the political agenda, with the NSW Opposition vowing they would cut 29,000 public sector jobs - or one in three jobs across the sector excluding police, nurses and teachers - if they were to win power at the March 2007 election.
Meanwhile the Iemma Government is already talking about a round of 4,000 voluntary redundancies and is flirting with the idea of going further and breaking its commitment to no forced redundancies; given reported statements by Finance Minister Michael Costa that the public sector was bloated.
Launching a state wide 'Public Interest - Job Cuts = Service Cuts' campaign, PSA general secretary John Cahill said public services has reached a 'tipping point' and that any further cuts would severely compromise service delivery.
And he has warned that PSA members will refuse to carry out the duties of colleagues whose jobs are cut from the public sector by the current or any future state government.
When asked to choose between public or private sector on a range of services, voters sent the overwhelmingly message they would prefer public sector workers deal with:
- administrative support for police, nurses and teachers
- looking after public parks, gardens, state forests and national parks
- running jails
- caring for the elderly and disabled
- running hospitals and the health system generally
- running power stations
- running the sewage and water systems
- building and operating roads
- running buses and trains
- and operating and maintaining schools, hospitals and other government facilities.
Rather than privatising services, the majority of voters actually want to see more staff in key government departments such as public transport, police administration, child protection rural services and care of the elderly and disabled.
The findings, based on a poll of conducted by Auspoll for the Public Service Association over summer, will form the basis of a state wide PSA campaign to support public services over the coming 12 months.
Cahill says the findings send a potent message to both sides of politics that the days of bashing public servants are over.
"Politicians have had a lot of fun over the years in making a scapegoats of public servants, but more and more the public seems to be making the connection between public sector jobs and the provision of public services," Mr Cahill said.
"And when they look at the alternative - core services being carried out by the private sector - they see through the spin and recognise the only winners are big business.
"This shows that the public does respect and value the work that PSA members perform - and this is a something that we will be stressing over the coming 12 months."
The public opinion research shows that voters would punish either side that pushed the agenda with:
- 45 per cent less likely to vote Liberal if they cut 30,000 jobs from the NSW public service
- and 31 per cent less likely to vote for Labor if they were to cut 4,000 NSW public service.
Melbourne newspaper, The Age, has been told publication of correspondence between Minister Kevin Andrews and his department about the $55 million campaign "would not, on balance, be in the public interest" but it would still be made available if the paper stumped up $5158.
The Age appealed the Workplace Relations Department decision on the grounds that the documents were of public interest, particularly given the breadth of response to the legislation and the amount of public money spent.
The department rejected that appeal.
The Age had already revealed that the Prime Minister's office was intimately involved with the campaign, run by companies that handle Liberal Party election advertising.
Just four days before the ads went to air, last October, a Howard adviser informed departmental officials of inclusions the Prime Minister wanted in the campaign.
One possibility for the obstruction is that that Howard-sanctioned email appears to run counter to his government's decision to renege on a pledge to release a family impact statement on the legislation.
A spokesman from Minister Andrews' office refused to comment on the FOI application, saying it was a matter for the department.
The ACTU and federal ALP have criticised the veil of secrecy drawn over the advertising campaign.
Members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union have unveiled billboards on Newcastle's main drag to remind MPs the Hunter "makes the best trains in the world right here".
RailCorp, owned by the NSW Government, is considering four bids for a tender to replace its fleet of 498 non-air conditioned carriages.
Short-listed candidates include Hunter Valley manufacturers United Rail Group and EDI, as well as offshore competitors Siemens and Bombardier.
According to the AMWU, sending work offshore puts not only 2000 jobs at risk, but also an important training ground for skills in a skill-starved nation.
AMWU delegate and spray painter at train manufacturer United Group Rail, Ian Saunders, said he was worried for his son's future if opportunities were exported.
"United Group Rail has been here for 100 years and has a family orientation," the 43-year-old said.
"I've got a brother and nephew who work here.
"But it's not just my own family, there are some families with two or three people working here."
Saunders said after four years of not hiring apprentices, United Rail Group was the biggest hirer of apprentices in the Hunter.
He said of the 340 current employees United Group Rail directly employs, 82 were apprentices.
"[NSW Government Minister and Patron of the Newcastle Knights Rugby League Club] Michael Costa has said the Hunter couldn't survive without the Newcastle Knights, we believe with manufacturing it's the same."
Two of the four faces on the billboards are apprentices, one of whose father has been working with United Group Rail for 41 years.
The AMWU has also produced postcards to send to Labor Premier Morris Iemma saying: "Newcastle has always had a strong Labor tradition. Don't put that tradition at risk."
Industrial barrister and former CFMEU official Tony Slevin, has been sitting on the reference group set up to advise the government's Award Review Task Force, whose brief is to rationalise awards and devise a way to set minimum rates.
"No one has been crossing the street to avoid me," Slevin, who also worked for former NSW Industrial Relations Minister Jeff Shaw, told Workers Online. "Senior union officials are supportive of my role".
"Award reviews are not new, awards have been reviewed since their inception under many guises," Slevin says.
Accepting that this is a hostile review with a great potential to affect workers rights, Slevin says its important someone will be there to make sure that the interests of workers are raised. "This is an enormous task - there needs to be a voice in here."
Slevin took up the position despite another union official, the AWU's David Cragg rejecting an invitation - after his appointment had been publicly announced.
The al-Salam Boccaccio 98, which was originally badged the Herald of Free Enterprise IV, caught fire on its way to Egypt from Saudi Arabia leading to one of the world's worst maritime disasters.
The Maritime Union of Australia reports the Egyptian-owned vessel was flagged in Panama, under a flag of convenience arrangement that allows ships to shirk international safety and labour regulations.
Assistant Secretary of the MUA Sydney branch, Warren Smith, said it would only be a matter of time before another flag of convenience accident occured.
"This sort of stuff is an utter tragedy and it seems to us it's nothing less than murder," Smith said.
Flag of Convenience ships are owned in one country, registered in another and use labour hire agents to source cheap labour from around the world.
They have a long-standing reputation for shipping disasters, oil spills and criminal activity.
In Australia they are favoured by freight forwarders and shippers due to their cheap rates and are permitted to operate on the Australian coastline.
Vegemite manufacturer, Kraft, will sack 151 workers at its Broadmeadows plant in Victoria, moving the jobs to Asia.
The workers are the latest victims of Howard government policy, which sees 1,178 manufacturing jobs disappear each week.
The Broadmeadows plant has manufactured brands such as Captain's Table crackers, Premium crisp bread and In A Biskit for over 40 years.
"Thirty years on this job and now my job has gone to China," said one worker upon hearing the news.
Kraft, owned by US-owned tobacco and food giant Altria, warned of an "ongoing company-wide review" of its Australian operations, including the Port Melbourne factory that makes Vegemite and peanut butter.
The AMWU has slammed the lack of consultation over the decision, calling for workers to be compensated.
"They told us they were taking the product to China," said AMWU organiser Tony Mavromatis. "Already 20,000 Victorian manufacturing jobs have disappeared in the last year alone.
"Who will be next?"
"The Federal Government has announced that WorkChoices will create jobs, but where are these jobs going to be?"
The situation at the Kraft plant in Port Melbourne continues to be monitored.
In the absence of Commonwealth action, unions, industry groups and state governments will form a policy this year in an attempt to stem the flow of manufacturing overseas.
The Great Debate: Who represents us?
ALP (Nathan Murphy, ALP State Organiser) vs Greens (Ken McAlpine, Greens IR spokesperson) vs Socialist Alliance (Tim Gooden, Secretary Geelong Trades Hall) vs Socialist Party (Anthony Main, arguing for a new workers' party).
Equal time for speakers, followed by questions/discussion.
Melbourne's Trades Hall Bar, 1.30pm Saturday Feb 4th
Public meeting in Melbourne during sp summer school
Sunday 5th February, Trades Hall bar, Lygon+Victoria Sts, Carlton South
3.20pm - 4.30pm
Picket Line training for militants. What you should know about industrial action A multi media presentation by Dave Kerin Co-ordinator of Union Solidarity
Sick of marching in a straight line?
The Queers in Unions group - Workers Out - invites you to be involved in our float and parade entry for Mardi Gras, Saturday 4 March.
We're looking for all sorts of union members from all sorts of unions to come along and join the fun.
You can be a dancer, help us build our fabulous float or get a group together and come along and be part of the parade entry on the night.
Contacts
Dancers and other performers: Bronwyn Winter on 0412 770 424
General parade entrants: Dominic Quigley on 0424 007 638
All other enquiries: Email [email protected]
John Howard: 10 Years On
It is now 10 years since John Howard was first elected as Australia's Prime Minister.
This forum will consider the Howard Government's 10 years in power and the impact it has had on Australia.
With:
Julia Gillard MP, Shadow Health Minister
Gerard Henderson, columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald
Judith Brett, Author
When: Wednesday 22 March from 6.00pm to 7.30pm
Where: Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Road, Glebe
Cost: Free
Chair: Senator John Faulkner, President of the NSW Fabian Society
We - the trade union movement - are not going to let those we owe today's wages and conditions down. But some are flying the white flag right now!
This fight will test the metal of us all, and if some fail to take the challenge and give everything to it the workers movement will be strengthened by them leaving it.
One called for outcome is assured only the best, the truly committed will survive. Remember workers deserve nothing less than the best representing them and only victory is acceptable
Allan "Belly" Bell, NSW
Fellow Australians I wish to thank all those idiots who voted for me, especially the racists of Australia.
I would also like to apologise to those Australians on low incomes for missing out on a tax cuts as I had to use this money to bribe prospective mothers and those with young children. Thankfully it worked for my benefit.
As you know my only concern is to remain Prime Minister and to eliminate unions, which I have hated all my life.
It also pleases my mentor George W Bush, who also enjoys fooling the American electors.
L Crossing, SA
This Xmas they have shown their employees just how much they care once again. But I am sure we should be grateful for the calendar we were given that I have yet to receive.
Maybe money is real tight this year, but not if you are earning $22,000 a month like our boss is.
The second of our presents is a bag with the company name on the side of it. How generous they are. I wonder if the bags are left overs from the train drivers they have managed to get rid of since they took over.
I was speaking to a friend who works for a rival company CRT Transport. They were given $60 vouchers with Coles Myer and drinks till midnight on their night out.
No Xmas party for us people who stand up for their right and dare to strike. But I should remember that they will possibly be paying $38 million down in Tassie soon, so I think I am lucky to get my bag and calendar.
Thanks Pacific National for showing how much you care.
Trevor Wilson, NSW
Already victims have had to sell their homes - and there have been reports of suicide and marriages splitting - as the corporate watchdog starts investigating the company."
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,17831095-5001022,00.html
With a fairly broad knowledge and understanding of the relationships between free markets, government regulations, business performance and conduct as well as securities investment, I've argued repeatedly against relaxing regulations that safeguard citizens (investors, consumers, and workers and their families) from the vagaries of the 'free market mentality'. Unfortunately, Westpoint is just another case in point - and more lives have been turned upside down.
Well known financier George Soros said it best:
"Capitalism is very successful in creating wealth, but we cannot rely on it to assure freedom, democracy and the rule of law. Business is motivated by profit; it is not designed to safeguard universal principles. Most business people are upright citizens; but that does not change the fact that business is conducted for private gain and not for public benefit. The primary responsibility of management is to the owners of the business, not to the nebulous entity called the public interest - although enterprises often try, or at least pretend, to be acting in a public spirited way because that is good for business. If we care about universal principles such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, we cannot leave them to the care of market forces.
"The global capitalist system has produced a very uneven playing field. The gap between rich and poor is getting wider."
In short, we should not allow business interests to dominate social and economic policy - because they can't be trusted.
http://workers.labor.net.au/287/letters3_times.html
http://workers.labor.net.au/288/letters4_inv.html
http://workers.labor.net.au/291/letters6_Kids.html
http://workers.labor.net.au/292/letters2_bares.html
John McPhilbin, NSW
This often results in overpayments from Family Assistance & Childcare Benefits, or not utilising schemes the government has available such as Salary Sacrifice or gearing and franking credits from dividends.
The website www.taxcuts.com.au provides information and a calculator that allows the user to enter any amounts and it will calculate their tax savings, increases in benefits difference in take home pay etc.
In many cases if an employee salary sacrifices their compulsory superannuation contributions not only do they pay less tax but they also increase their take home pay. If they have children they could also increase the amount of Family Assistance and childcare benefits the receive.
Just by being aware of what is available to tax payers could save them thousands in real dollars.
Frank Calabrese, Qld
Upon his death in April of 1977, there was a write up on him in the Timber Workers Union news paper of the day, speaking of where he had worked, where timbers he had cut were to be found in buildings across the world.
I'm wondering if there is anyone out there has a copy of that paper, as my children, their children, and even their children, would like to have a copy of that as a family keepsake.
I'm willing to pay a reasonable price for even a copy of the page. Is there anyone out there with just such information?
If so I'm contactable on Email: [email protected] or alternatively at 970 Robinson Rd, Pearcedale, Victoria, 3912, Australia.
Many Thanks to all,
Linetta Turner, Vic
As Workers Online and, it seemed, the entire union movement retreated to recharge its batteries after last year's exertions, a few things became clear.
First the opinion polls, which had moved so decisively around WorkChoices, reverted back to a clear lead for the government - proof positive that is the momentum of the union campaign and not the advocacy of the ALP that was shifting voters. The moment the foot is off the accelerator the whole show stalls.
Second, the Howard Government's absolute power is beginning to take its toll; internal defections within the Coalition; threats and reprisals and a public inquiry suggesting incompetence, if not corruption, at the highest level of government in the lead up to the Iraqi invasion, speaks to an administration suffering from the absence of the usual checks and balances.
Third, the increasing disconnect between the formal economic indicators and most people's personal experience; our summer poll on public services in NSW showed the tide shifting against privatisation and job cuts; but both sides of politics still dance to the rationalist's tune.
Fourth, the High Court challenge and a series of NSW Industrial Relations Commission decisions hinting that, at least, there may be some legal redress to the mad grab for power that WorkChoices represents; the ultimate test being whether the conservative High Court bench is true to its jurisprudence or bows to its political masters.
And finally the business world, dusting off the gloves and ready to hit the union movement for all its worth, with ACCI's pre-emptive strike on wage rates proof positive that some people have been working over the summer months.
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.
The challenges, it seems to me, are threefold:
- first, to protect union members from attacks on their rights in workplaces large and small by drawing on the finest traditions of solidarity and adapting them to the 21st century, where mass media; online campaigning; culture jamming are as potent tools as the feet on the street,
- second, to bring a new generation of workers into the union movement; those same young people who will be the first to bear the brunt of a job without rights; seizing an historical opportunity to both halt the decline and the aging of the union base.
- and thirdly, to build the political momentum against a government wielding power on behalf of elite business interests against the interests of working families all the way to the next election, sometime in 2007.
None of these tasks should be under-estimated; but to watch the Howard Government and their cheerleaders in big business triumph is simply untenable.
Workers Online will be there all the way; not just chronicling the battles to comes; but doing our bit to shape the debate and drive the vision of a modern, savvy union movement, that has always been so close to our hearts.
Peter Lewis
Editor
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