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Issue No. 295 | 17 February 2006 |
Please Explain
Interview: Court's in Session Industrial: Whose Choices? Politics: Peter's Principles Environment: TINA or Greener? History: Its Not Just Handshakes and Aprons International: US Locks out Jose' Bove Education: No AWA - No Job Culture: Jesus was a Long-Grass Man Review: Charlie the Serf
Conscience II - RU4 Aussie Jobs? Online Porkies Spark Class Action Captain Cook Discovers WorkChoices STOP PRESS - 262 Day Strike Set To Finish Memo Costa: Remember Your Roots Filipinos Pay for Packed House
The Soapbox The Locker Room Parliament
The Black GST
Labor Council of NSW |
News Strike Sticks it to Glue Boss
Sika has agreed to negotiate a collective agreement after 20 workers at its Wetherill Park plant in Western Sydney went out on strike. National Union of Workers state secretary Derek Beelan said Sika was one of many companies trying to hold off on workplace negotiations ahead of the introduction of the Howard Government's Work Choices legislation. "The situation at Sika has highlighted the most basic point in the relationship between employers and employees - bosses need workers for production, and workers have the ability to withdraw labour," Beelan said. "No matter how many changes John Howard imposes upon working Australians, all workers and their unions should always bear this basic point in mind." Meanwhile union pressure has forced many employees into negotiating new collective agreements. Almost 3400 union-negotiated agreements were certified in the second half of last year, more than double the 1450 certified during the first half of the year. ACTU secretary Greg Combet said this was due to a concerted effort by unions to protect conditions following the majority gained by the coalition in the Senate. Combet told The Age newspaper many companies did not want to be guinea pigs for the new laws. "They want to get on with their business, make sure their workforce is organised, that pay and conditions are equitable and that there's a decent agreement in place," he said.
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