E D I T O R I A L

The Cowra Clause
The plight of the Cowra meatworkers is a fitting illustration of the way the new industrial laws will fundamentally shift the balance of relations in the Australian workplace.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Head On
John Buchanan has been warning that WorkChoices would be a car crash. Now he surveys the damage.

Unions: Do You Have a Moment?
CFMEU Mining national secretary Tony Maher lets fly at the new industrial laws.

Industrial: Vital Signs
In his new book, Craig Emerson argues that destroying unionism will not be in Australia's long term interests.

Economics: Taxing Times
Frank Stilwell argues that there are progressive alternatives to the slash and burn approach to tax reform.

Environment: It Ain�t Necessarily So
Don't let anyone tell you that jobs and the environment are opposities, argues Neale Towart.

History: Melbourne�s Hours
Neale Towart reluctantly pays homage to Victoria's celebration of the eight hour day.

Immigration: Opening the Floodgates
John Howard is deciding more and more foreign workers should come into this country - without the rights of citizenship, writes John Sutton,

Review: Pollie Fiction
For someone barely 25 years Sarah Doyle has an enviable track record in theatre behind her.

Poetry: The Cabal
Poetry returns to Workers Online with this rollicking ode to employer power.

N E W S

Abattoir Boss Slaughters Andrews

More Slaughter in South Australia

Pickets Won't Face Cannon

Teens Win Thousands

Praise the Laws

Where The Bloody Hell Is Our Contract?

Building Crusade Raids Pockets

Workers Shows Its Hand

It's All Yellow, Mine Barons

Lismore Nine Breaks Ranks

Uber Bosses Clean Up

Howard's Skills Solution: Sack Apprentices

Spineless Companies Block Safety

Boxall in Sickie Backflip

Activist's What's On!

C O L U M N S

Politics
Democracy in Action
Former NSW Premier Neville Wran's speech to commemorate 150 years of responsible government.

Politics
The Westie Wing
There has been activity aplenty in the NSW Parliament this month, reports Ian West.

The Soapbox
From Chaver to Cobber
John Robertson, Unions NSW Secretary, hosting Passover at Sydney Trades Hall discovers the first comrades followed a bloke called Moses.

Postcard
Postcard from New Orleans
Mark Brenner surveys the long-term impact of Hurricane Katrina on the regions workers.

The Locker Room
My Country Right Or In Lane Five
Phil Doyle observes the golden shower at the recent Commonwealth Games, and asks what it means for the last great unpredictable drama.

Obituary
Vale Bill Hartley
Unlike some of his comrades, Bill Hartley never departed from his position as a radical nor did he die rich in assets, writes Bob Scates.

L E T T E R S

WHAT YOU CAN DO

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Activist's What's On!

Saving Medicare

Politics in the Pub

2.00 pm Saturday April 8th, 2006

Hotel Gearin 273 Great Western Highway, Katoomba

Speakers:

Bruce Childs

ex Senator and Save Medicare Alliance

Dr. Con Costa

Doctors Reform Group

Call on the Federal Government to use the record budget surplus to

restore Medicare to world-class standards.

While the big end of town clamber for yet another tax cut, federal

government under-funding continues to threaten our healthcare system,

in particular Medicare.

With almost daily revelations about poor staffing levels at hospitals,

declining bulk billing rates and escalating costs of medicine,

thousands of hard-working Australians face ever-increasing health

costs in the family budget.

Those that try to ensure high quality healthcare by joining private

funds face a rat race of spiralling costs that bear no resemblance to

wage growth.

SYDNEY PALM SUNDAY RALLY & MARCH FOR PEACE

No War - No Nukes

Justice and Compassion

Sunday April 9, 1pm, Prince Alfred Park Parramatta

Cnr Victoria Rd & Church St

Palm Sunday Christian Liturgy + Multi-Faith prayers for peace + March

to Parramatta Town Square

Speakers include:

Rev Harry Herbert, Uniting Church

John Robertson, Secretary, Unions NSW

Ms Nosrat Hosseini, Iran Democratic Movement

Susan Ryan, New Matilda Human Rights Campaign

Speaker from Arab Council Australia

Music: Urban Guerrillas

MCs: Lex Marinos, Genevieve Lemon

sponsored by Ecumenical Council of NSW and Sydney Peace & Justice

Coalition

http://www.nswpeace.org

Contact: Rev Dr Ann Wansbrough 8267 4280; Bruce Childs 0412 803 457;

Hannah Middleton 0418 668 098

POLITICAL FICTION

With the country on the edge, what can one person do?

A new Australian play crashes through at the Old Fitzroy in April with a story of

intrigue and crisis in personal and public life. Political Fiction, by Geoffrey

Sykes, is a parable of Australia now, in which hope and despair are pitted

against each other... with surprising results.

A disgruntled member of the government, a young singer and a free thinking staffer in

Foreign Affairs. Their journey, through sex, power, intrigue, betrayal and - finally - clear

vision, is a graphic exploration of what faces us all in our fallible attempts to relate to the

wider world.

Political Fiction plays and replays with the myths that control our public world � when the

country is on the brink, what can one person do?

Playwright, documentary-maker and academic, Geoffrey Sykes has put words in the mouths

of some of Australia's finest actors and has written for some of our most provocative

exhibitions and theatre events including those at the National Gallery, Art Gallery of NSW,

MCA and the Powerhouse Museum.

Directed by Robina Beard (NAISDA, Ausdance, Belvoir, Adelaide Festival) and starring

Sarah Doyle, Alan Popely, Karen Cobban and Marc Kay, Political Fiction moves at pace

from Australia to South America and back as conspiracy brings people together, then blows

them apart...

POLITICAL FICTION by Geoffrey Sykes

April 18 to May 6

THE OLD FITZROY THEATRE

Cnr Cathedral and Dowling Streets, Woolloomooloo

Tues-Sat 8pm, Sun 5pm

Tickets $27 ($19 concession)

Book (02) 9294 4296 or online at www.oldfitzroy.com.au

Beer Laksa and Show deal (from 7pm) $33

Cheap Tuesdays and Previews (April 18 and 19)

Presented by Southview Projects

APHEDA MELBOURNE MOVIE FUNDRAISER

Thu 20th April, 6.30 PM

Make it a date to remember!

Join Melbourne members and supporters at the Cinema Nova for a night of

film and fundraising. Raising much needed dollars for Union Aid

Abroad-APEHDA's overseas projects, tickets are just $20/$15 to see the

Academy Award nominated film Tsotsi in it's first week of release (see

below for movie blurb). Thursday 20th April 6.30 PM at the Cinema Nova,

380 Lygon Street Carlton. Contact Steve Mullins for bookings (payment

MUST be made before the night)

Mobile: 0413021412 [email protected]

Tsotsi - (m) nominated for Academy Best Foreign Language Film Set amidst

the sprawling Johannesburg township of Soweto - where survival is the

primary objective - Tsotsi traces six days in the life of a ruthless

young gang leader who ends up caring for a baby accidentally kidnapped

during a car-jacking. Tsotsi is a gritty and moving portrait of an angry

young man living in a state of extreme urban deprivation. His world

pumps with the raw energy of Kwaito Music - the modern beat of the

ghetto that reflects his troubled state of mind. The film is a

psychological thriller in which the protagonist is compelled to confront

his own brutal nature and face the consequences of his actions. It puts

a human face on both the victims and the perpetrators of violent crime

and is ultimately a story of hope and a triumph of love over rage.

Winner, 2005 Toronto Film Festival, People's Choice Award.

MELBOURNE DECLARES PEACE ON THE WORLD

National Peace Conference Invitation

Thursday, May 25, 7pm

Public Meeting, Storey Hall, RMIT, Swanston St, City

Saturday, May 27 Registration from 9am

Maritime Union of Australia, 46 Ireland St, West Melbourne

The conference seeks to foster better international connections and

develop a clearer coherent national strategy for peace. It will coincide

with tours by significant international players in the peace movement

including:

Hassan J'umar: President of the Iraqi Oil Workers Union, Cindy Sheehan,

from Goldstar Families for Peace, USA. Sabah Jawad, Iraqi Democrats

Against Occupation. Dr Salam Islmail, From Doctors for Iraq, Muslim

Association of Britian and Stop the War Coalition.

Cost :

$50 for one or two delegates,

$20 (waged observer) $10 (unwaged observer)

Conference Dinner Saturday $20 waged, $15 unwaged

Contact the conference roganising committee on:

Phone: 0418 316 310

Email: [email protected]

Mail GPO Box 1473, Melbourne VIC 3001

APHEDA MELBOURNE MOVIE FUNDRAISER

Thu 20th April, 6.30 PM

Make it a date to remember!

Join Melbourne members and supporters at the Cinema Nova for a night of film

and fundraising. Raising much needed dollars for Union Aid Abroad-APEHDA's

overseas projects, tickets are just $20/$15 to see the Academy Award

nominated film Tsotsi in it's first week of release (see below for movie

blurb). Thursday 20th April 6.30 PM at the Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon Street

Carlton.

Contact Steve Mullins for bookings (payment MUST be made before the night)

Mobile: 0413021412 [email protected]

Tsotsi - (m) nominated for Academy Best Foreign Language Film

Set amidst the sprawling Johannesburg township of Soweto - where survival is

the primary objective - Tsotsi traces six days in the life of a ruthless

young gang leader who ends up caring for a baby accidentally kidnapped

during a car-jacking. Tsotsi is a gritty and moving portrait of an angry

young man living in a state of extreme urban deprivation. His world pumps

with the raw energy of Kwaito Music - the modern beat of the ghetto that

reflects his troubled state of mind.

The film is a psychological thriller in which the protagonist is compelled

to confront his own brutal nature and face the consequences of his actions.

It puts a human face on both the victims and the perpetrators of violent

crime and is ultimately a story of hope and a triumph of love over rage.

Winner, 2005 Toronto Film Festival, People's Choice Award

Civic Forum

Katoomba ALP would like to invite you to:

A CIVIC FORUM ON GOVERNMENT POLICY ABOUT CENTRELINK, FAMILY SUPPORT, PARENTING PAYMENTS AND DISABILITY PENSIONS

With Tanya Plibersek, MP (Federal Member for Sydney and Shadow Minister for Work and Family, Childcare and Youth and Women)

and Dr John Falzon (National Director of Social Policy, St Vincent de Paul Society).

SATURDAY, 22 APRIL 2006, 2-4 PM

Katoomba Civic Centre, Katoomba Street

Children are most welcome (we will provide some activities, but can't provide any supervision).

Enquiries - call 4782 4517

STRUGGLES, SCABS + SCHOONERS is BACK

29th April 2006 from 1:30pm.

This year it is all about the history - and ongoing battles - of working class women. Join us for stories, memories, hope, singing and beer.

Tickets are $30, which includes dinner.

If you wanna get on board the bus (walkers are welcome & free), please let us know ASAP - you'll have a confirmed seat if you get us the money before the day - please make cheques payable to the PROUD TO BE UNION COMMITTEE INC (send to Struggles, Scabs & Schooners - c/- FSU, PO Box A2442 Sydney South 1235).

RSVP to Chris ([email protected] or 0438 898 198) or Sian ([email protected] or 8222 3346) for more information.

May Day Toast

Monday, 1st May at 6pm at Souths Leagues Club

Tickets cost $30 each and are available from Jaime Midson on 02 9264 5024

The Take

As part of May Day week AMWU NSW is screening THE TAKE to raise funds for the ZANON FACTORY WORKERS so they can finish their documentary "Heart of the Factroy".

You can be part of international trade union solidarity by coming to our screening on:

Wednesday 3rd May 6 pm AMWU Granville 133 Parramatta Rd Granville

Friday 5th May 6pm Tom Mann Theatre 136 Chalmers St Surry Hills

Entry by donation $10

APHEDA will have DVDs, inlcuding THE TAKE for sale.

Plus East Timorese woven art.

Food and drink will be on sale.

May Day March and Rally

Sunday 7th May at 11am at Hyde Park North

More info from Warren Smith on 02 9264 5024

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Last Modified: 07 Apr 2006