*****
It's a good thing Heather Ridout doesn't work for a living or she may be alarmed by her own advice.
The brains trust for the bosses' union, the Australian Industry Group, was released from whatever institution is holding her these days to share her intellect with us.
Thankfully that didn't take long.
Heather is sick of Australia being a wealthy egalitarian nation. She's had an absolute gutful of a fair days pay for a fair days work. In fact, Heather is spewing that people who didn't go to the very best schools have a job at all!
Those that thought that having to pay people stuck in Ridout's craw were wrong, it's the fact that they've got a job to start with which is annoying her.
Luckily for her she has come up with a solution; abolish the manufacturing sector.
This will free up more capital for her and her mates to get back to the really productive business in Australia, buying and selling each other's waterfront homes and yachts.
After all, what better for a country with a corrupt government and an income source that stems from digging up rocks and growing things than to just throw in the towel and become a third world country.
Luckily this won't affect Heather or any of the other oxygen thieves down at AIG, after all, they are protected by the law of nature that says that rich people should never have to suffer from decisions of their own making.
We've seen the brilliant minds that populate the corporate sector in Australia; from HIH, to One.Tel to the AWB; and now know that, when these people open their mouths, most working Australians instinctively check where their wallet or purse is.
It's certainly a novel idea, that punting 40,000 jobs a year is a good thing.
Using Heather's redoubtable logic we may as well shift the whole country offshore.
After all, where most classical economists talk of the hidden hand of market, trickle down effect and producers manufacturing widgets, Heather is one step ahead - she's abolished the widget entirely.
Ridout lays great faith in a future steeped in research and development. Unfortunately for Heather, R&D involves both venture capital and a brain, both completely lacking from the monied classes in this neck of the woods.
It would be curious as to exactly what Heather thinks we should be researching and developing, considering that 100% of R&D in this country has traditionally been done in public enterprises like Telecom and in publicly funded universities and the CSIRO.
Unfortunately all of these institutions have either been taken out behind the shed and shot or are sleeping on a bench in Belmore Park.
Maybe she thinks we should be researching whether or not Verve Cliqout, Yellowglen or Moet is an acceptable sparkling white to serve at Kirribilli?
And what's most curious of all is Heather's desire to punt 40,000 jobs as, after all, isn't her beloved WorkChoices legislation about creating jobs?
Or can't she recall?
*****
All those who have placed their orders for their Decks Of Tools will be receiving information via email this week. This is your last chance to order your limited edition and attractively packaged deck of tools for the bargain basement price of $10 by emailing [email protected]
A federal government taskforce wants millions of low-income earning women denied superannuation in a bid to cut �red tape� for business.
The Taskforce on Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Business has called for the income threshold for employer superannuation contributions to be lifted from $450 a month to $800 a month.
The taskforce, operating under the auspices of the Productivity Commission, issued recommendation 5.49, buried on page 126 of the "Rethinking Regulation" Report, in January.
The move would shut over a million Australian workers, including over 14% of women, out of retirement savings.
"This makes a mockery of the Howard government's claim that it is good for working women," says Unions NSW assistant secretary Mark Lennon. "Now they face the double whammy of a bleak retirement after having their working conditions reduced under workchoices.
"On top of all that it is poor policy as it runs 180 degrees from the government's stated intention of increasing retirement savings."
Superannuation fund trustees have also warned the government against lifting the threshold.
"It is a backward step to push up the threshold," says vice president of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees, Andrew Whiley. "Denying many low paid and casual workers from receiving any 9% superannuation guarantee at all, and a double blow for women workers given their lower levels of superannuation savings and higher concentrations in casual/part time employment.
"If a cave- in occurs in to that minority part of business that resents super, sees it as a tax, and wants removed for low paid casuals, the super savings of the worst off will go backwards."
Whiley said efficient systems were in place for over a decade to ensure that the low paid could receive superannuation. He expressed concern that the decision would aggravate community concerns aroused by the Work Choices legislation, especially regarding the erosion of minimum standards for wages and conditions.
Finlay Engineering owner, Jim Sutton, punted the company's union delegate for defending the �smirker�, and put sub-standard AWAs to the rest of the workforce, the following day.
Sutton's non-negotiated employment contracts, green lighted by the federal government to supersede awards and collective agreements, contain 126 words on a single sheet of paper, 40 of them handwritten.
They propose cutting the base rate of pay for process workers at the plant in Waterdale Rd, West Heidelberg, and make no mention of overtime or other allowances.
AMWU state secretary, Dave Oliver, said the Sutton proposal would leave process workers at least $1.50 an hour below the going rate.
Oliver confirmed the AMWU would pursue unlawful discrimination claims against the company.
He said the sacking of two union activists was "undoubtedly" linked to the following day's production of hastily drawn-up AWAs.
Around 40 Melbourne workers turned up outside the company gates, last Friday, for a solidarity breakfast with the sacked workers and those facing earnings cuts.
Sutton told ABC radio, last week, that John Howard's new industrial laws had made it easier to "control the workforce".
"Up until these new industrial laws, it was very hard to take any action against anyone," he said.
He denied he had sacked anyone for smirking but did concede he had taken exception to the "facial expression" of a worker, after a meeting at which he had proposed wage reductions.
"What I said was the government have now given us a much better chance of controlling our workforce, and if you people are not prepared to make the production rates that we require then your services won't be required," Sutton said.
They are turning the blowtorch on the owners of the office blocks, pressuring them to keep tenants happy by ending the race to the bottom by cutting wages and increasing workloads.
The 'Clean Start' campaign was kicked off around Australian and New Zealand this week by the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneouos Workers Union and the Service and Food Workers Union.
It comes at a critical time for cleaners, as basic wages are under threat by WorkChoices and workloads are intensifying, with the Australian benchmark now at 1,000 square metres per hour - compared with the North American standard of 300-400 square metres per hour.
Under the Clean Start plan, instead of targeting direct employers - who are squeezed by competitors - unions are seeking agreement on minimum standards for the entire industry.
This means getting the top end of town commercial property owners like GPT, Mirvac and Macquarie to only award contracts to companies that respect:
- basic wages
- health and safety standards
- and the right to organise.
The unions argue that these sorts of standards are ultimately in the interests of the property companies - with the quality of office cleaning one of the key issues for tenants.
The campaign has the backing of religious leaders and community identities including Canberra Raiders captain Clinton Schifcofske.
Schifcofske told 180 rallying cleaners in Canberra sticking together applied as much to the workplace as the football field.
In Sydney, former cleaner Rakchanok Sothanaphasian told her story of going two months unpaid when she started work.
The Thai-born union organiser said when she came to Australia, like many immigrant workers she was unaware of her rights. "When you are from a non-English speaking background its hard," Sothanaphasian said.
:
Under media pressure, spearheaded by union revelations, Andrews wilted, last week, but only succeeded in muddying the waters by citing irrelevant workplace laws.
The Minister told the ABC that investigators were no longer prosecuting breaches of Section 127 of the Workplace Relations Act so they could concentrate on enforcing his new regime.
"It was my melancholy duty to point out that these prosecutions were never taken under section 127," AMWU Queensland secretary, Andrew Dettmer, said.
"They were high-profile prosecutions of working people who objected to living for eight weeks in shit. And they had the endorsement of the Minister's office."
"The truth is this government didn't need any more bad publicity for its treatment of workers.
"John Howard didn't want another round of horror headlines , so he told Kevin Andrews to shut down his prosecutions, for a while.
"There is no doubt that, under his laws, Australians can be prosecuted and fined for objecting to uninhabitable living conditions."
Only last month, Andrews' office was vigorously promoting the court actions.
A spokesman for the Minister backed the Moranbah prosecutions and promised similar actions "would be pursued across the country".
Andrews' Department hired expensive Melbourne lawyers to track down and prosecute 72 people who had objected to "fleapit" conditions in their central Queensland camp.
It sought fines of up to $20,000 against each individual and a $100,000 fine against the AMWU.
Last month, it won a standover in the federal court, so it could track down everyone who had been involved in a three-day stoppage that won improved living conditions.
Unions went on the offensive accusing the government of declaring "war" on workers.
Dettmer told the media the prosecutions were "vindictive".
"John Howard is telling Australian workers that they must accept vermin-infested accommodation or they will be pursued and dragged before the courts," he said.
The WorkChoices Minister made the claim to industry newsletter, Workforce, in defence of the country's first �greenfields agreement�.
The radical concept, introduced by Andrews, allows employers on new projects to negotiate terms and conditions with themselves but register them as "agreements".
Employees must accept all conditions and are not allowed to agitate or take industrial action over anything they disagree with, for 12 months, by which time many projects will have finished.
CFMEU legal officer, Tim Kuchera, explained how John Holland went about using Workchoices to impose the first greenfields "agreement" at BHP Billiton's Pilbara port expansion.
"They were written for big construction projects because those employers find AWAs an administrative nightmare," Kuchera said.
"Under a greenfields agreement the employer lays down all the terms and conditions, as with an AWA, but he doesn't have to pretend to get individual agreement.
"John Holland came to us and said they wanted an agreement. Three days before it was due they went behind our backs and registered this deal.
"The first we knew about it was when we read it in the West Australian.
"Not only does this legislation deny construction workers any say in their terms and conditions but it encourages bad faith bargaining."
John Holland has the construction contract for the Port Hedland expansion, while Monadelphous Engineering has the mechanical contract.
Within day of Andrews spruiking the John Holland "agreement", the CFMEU and AMWU had both completed union agreements with Monadelphous.
Under the terms of those settlements, crane drivers will be $90 a week better off than under John Holland's arrangements, while riggers will be paid $130 more.
It is understood that, despite Andrews' endorsement of its original position, John Holland will fall into line with Monadelphous rates.
Because it has a greenfields "agreement", however, Kuchera points out, it can bar union officials from entering the site and call on the Australian Building and Construction Commission to prosecute any union that tries to service members there .
�A month ago I would not have believed that asking about your super could cost you your job,� said the Sydney mother of two. �John Howard and his ministers have shown they just don't care.�
Filipczuk was dumped from her sales assistant position by phone after she asked the boss of the House of Cillini chain of clothing stores why she hadn't been paid super or received pay slips.
"I asked if they could please provide the pay slips and advice on unpaid penalties and superannuation," she said. "I put it in writing and they telephoned me to say that the super had been paid."
When Mrs Filipczuk asked if the super would be back dated to December, when she began work, she was asked to ring back and speak to the manager.
When she called back she was told her position had been terminated.
"To say that this has been a stressful time for me would be an understatement," Filipczuk said. "I won't be voting for John Howard at the next election."
Unions NSW assistant secretary Mark Lennon said predictions of unwarranted were now being proved.
"Here we have an employee who has been terminated, not for disagreeing with her employer but for simply asking a question," Lennon said.
The Howard Government this week stripped the NSW Department of Education and Training of $60 million in contracts to run apprentice advice centres - with the money going to its close political allies.
The DET's National Apprentice Centre's were knocked off by bidders aligned with business lobby cheer-leader Australian Industry Group and Mission Australia, the one religious group who likes WorkChoices so much it has joined the (un)Fair Pay Commission.,
The decision will lead to the loss of 270 jobs and has been branded a reward for political support of the Howard Government's industrial relations agenda by the NSW Public Service Association.
PSA General Secretary John Cahill has called for a review of the tendering process, with concerns that the government has penalised the NZSW Government for its support of collective bargaining..
"This appears to be a decision that puts politics ahead of the interests of young workers," Cahill says
"It seems bizarre that this service would be given to the employer lobby - the group responsible for the collapse in apprentice training in this country."
NSW Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt says Thousands of NSW apprentices and employers will be hurt by the Federal Government's cancellation of the Department of Education and Training's New Apprenticeships Centre (DETNAC) contract from 30 June 2006.
"For eight years DETNAC has helped build the NSW economy with its high-quality support to apprentices, trainees and employers," Tebbutt says.
"Last December, the Commonwealth Government's own assessment system gave DETNAC a 98% quality service rating and a 93% satisfaction rating among apprentices and employers that had used its services.
"It is unbelievable that the Federal Government will cut a service which, by its own rating system - is ranked higher than the national average for similar agencies."
Fran Ostad, wife of the boss of painting company Express Deco, was listed as Khashayar Zamani's sole recipient of benefits if he died.
Zamani was shocked by the revelation.
In a statutory declaration, Zemani stated Ostad had arranged for him to join the superannuation scheme.
Zemani alleged Ostad had prepared the forms. He said he spoke little English at the time.
Ostad denied all knowledge in Sydney's Daily Telegraph.
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) is following up on Zamani's claim, as well as allegations of underpayment and unsafe work at other jobs involving the same company.
Iranian builder Golshan Hedayat is fighting for thousands of dollars of pay and entitlements.
Hedayat claims he was only paid half of what he was owed for during five months work for Express Deco.
"I didn't get payment for overtime, sick leave, public holidays, annual leave or superannuation," Hedayat said.
Claims from other immigrant workers range from being paid $6-an-hour to the boss discouraging safety courses.
CFMEU NSW Secretary Andrew Ferguson said too many immigrant building workers were exploited as cheap labour.
"Unscrupulous employers who exploit migrant workers are not only harming workers and their families, but they are also destroying legitimate small businesses that pay proper wages and conditions," Ferguson said.
Interested parties are invited to call Express Deco's owner, Frank Ostad, on 0412 284 212.
On behalf of 10 members, dudded $88,000, the AMWU is appealing a NSW Industrial Relations Commission decision that prevented it joining new entity, Digital Graphics Proprietary Ltd, to unfair contracts actions against principals of its predecessor, David Graphics.
The case blew in November, 2003, when David Graphics went into voluntary administration, leaving employees short more than $100,000 in super entitlements, salary sacrificing and health fund contributions.
The AMWU alleged the company, headed by Alan Thomas David, sat on workers' money for 18 months before going into administration.
It claims David is behind the new company which that over most of the old operation's assets and work.
Digital Graphics' registered owners, the AMWU says, are Alan David's daughter and longtime partner.
Industrial lawyer, Stephen Penning, says the case before the NSW IRC full bench, is significant in the battle to stop directors going belly-up then returning to business in a new guise.
He says it falls outside the proscriptions of WorkChoices because it seeks remedies from an entity that never employed the workers, and is brought by a union, rather than individual employees.
"John Howard's new laws extinguish the operation of state law as it affects employees of a corporation," Penning explains.
"But this claim is against the directors, who are not corporations, and another company which was not the employer.
"It is an important test case."
The union is seeking unfair contracts judgements against David and fellow director, John Coates, and wants Digital Graphics joined to the case.
AMWU state secretary, Paul Bastian, said it put "phoenix" operators on notice that they would be pursued.
"If ASIC is incapable or unwilling to pursue people who don't meet their obligations to the families of workers, the AMWU will," he promised.
"Phoenixing" - the art of burning debts and returning to business under a new guise, has cost Australian workers millions of dollars in recent years.
Both teams have recently landed a new sponsor, one that understands the pressures on those involved in grass roots football.
The sides will be taking to the field wearing the distinctive logo of the Your Rights At Work campaign.
Both the Central Coast and Nepean District junior soccer associations will benefit from the sponsorship of their flagship sides, Penrith Nepean United and Central Coast Lightning, by the Electrical Trades Union, which is keen to support junior sport.
"We know the Howard government's new laws will make it even harder for working parents to keep involved with their kids junior sport," said Bernie Riordan from the Electrical Trades Union. "The Prime Minister is on the record as saying that the working week of Monday to Friday is dead.
"All the protections and rights working people have had to make sure they can be there for their kids have been swept away by these laws.
"The Your Rights At Work campaign is about getting rid of John Howard's workplace laws and giving parents back time with their kids and the job security to plan for their families future."
Bernie Riordan will be handing over sponsorship cheques to Penrith Nepean United and Central Coast Lightning at 6.30pm, prior to the start of the main game at 7.10pm.
The Nepean District Association is the largest sports group in NSW with over 16,000 registered players in 229 teams
Representative sides and footballs from both associations will carry the distinctive Your Rights At Work signage as well as over 3,500 training vests, which will be distributed to the 229 Nepean senior club sides.
Saturday night's game will be held at Cook Park - Your Rights At Work Stadium in St Marys.
Legal action by the AMWU has seen the airline ordered to hand over paperwork on its maintenance operations, including secret comparisons with offshore operators.
The Commission has also told the company to put hundreds of planned Sydney job cuts on hold while it consults with the unions to try to "avert or minimise the terminations".
AMWU National Secretary, Doug Cameron, said the decision showed the AIRC did not trust Qantas to keep its word.
"Qantas did not meet its obligations when it announced 480 jobs would be cut".
"This is a significant victory for our members and it's a significant victory for the Australian public because the best thing we can do is maintain every possible job we can in Australia", Cameron said.
"These are highly skilled and very important jobs that provide Qantas with its reputation for reliability and safety."
"Qantas now has to go through a proper consultation process that should lead to a better outcome for workers.
"I am confident that once we see the detail, it will be evident Qantas made this decision on cost-cutting grounds and that maintenance services would be affected."
Qantas has indicated it will abide by the Commission's decision. A spokesperson said the company would hand over the documents and consult with unions representing maintenance workers.
Legal counsel for the AMWU, Anney Gooley, said that such a decision would not have been possible under the new Howard Government's new industrial laws.
She said the unions' action had been commenced prior to the new laws coming into effect.
"It is only reasonable for workers and their unions to have proper information and to be consulted about the future of their jobs," Cameron continued.
"Under the new laws workers would not have this right."
The AMWU has sent information about the decision to all Qantas maintenance members.
On April 21 1856 stonemasons working on Melbourne University, led by two former Chartist activists, James Galloway and James Stephens, walked off the job over the issue of the eight-hour day.
The stonemasons marched from the University of Melbourne to Parliament House, both then under construction, calling out workers at building sites on the way.
"It was a burning hot day and I thought the occasion a good one, so I called upon the men to follow me, to which they immediately consented," wrote Stephens of the landmark day.
Thousands rallied in Melbourne to mark the 150th anniversary of the eight-hour day, which was seen as a landmark achievement by workers in the fledgling colony.
"Thank God they had the foresight, and the opportunity, to do it 150 years ago," says Noonan. "Howard's industrial police force would prosecute and fine our members if they tried it today."
Transport Workers Union Local President Roger Toussint has been sentenced to a 10-days in lockup following a rail strike for better wages in December.
It was the second time a union has been fined under the controversial Taylor Law, which makes it illegal for New York State public servants to strike.
Political activist Jesse Jackson said the outrageous fine and sentencing threw light on an unjust law.
"We have to challenge unjust and oppressive laws," Jackson said.
"Slavery was once a law, denying women the right to vote was once a law, the Montgomery Bus Boycott challenged an unjust law."
Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers went on strike for two and a half days when talks on the retirement age and wage increases broke down.
A NY1 television network poll found 54 per cent of New Yorkers polled agreed with the unions demands during the strike.
Back home, individual unionists can be fined up to $33,000 under the Howard Government's WorkChoices laws for breaking strict conditions on strikes.
The Minister of Workplace relations can call strikes off, even before they starts, on a range of grounds, including they would "adversely affect the employer".
Meanwhile, five American janitors on a hunger-strike for a living wage have been rushed to hospital.
A group of University of Miami janitors have been on a hunger strike since April 3, calling for a living wage, health care and union representation.
The largely migrant workers are paid less than $US7 ($A9.50) an hour, $US6 ($A8.12) less than the rate at other universities.
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
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
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]
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.
Rock the Block music festival Saturday May 6
The 'Rock the Block' Festival, on Saturday May 6, 2006, boasts 5 hours of non-stop music, from rock and hip-hop to acoustic and electronic pop, as well as the Blackscreen Indigeneous film-series.
The festival is being put on to raise money to refurbish a community dance studio at the Tony Mundine gym, and will play host to well known acts such as Wire MC and Andorra, as well as nationally recognised acts like Combat Wombat and Ozi Batla, from the Herd.
Other acts include Indigenous acoustic musician James Henry, Tribal Ashes, the Urban Guerillas, Jesse Morris and the Project and Gisele Scales.
The festival also includes the Australian Film Commission's Blackscreen film series, including a wonderful documentary on Sydney's original Black theatre, from the 70's, and a number of moving and beautifully shot recent productions, such as 'Green Bush' featuring David Page.
Rock the Block will kick off in Lawson St Redfern at 1pm, although people are encouraged to come a bit early if they want to grab some lunch before the music starts.
The festival is a family day with kid's entertainment provided, along with the music and films. Entry is by donation, with a discount drink and sausage ticket for those who donate.
Please contact Lani at the Aboriginal Housing Company on 9698 9249 or Joel Beasant at [email protected]
Rock the Block is an alcohol-free event.
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
May Day March and Rally
Sunday 7th May at 11am at Hyde Park North
More info from Warren Smith on 02 9264 5024
I have just heard on the radio about Optus sacking 70 workers and asking them to apply for their jobs under a contract that has inferior conditions. Well as a consumer who uses Optus as their home phone carrier, I will let them know that they have just lost us. I am now researching who to else to use. I also will not hesitate to take my business away from anyone who uses these laws to exploit workers. I also believe that a lot of people believe as I do. So I say to any company who does this to 'improve operations' to think carefully as there are a lot of people very angry over this state of affairs.
T. Williams
Why bother to expect a Serial Liar to tell the truth at this commission and the fact he appeared relaxed is no surprise as he is the one that placed restrictions on Cole's findings.
L Crossing
It appears that the Federal Governments proposed tax cuts calculations do not factor in the GST. Any calculation of tax cuts should include the GST plus personal income tax. It is this combination of taxes that is hurting people on the lower tax scales.
The proposed tax cuts should be offsetting the GST.
T. Guterres
Never will there be a better time to change this federal goverment.
My idea to have every unionist who will contribute to fund every marginal seat in the next election is not getting of the ground.
They will not contribute I am told, well they will, if we ask!
5,000 Australians each giving just $10 a month could flood every ALP marginal seat with money to fight this election.
It will take a group such as labor council to make it work.
My money will come up front even if it puts me on home brew for a month.
We are duty bound to fight Howard to a standstill to protect unionism and workers rights.
Just one complaint, Why do we not even have candedates in some marjinals yet? like Paterson? any plan to win the election after next is betrayal of Australia,s workers.
any one help start this? we must have total trust every dollar funds a seat.
Belly
ps get active!
After hearing about meatworkers .. I just hope that not one of those blokes EVER VOTED for HOWARD ..as some workers STUPIDLY and CRAVENLY DID in Tasmania ..Some foolish misguided folks wanted to 'try out' a right wing government which pandered to 'individualism' or ' I'm alright jack' and now they realise , to their horror, that when little johnny was talking about ' Govern for all of US ... he didn't mean YOU workers ..no .. he means "US BOSS cockies' .. As a worker found out at POW Juice after losing 40 dollars a week the boss glibly replied " its not about whats fair ... its about whats right ... for the company ' ... and tahts folks is the what LITTLE JOHNNY STANDS FOR ....
Its time to OVERTHROW HOWARD . He needs to spend his retirement IN JAIL for WAR CRIMES, CHILD ABUSE , BACKING of DICTATORS and Abusing WORKERS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS whcih even violate the charter of the I.L.O which should be part of the CONSTITUTION OF the Coming REPUBLIC OF AUSTRALIA
Dan O'Brien
This afternoon a Victorian trade union colleague mailed me an envelope containing 50 leaflets for the Workers & Community National Day of Protest Wednesday 28 June. The leaflets were produced the Victorian Trades Hall Council, featuring the ACTU logo. The leaflets advertise the National Day of Protest on June 28 beginning at 10am. It calls on workers and the community to assemble at one of four locations and march to city centre. In inspiring bold red print it reads, "Together we are unbreakable!"
Once again, our Victorian trade union colleagues have the jump on us by distributing posters and leaflets two months before the Day of Protest. This is one reason why they were able to mobilise over 100 000 people for the 2005 November 15 rally.
Sadly, very few people in NSW are even aware of the June 28 National Day of Protest. Indeed as I write this letter, there is a debate amongst Union NSW affiliates to decide whether or not there will be protest action on June 28. Given the recent sackings you would expect Unions NSW to jump at the opportunity to organise another November 15 style protest.
Unfortunately there are sections of the union leadership trying to restrict our campaign to a �Just Vote ALP� strategy. If Beazley�s popularity and performance is any indication, we are doomed. There�s no guarantee that a future Labor government will repeal the legislation unless the union movement keeps campaigning to defeat the legislation on the ground. Even if the ALP is elected, if there hasn't been enough of an industrial campaign and mass protests all an ALP government will do is to merely ameliorate the worst aspects of the legislation.
Many agree we need a national stoppage to signal to employers and the government that they will face industrial action if they attempt to use the new anti-union laws.
Especially in the weaker workplaces, workers will need the confidence to resist the use of the new laws by their employers. This is needed to overcome the sentiment amongst some workers that the campaign is over and that there�s nothing they can do until the next elections. Howard hopes the union movement won�t organise a national stoppage or mass protests.
Members should pass motions that call on Unions NSW to organise a Workers & Community Day of Protest on June 28 and call their unions to find out what they are doing. As the Victorian's are saying, "Together we are unbreakable!"
John Gauci
Att: Paul Howes - Are there any tuckpointers out there
A tuck pointer is a tradesman that prepares once ungauged brickwork to produce tuckpointing, the lost art of false jointing. Bricks were kilned and gauged per batch size that varied some in wood fired kilns and clay type.
The tuck pointer was responsible for pointing the lime mortar joints with as similar matching mortar with an array of oxides and soils. ( An art in itself ) From the usually Indian red mortar a paint wash mixed if necassary and trade secret additives were mixed in the wash solution to provide bonding and applied to provide consistency across the entire wall.
While the red pointing was relatively fresh a usually white to cream stopping was mixed with added trade secret binding agents and whiteners. The stopping was applied with a special iron the width of the required joint from a feathered wooden straight edge placed to the wall leaving a raised joint some half a mm high.
The frills remaining were cut via the straightedge with a special tuck pointing tool known as a frenchman cutting some of the red mortar with the frenchman to provide the crisp clean joint that is left.
Today techniques have changed and chemical binding is used rather than the traditional wet to wet methods of years gone by. A skill that would test the most experience of wet trade.
That same method was used on many types of stone.
That is the trade of tuckpointer.
Neil
Yes, the more trigger-happy employers and their legal advisers appear to have been scared off for now, but the law is the law and employers have a history of exercising their rights. Just give them time.
There are a number of factors running in the union movement's favour as they begin the 18-month project to hold the Howard Government to account.
First, the least the capricious nature of the laws and the inevitable impact they will have - on young workers, working mums, men in jobs who do not have an MBA to flash around. In short, each of the groups identified as being Howard's political base will cop a hiding.
Secondly, the level of political organisation already on the ground is far beyond the scope of any previous campaign. In NSW there are active campaign committees in five federal marginal seats and 29 regional campaign committees.
Normally the model of political campaigning around federal elections is limited to clocking off a busload of delegates and bussing them into a marginal seat to place ALP propaganda into letter boxes.
This is totally different - campaign committees are following strategic plan to identify workplaces, build activist networks and reach out to community organisations, galvanising and embedding opposition to WorkChoices.
They are not talking about candidates or votes, they are doing something more fundamental - building a movement that draws links between working rights and family and community, transforming IR from a technical process into, not just an economic, but a quality of life issue.
And then there is the logo: the ubiquitous 'Your Rights at Work - worth fighting for' branding, which is not just a key message and a call to action, but a campaign tool.
Across Australia, local workers and campaign committees are coming up with ways to get the campaign logo into the face of their community.
The logo is already being displayed on car stickers, T-shirts, telegraph poles, on billboards and buses, at stalls in local shopping centres, surf carnivals and community fairs.
This weekend the NSW ETU takes it a step further, with the launch of a sponsorship deal of the Nepean and Central Coast Soccer Associations.
This Saturday night at the newly named 'Your Rights at Work' stadium at St Mary's, the Central Coast Lightning and Penrith-Nepean United will lock horns in the State Super League - both teams wearing 'Your Rights at Work' logos on their jerseys.
The sponsorship deals go all the way down the junior grades and also covers women's sides - if you or your family play soccer in the Federal seats of Lindsay and Dobell - the Your Rights At Work brand will be in your face each and every week of the season.
Will it overthrow a government? Not on its own, but it's the sort of presence that can get inside your mind and ensure that when you do exercise your democratic rights you will not be easily swayed by the latest morsel the government throws in your way.
Those in government hoping the union campaign will run out of steam should be rightly concerned. We are kicking on.
Peter Lewis
Editor
Fran Ostad, wife of the boss of painting company Express Deco, was listed as Khashayar Zamani's sole recipient of benefits if he died.
Zamani was shocked by the revelation.
In a statutory declaration, Zemani stated Ostad had arranged for him to join the superannuation scheme.
Zemani alleged Ostad had prepared the forms. He said he spoke little English at the time.
Ostad denied all knowledge in Sydney's Daily Telegraph.
The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) is following up on Zamani's claim, as well as allegations of underpayment and unsafe work at other jobs involving the same company.
Iranian builder Golshan Hedayat is fighting for thousands of dollars of pay and entitlements.
Hedayat claims he was only paid half of what he was owed for during five months work for Express Deco.
"I didn't get payment for overtime, sick leave, public holidays, annual leave or superannuation," Hedayat said.
Claims from other immigrant workers range from being paid $6-an-hour to the boss discouraging safety courses.
CFMEU NSW Secretary Andrew Ferguson said too many immigrant building workers were exploited as cheap labour.
"Unscrupulous employers who exploit migrant workers are not only harming workers and their families, but they are also destroying legitimate small businesses that pay proper wages and conditions," Ferguson said.
Interested parties are invited to call Express Deco's owner, Frank Ostad, on 0412 284 212.
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