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Issue No. 308 | 26 May 2006 |
If the Answer is Nuclear �.
Interview: Out of the Bedroom Industrial: Cloak and Dagger Unions: Lockout! Legal: The Fantasy of Choice Politics: Labor Pains Economics: Economics and the Public Purpose Corporate: House of Horrors History: Clash Of Cultures International: Childs Play Culture: Folk You Mate! Review: Last Holeproof Hero
Lets Get Physical, Building Bosses Sparkie Vote Will Go To the Wire Nine Vanish in Melbourne Triangle Labor Roots In Graft Allegations
The Soapbox The Locker Room Parliament
Noll On Riders on the Strom No Gerry Can Insight Fires Up
Labor Council of NSW |
News ALP Urged to Front Up
The meeting was called to help build the June 28 rally against the laws at nearby Blacktown, one of Sydney's major industrial centres. Robertson said values that define Australia are under attack by the Howard government in the interests of big business. Some 27% of working people now have casual jobs and this is expected to rise to 35% in the next five to ten years. 'If you are unemployed and knock back a job you lose your benefits for eight weeks - even if it means signing a contract with no rights,' he said. Robertson said the campaign against the laws will continue to build 'so that by April 2007 we will have 150,000 to 200,000 on the streets'. 'The campaign is not simply about kicking out Howard because the ALP's position is not where it should be,' he warned. 'The Labor Party has to adopt an industrial relations policy based on fairness, equity and decency.' Sharon Canty from the Parents and Citizens Association of NSW warned that young people were particularly vulnerable to Workchoices. She said the legislation had to be seen in the context of other attacks on basic rights such as the welfare to work laws, the introduction of voluntary student unionism and the changes to occupational health and safety. Sister Libby Rogerson, the Social Justice Coordinator for the Diocese of Parramatta, said there were no choices in Workchoices. 'The laws impact on those sections of the community least able to defend themselves such as women, young people and migrants,' she said.
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