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Issue No. 309 02 June 2006  
E D I T O R I A L

When the Truth Hurts
Some rare moments of candour this week have vindicated all we�ve been saying about WorkChoices and more.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Rock Solid
Bill Shorten gives the inside story on the Australian Workers Union's involvement in the Beaconsfield rescue.

Industrial: Eight Simple Rules for Employing My Teenage Daughter
Phil Oswald bought up his kids to believe in their rights; so when his 16-year old daughter was told to cop a pay cut she was never going to take it quietly.

Politics: The Johnnie Code
WorkChoices is encrypted deep in the PM's political DNA, writes Evan Jones

Energy: Fission Fantasies
Adam Ma�anit looks at the big business push behind the 'clean nuclear' debate that is sweeping the globe.

History: All The Way With Clarrie O'Shea
The WorkChoices Penal Powers are the latest in a long line of penal sanctions against trade unions, writes Neale Towart

International: Closer to Home
If Australia can forgive its debt to Iraq, why not to Indonesia and the Philippines, write Luke Fletcher and Karen Iles

Economics: Taking the Fizz
While the Treasurer has been popping the post-Budget champers, Frank Stilwell gives a more sober assessment.

Unions: Stronger Together
Amanada Tattersall looks at the possibilities of strengthening alliances between unions, environmental and community organisations

Review: Montezuma's Revenge
Tommy Lee Jones directs and stars in a film about racism and retribution, writes James Gallaway.

Poetry: Fair Go Gone
Employers in the land rejoice, for we are girt by greed.

N E W S

 Howard's Advocate Fesses Up

 Cowra - Work Slaughter Legal

 You're Killing Us - BHP Charged Again

 Revealed: Beaconsfield Led AWA Charge

 Warehouse Pushes the Envelope

 Independent Schools Push Class Warfare

 Spotlight on Howard�s Porkies

 PM Backs Visa Buster

 Sutton Wants Middle Men Probed

 ATO Recruiting for WorkChoices

 Taxpayers to Fund Ad Orgy

 New Deal on Canberra Menu

 Appeal for East Timor

 Activist's What's On!

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
The Beaconsfield Declaration
As the Prime Minister feted Brant Webb and Todd Russell, their colleagues were outside with a message to the rest of Australia.

The Locker Room
Run Like You Stole Something
Phil Doyle observes that there are some tough bastards out there.

Parliament
The Westie Wing
That fun-loving friend of the workers, Ian West, reports from the red leather of the Bear Pit.

Education
Class Action
Phil Bradley draws the lines between education funding and the current skills crisis.

L E T T E R S
 Free Kick
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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Activists

Activist's What's On!


Inner West IR forum to fight WorkChoices

Greens MP and industrial relations spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says an upcoming public forum in Annandale, with high profile speakers like environmentalist and unionist Jack Mundey, is designed to help overturn Howard's WorkChoices laws.

"The Greens will be using our local community networks to bolster the ongoing campaign against WorkChoices, with the aim of winning back the working and living conditions that unions have established over the past century," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Following on from our major forum last June, before WorkChoices became law, we have organised speakers from a broad range of areas including the church, academia and the union movement.

Greens Ban leader Jack Mundey said John Howard has with one fell swoop destroyed every person's right to fight for better working conditions and the environment.

"The movement against WorkChoices is far from over. We need to keep mobilising support in the community for unions' right to represent workers," Mr Mundey said.

Greens Councillor for Leichhardt and candidate for Balmain in the 2007 NSW elections, Rochelle Porteous, said the Greens were committed to working with unions and the community to oppose the Liberal's attack on wages and conditions.

"We are inviting the community to come to our forum and help build a broad based movement to defeat these regressive WorkChoices laws," Cr Porteous said.

Community and Unions: Defeating Howard's WorkChoices Forum
2-5pm, Saturday 3 June 2006, Annandale Neighbourhood Centre, 79 Johnston St.
Speakers include: Jack Mundey, Rev Dr Ann Wansbrough Uniting Church; Professor Frank Stilwell; Adam Kerslake Unions NSW, Brett Holmes General Secretary NSW Nurses' Association, Rochelle Porteous Greens Councillor Leichhardt and others from transport, building, hospitality and cleaners unions.
Pre-forum photo opportunity: Lee Rhiannon, Jack Mundey and Rochelle Porteous handing out forum leaflets to Inner West residents.

Work, Industrial Relations and Popular Culture Conference

Monday 25 September 2006.

Brisbane Work and Industry Futures QUT, and the Department of Industrial Relations Griffith University are convening a one-day conference that explores Work, Industrial Relations and Popular Culture.

David Pope, the cartoonist behind the Heinrich Hinze cartoons will be Keynote Speaker with his presentation - "Is the pen mightier than s356? Cartoons and Work" (www.scratch.com.au)

We welcome any paper that explores the manner in which popular culture is used by unions, management or policy makers or alternatively, how work and industrial relations is represented within popular culture.

Sub-themes for the conference include: - Policy, Influence and Modern Mediums - Which is Reality, Work or TV? - Popular Music: Is it the End of the Working Class Man? - Working in the Movies: What do we see? - Popular Culture as a Teaching Tool. Call for Papers. Abstracts are due 14 July 2006 Full papers are due 11 September 2006 Location; Southbank, Brisbane.

The convenors would welcome participants to submit proposed titles earlier to assist in preparations. For further information please contact Keith Townsend ([email protected]) or David Peetz ([email protected])

Rekindling the Flames of Discontent: How the Labour and Folk Movements Work Together

A Conference - Dinner - Concert

The Brisbane Labour History Association is holding a Conference/Dinner/Concert on Saturday 23 September. This event will explore the historical relationship between the labour movement and the folk movement in Australia with a particular emphasis on Queensland.

Why? To celebrate the history of the interaction between the Folk and Labour movements, and promote its longevity.

When? Saturday 23 September. Conference from 1pm. Concert from 7pm.

Where? East Brisbane Bowls Club, Lytton Rd, East Brisbane, Next to Mowbray Park

It is still in the formative stages, but to date the following are confirmed:

1-5pm CONFERENCE (will include music with the presentations):
Doug Eaton on John Manifold & the Communist Arts Group in Brisbane, Brisbane Realists
Bob & Margaret Fagan on Sydney Realist Writers
Mark Gregory on trade union & labour songs/music, nationally/internationally
Lachlan & Sue on international perspectives

5 - 7pm Drinks followed by DINNER

7 - 11pm CONCERT
Combined Unions Choir
Bob and Margaret Fagan
Mark Gregory
Jumping Fences

For more information contact the BLHA President Greg Mallory on [email protected], or Secretary Ted Reithmuller on [email protected], or Dale Jacobsen on [email protected]

Greg Combet speaking on 'The social responsibility of economists'

Tuesday 6 June, 630-830pm
Herman's Bar, Wentworth Building (off the courtyard)
Cnr City Rd and Butlin Ave, Sydney University

Speakers:

Greg Combet, ACTU Secretary and graduate of Sydney University Political Economy.

Greg will be speaking on 'The social responsibility of economists'. At a time when many economists are willing to lend their support to unjust and unjustifiable government policies - whether on industrial relations or on international trade - it is worth asking the question: Should economists and other social scientists seek to provide 'value-neutral' analysis and advice? Or should they explicitly take ethical or moral considerations into account? If so, how?

Also starring:

Eleanor Hall, Journalist, broadcaster and presenter of ABC Radio's News and the World Today, and graduate of Sydney University Political Economy

Professor Frank Stilwell, one of the founding academics of Political Economy at Sydney University

Organised by the Political Economy Alumni Society - a network that meets socially and works to promote and support the study of political economy in universities and the community. Alumni Society events are open to everyone who is interested in exploring economic issues in their social and political context.

Please pass this invitation on to friends and colleagues who may be interested. Entry by donation.

Soup Kitchen

How can you say NO to HOT, HOME MADE SOUP in the name of WORKERS RIGHTS!

Inner West Your Rights at Work is hosting a DVD screening and Soup Kitchen.

When: Sunday 4 June 2006 4pm - 7pm
Where: Gaelic Club Devonshire Street
TIM (ex Big Brother) will be the MC for the evening.

We are also having some SPEAKERS: Andrew Fergurson (CFMEU) and Lee Rhiannon (Greens).

At the fundraiser, we will be SCREENING the following DVDs:

* "WAL-MART - THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE" - this is the Wal-Mart doco which lifts the lid on corporate greed & anti union tactics in the workplace.

* "A WALK IN OUR BOOTS" - terrific CFMEU doco for those of you who haven't seen it!

* "36 WAYS TO GET THE SACK" - some of you may have viewed this on the Your Rights At Work website

For those of you who prefer AMBER LIQUID, please note that the BAR WILL BE OPEN!

MUM'S & DAD'S - you will be happy to know that CHILDREN ARE MOST WELCOME!

We would LOVE your HELP in PROMOTING our fundraiser amongst your union comrades, friends, family & rank & file members!

Please post our flyer on your website, email to comrades, rank & file, family & friends & most importantly - come along on the night with as many people as possible!

Get Connected in the West

Your Rights at Work Family and Friends Community Day
Penrith Lakes 12 June, 12.30pm
Contact Mary Yaager from Unions NSW for more information on 9286 1699

Coast Goes Online

Check out the brand new Central Coast Your Rights at Work Website www.centralcoastrightsatwork.com.au

Public Protest and the Law

UTS:Community Law Centre hosts Public Protest & the Law Workshop with Environmental Defenders Office & Legal Aid - 14 June 2006:
6pm - 7.30pm.

Description:

This is a free practical workshop about legal issues confronting people involved in public protest. Hosted by the UTS Community Law Centre in conjunction with the Environmental Defender's Office and NSW Legal Aid Commission.

This workshop is of particular relevance for those wanting to be informed about the rights and obligations concerning public protests.

All participants will receive a free advance copy of the EDO publication "Community Protest and the Law: A Handbook for Campaigners in NSW" (forthcoming).

Fact sheets by the UTS:CLC will also be available.

The workshop will include discussion of:

* Common criminal charges
* Police powers and responsibilities
* Arrest, detention and bail
* Getting legal advice and preparing for court
* Civil liability for defamation and interfering with business activities

Light refreshments will be provided following the workshop.

Location:
Building 5 Level 1
Blackfriars Campus
University of Technology Sydney.

About the Organisers:
The UTS CLC provides a free legal service for all UTS Staff and Students and is committed to community based legal research, law reform and policy development.

The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) is a community legal centre specialising in public interest environmental law.

The NSW Legal Aid Commission (LAC) is the state government agency responsible for providing legal aid and assistance to disadvantaged people in New South Wales.

To register, or for more information, please contact: Tisha Dejamanee, EDO Education Assistant, on 02 9262 6989 or email [email protected]


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