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Issue No. 312 23 June 2006  
E D I T O R I A L

Striking Out Rights
As Australian trade unionist prepare for the latest National Week of Action, broader consequences of the IR changes are becoming apparent. And they are not good for democracy.

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

 Tooheys Orders a Blue

 Safety Standards Go East

 Libs Laugh At Sacked Mum

 Stoner's Cognitive Faculties Functioning

 Rail Workers Gagged

 Post Delivers Threat

 Elderly Face WorkChoices Assault

 Good Yarn Hits Cyberspace

 Business Buckets WorkChoices

 Hands Off Our Vital Stats

 Telstra Plays Tag and Release

 Multi Yanks Howard's Chain

 Nurses Reject Low Road

 Micks Bone Up On WorkChoices

 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
 More Proof
 Fire Up
 Big Dog
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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An Urgent Appeal From Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA

We need to raise money immediately so that the people of East Timor can rebuild their lives after the recent unrest.

Please send a generous gift to assist local organisations in rebuilding a peaceful, free and productive society in East Timor.

Click here to donate using our secure online donation form https://secure.fantasticone.com/apheda/order_form.php Select East Timor from the drop down menu under 'section C. Once Off donations'.

OR phone our toll free number 1800 888 674

OR send a cheque made out to APHEDA Inc. with a note alerting us that it is for the East Timor Appeal

The recent conflict in East Timor has severely disrupted the day-to-day lives of the population and has been a blow to the confidence of this young independent nation. Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA would like to provide additional support to its partner organisations in East Timor to help rebuild infrastructure and restore confidence. Support from donors like yourself can help make this happen.

Union Aid Abroad -APHEDA will need to quickly respond to the needs of local partner organisations in East Timor when they are able to resume their work. These key civil society organisations focus on strengthening vocational skills, developing the union movement, resolving conflict peacefully and informing the population through independent media.

Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA's partner organisations are likely to need assistance in the following: Repairing any damaged infrastructure or equipment Replacing stolen or damaged goods Restarting their programs Developing programs that encompass reconciliation and peace building activities using community radio and theatre groups Providing vocational and income generating skills to unemployed young men so they feel they have a share in the future of their community.

You can help by donating:

$1000 - To fund a vocational training workshop targeting young unemployed males $500 - To fund a theatre tour to rural villages to promote reconciliation $100 - To partially fund training for community radio stations on developing programs that support peace building and reconciliation $50 - To help make a gate to secure an office building $30 - To help replace stolen/destroyed office equipment

By donating to East Timor you will be helping the traumatised people of this nation redevelop confidence and hope that their nation can continue to grow and prosper.

You will be supporting programs that equip individuals and communities in East Timor with skills and experiences to create a peaceful, free and productive society.

Your support for the people of East Timor is so important for them at this difficult and unsettling time.

Jammin' For Justice

9 June 2006

Is a huge band competition aimed at educating us on how the new fucked up workers rights laws will affect us... ALL OF US.. Any local (local, Qbn, Cooma, Goulburn, Yass, Braidwood) band that are 18+ may enter. Your band can be any style (rock, country, hip hop, metal, indie etc.). Your band will be required to write 3 new songs containing lyrics from the new laws (you will be given a fact sheet upon successful regerstration). There will be 6 heats at the GR, 2 Semi's at the GR and the Final at the UNI. There are plently of prizes with high profile judges for the finals and a grand prize which consists of a 5 track EP Recording to the value of $10 000. Head to THE POT BELLY, BETTER MUSIC, PRO AUDIO, OSHEAS, TOAST, THE PHOENIX, ANU, SONGLAND, RAVEN CLOTHING or head to www.unionact.org.au to download you copy of teh reo form.

What is Going On in East Timor?

Where: Trades Hall Auditorium
When: 06 July 2006
Start time: 12.00pm
Finish time: 2.00pm

What Happened, Why, Where to Next?

Is it a COUP in which Australia is playing a key role?

Come and hear informed friends of East Timor, plus East Timorese people explain these difficult times, and what we as friends of East Timor can do.

Pope Talks About Stuff

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]

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


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