E D I T O R I A L

Call Security
There's a bloke, a pollster, prowling the country with a tale for the centre-left about messages and constituencies.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: The Month Of Living Dangerously
When the mobs took over the streets of Dili it was the people of East Timor that bore the brunt. Elisabeth Lino de Araujo from Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA was there to witness what happened.

Unions: Staying Mum
Penrith mums, Linda Everingham and Jo Jacobson, are at the heart of a grassroots campaign to boot Jackie Kelly, out of federal parliament. Jim Marr caught up with one half of the sister act.

Economics: Precious Metals
There's a lot of spin around AWAs in the mining industry, but Tony Maher argues all that glitters is not gold.

Industrial: The Cold 100
The Iemma Government has come up with 100 reasons why WorkChoices is a dud, with 100 examples of ripped off workers

History: The Vinegar Hill Mob
This month's Blacktown Rally was not the first time workers had stood up for their rights in the region, writes Andrew Moore.

Legal: Free Agents
Is an independent contractor a small businessperson or a worker? The answer depends upon whether the contractor is genuinely �independent� or not, writes Even Jones.

Politics: Under The Influence
Bob Gould thinks Sonny Bill Williams is a hunk; he reveals all in a left wing view of The Bulletin�s 100 most influential Australians, questioning the relevance of some, and adding a few of his own.

International: How Swede It Was
Geoff Dow pays tribute to the passing of Rudolf Meidner, one of the architects of the Swedish model of capitalism.

Review: Keating's Men Slam Dance on Howard
These punk rockers are out to KO WorkChoices. Nathan Brown joins the fray.

N E W S

Hendification Blurs WorkChoices ll

Visa Rorts Minister Urged to Quit

Organiser On Front Line

Fire Brigade Chokes on Tests

Union Backs Man of Steel

$3 Billion Dollar Chalkies

Lib Pans Telstra Job Cuts

James Hardie Joins AWA Crusade

Job Network Unravels

Andrews Discovers Irony

Big Business Bashes Bush

Howard Pinches Pay

Tilers Spark Korean Protest

Activists What's On

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Work Choice: US Military Style
John Howard has learnt a few lessons on workers rights from his Texan buddy, writes Rowan Cahill.

Politics
Westie Wing
As Pru Goward slams into the glass ceiling of the NSW Liberal Party, Ian West considers how women are faring under the Howard-Costello Government.

The Locker Room
A World Away
Phil Doyle is pleased that a display of subtle beauty and athletic grace has been overtaken by some good old-fashioned mindless violence

L E T T E R S

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Union Backs Man of Steel

Adams broke ranks with big business colleagues to lash John Howard's move for a free trade agreement with low-wage colossus, China.

The intervention has been welcomed by AMWU National Secretary, Doug Cameron, who said business and unions should work together to protect Australian jobs and communities.

"We don't agree with Kirby Adams on everything but free trade agreements highlight how this government puts ideology ahead of people," Cameron said.

"It is anti-worker and anti-community to force us into direct competition with a low-wage giant that refuses to comply with basic labour standards and has an appalling safety record.

"What Australia should be doing is investing in skills, and research and development, so we have a high skill, high wage manufacturing sector.

"The AMWU will work with other parties who share that goal."

Cameron said his union had demonstrated its bona fides by driving the establishment of manufacturing councils, involving unions, employers and governments, at state level.

However, he said, the federal government had refused to participate, preferring to leave the sector to the vagaries of the market.

"That's not government," he said. "That's stupidity".

Adams, whose company made 250 Wollongong workers redundant last month, said Australia was caught in a "fantasy" it could lead the world to a "free trade nirvana" by unilaterally dropping tariffs while the rest of the world laughed at it.

"There are massive costs for Australia's manufacturers and for the millions of men and women employed by them," he told a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce, last week.

The AMWU has commissioned an academic report on the state of Australian manufacturing, from the National Institute of Economics and Industry Research.

It will be unveiled at this week's national conference in Sydney.

Cameron said it would form the basis for a fightback strategy to be decided by conference delegates.

"Our delegates will take the lead in developing concrete alternatives to the Howard Government model that is costing Australians jobs and opportunities," he said.

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Last Modified: 21 Jul 2006