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Call Security
There's a bloke, a pollster, prowling the country with a tale for the centre-left about messages and constituencies.
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.
 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
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
Balancing Act
Sick of Ants
Swimming Uphill
Praise from Belly
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News
Job Network Unravels
Individual job network staff are dealing with up to 500 job seekers at a time, supporting claims the privatised system is in crisis.
An employee of a western Sydney provider blew the whistle on a system that runs down staff and short changes the unemployed.
On the eve of welfare-to-work changes, she endorsed claims at the centre of a critical Queensland University study.
The study found massive discontent and high staff turnover, with three quarters of staff leaving in the past four years.
The report, by academics Greg Marston and Catherine McDonald, comes as the Federal government moved to introduce 'Welfare to Work' measures that will see unemployed people forced to choose between substandard AWAs or losing income support for eight weeks.
The predicament was highlighted recently when Spotlight in Mount Druitt used AWAs to slash the conditions of new starters.
The job network worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the system introduced to give "choice and flexibility" offered neither due to strict guidelines imposed by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
"We're not supposed to use discretion," says the Job Network worker. "But you have to use discretion when people are in a difficult situation.
"Case managers are expected to spend quality time with job seekers, but, with an average case load of 150 clients, we're not spending quality time [with them]."
The worker also backed claims of high levels of bureaucratic administrative work hindering the core business of finding jobs for clients.
She backed the report's claims that staff were suffering high levels of stress and burnout.
Media reports claimed DEWR referred to clients as 'stock' at the start of a contract.
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Issue 316 contents
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