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Issue No. 317 28 July 2006  
E D I T O R I A L

Independent of Facts
John Howard's mastery of the big lie was evident again this week.

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

 Howard Chews Up Lollipop Men

 Ridout: WorkChoices �Revolutionary�

 Voters: WorkChoices Rotten

 Terror: WorkChoices Rule

 Bussies Go Gangbusters

 Strikers Drive Deal

 Australia Faces Jobs Meltdown

 Fat Lady Sings at Opera House

 PM's Pick Burns Fire Fighters

 Spooks Tail Early Risers

 Telstra Boss Gets Crossed Line

 Prof: Fair Pay Should Be Lower

 TNT Snub is Dynamite

 Activist's 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
 Balancing Act
 Swimming Uphill
 Help is at Hand
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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News

Spooks Tail Early Risers


Shadow Health Minister Julia Gillard kicked off the CFMEU's 6.30 Start campaign at Parramatta's new Justice Centre precinct, last week.

The construction union is putting the acid on NSW federal MPs and shadow ministers to talk with building workers in the lead-up to the next election.

To make it possible, MPs have to be on the job by 6.30am so they don't eat into company time and expose workers, and possibly themselves, to massive fines.

Gillard told building workers she completely endorsed Kim Beazley's promise to do away with WorkChoices.

And she turned over a personal donation of $150 to a fighting fund for 107 Perth workers facing $28,000 fines for supporting a sacked job delegate.

Mal Peters, a safety rep from that site, and his wife Bernadette, joined Gillard at the Parramatta meeting.

Workers Online understands the Prime Minister's secret building industry police force tailed the Perth couple around Sydney meetings.

Industry sources say Building Industry Commission inspectors visited a Sydney University construction job after the couple spoke there.

They said the spooks made inquiries about right of entry, meeting authorisation, and whether discussion had gone beyond the lunch break.

CFMEU state secretary, Andrew Ferguson, said he had been made aware of Commission activity.

"It's what they do," he said. "The Commission was set up by the federal government to run a campaign of intimidation and it does that to the best of its ability.

"Any effort to build solidarity or stand together with fellow workers gets their attention because the government doesn't like it and they are a political police force running a political agenda."


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