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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

TNT Snub is Dynamite


Global transport giant, TNT, has dodged an international push by unions to bring the company to the negotiating table over its uncertain future.

Talks with TNT in The Hague on the fate of 36,000 workers in its soon to be sold logistics division broke down last week.

Global union federations the ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) and UNI (Union Network International), spoke of their disappointment that, just days before a bidder is likely to be announced, TNT was not willing to discuss the future for its 36,000 employees whose jobs are 'up for sale'.

ITF and UNI have not opposed the sale of TNT Logistics. Workers are simply asking TNT to ensure that existing terms and conditions, collective bargaining and working arrangements are a condition of the sale to a new buyer.

Despite having some 20% of its total global Logistics workforce in the UK, the company has refused to enter into consultations with the Transport & General Workers' Union, which represents 15,000 TNT employees.

"While TNT puts itself at the forefront of corporate social responsibility by signing up to initiatives such as the United Nations Global Compact, its lack of any meaningful dialogue with unions shows that this is little more than rhetoric," says John Pedersen, UNI Assistant General Secretary.

"The people who work for TNT are being kept in the dark," says Stuart Howard, ITF Assistant General Secretary. "Unions will mobilise to press for a just and transparent process of sale which protects workers' rights."

Unions from more than 20 countries, jointly coordinated by the ITF and UNI, have proposed a global Guarantee of Workers Rights aimed at protecting the 36,000 employees whose jobs are up for sale.

Australian TNT employees are covered by the Transport Workers' Union and the Australian Services Union, who are backing the Guarantee.


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