
Issue No 32		24 September 1999

News

Public Servants Seek Leave For Timor

Nurses and teachers have asked the State Government to approve paid leave for workers prepared to assist with East Timor's post-independence reconstruction as the need for medical supplies increases.


	Sniper Victim - Medical Supplies Needed

Unions have approached their relevant departments seeking the special provisions to support what is shaping as a mammoth rebuilding task. The CFMEU is also devising a plan to provide support for the rebuilding of Dili, through the deployment of skilled tradespeople.

The NSW Teachers Federation made its request in early May to Premier Bob Carr who referred it to Education Minister John Aquilina, who is yet to reply to the teachers..

But the NSW Nurses Association, currently coordinating a campaign to provide vital medical supplies for Timor, have received in principle support from Health Minister Craig Knowles to the idea of paid leave for nurses.

"Only where people coordinating the efforts make the call - but we need to get the structures in place - there are a lot of nurses putting their hands up.

"It's not just related to nurses, there is an overwhelming feeling of support for the people of East Timor amongst our membership.

The NSW Nurses' medical campaign is gaining momentum, with the Pharmaceutical Guild of NSW lending its support in collecting medical supplies and TNT agreeing to provide free transport of supplies to the Nurses' Camperdown base.

The Nurses have launched a special hotline for public donations to provide emergency health care to the East Timorese people and to restore their health services.

Donations to the Nurses APHEDA East Timor Appeal can be made by calling the hotline on 1300 653 238 or sending a cheque to Box 3, Trades Hall, 4 Goulburn Street, Sydney 2000.

APHEDA Endorsed by CNRT

Meanwhile, the CNRT has nominated the trade union aid agency APHEDA as the approved contact point for trade union donations to the East Timorese.

APHEDA has had a long association with East Timor, having established health and education programs and working closely with the CNRT in the lead-up to the referendum.

The union agency is sending food and medical supplies to East Timor on the Mercy Ship which will leave Darwin this September.

The Mercy Ship, a joint venture of several aid agencies, is carrying 300 tonnes of urgently-needed food and medical supplies for the people of East Timor.

Part of the medical supplies on board are a result of the Nursing Unions throughout Australia collecting urgently needed medicines from hospitals, health centres and pharmaceutical companies as part of the Nurses Union Aid Appeal.

APHEDA's Executive Officer, Phillip Hazelton, says:"We have provided medicines to this first mercy ship from the very generous donations from hospitals and companies around Australia. From the cash donations received from union members and the public we have also provided $26,000 to buy food and additional medicines to go on this first ship. Volunteer nurses are sorting through the rest of the donated medicines over the next few days and these also will be sent to Darwin next week to supply medical teams going to East Timor" he said.

To find out more about APHEDA visit them at http://www.apheda.org.au

Roger Woodward Fundraiser

The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance is holding a benefit for East Timor in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House on Friday October 8 at 8.00pm.

Internationally acclaimed pianist Roger Woodward has agreed to perform at the concert, with all money raised going to the Catholic charity CARITAS. Tickets available at the Opera House box office.

STOP PRESS: Union calls on Telstra to reverse discriminatory leave policy

The CPSU has called on Telstra to change the way it handles leave arrangements for staff called to active duty in East Timor.

The union claims Telstra is discriminating between 'contract' staff and 'award-based' staff, forcing award-based staff to use their own leave entitlements while they are on duty in East Timor.

Stephen Jones, Secretary of the CPSU Telecommunications Section, said, "Telstra have issued an e-mail to managers which states clearly that contract staff who are ordered to active duty will be fully paid for the duration of their tour of duty, but award-based staff will only be paid for 14 days. After that they will have to use their own recreation leave while serving their country in East Timor. "

'Everybody knows Telstra wants to get as many staff as possible onto contracts (Australian Workplace Agreements) but this development is completely over the odds. We are calling on Telstra to do the right thing and behave like a decent corporate citizen. " Mr Jones added.

CPSU has sent an urgent letter to Telstra chief, Dr Ziggy Switkowski, calling for an immediate change of policy.

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Issue 32 contents

Interview: His Daily Fix
Graham Richardson talks of his transition from national politics to talkback radio and his ongoing jobs as a fixer.

Politics: Requiem to the Third Way
The swing to Labor in Victoria shows clearly that once again Australian voters have rejected economic rationalism. The result, and the reasons for it, should worry John Howard.

International: A Common Struggle for Freedom
It may not get the headlines, but Western Sahara has some chilling similarities with East Timor.

Unions: Woolscour Workers say No to Peter Reith
Workers at Canobolas Wooltopping - a woolscour plant near Orange, in central west New South Wales, have just sent a message to Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith: thanks, but no thanks.

Legal: Outlawed Acts of Consicence
The recent boycotts in support of East Timorese indepndence highlights the extremism of Reith's second wave.

History: Was Manning Clark A True Believer
A Canberra history conference shines the spotlight on Australia's most famous historian.

Review: Paranoid Echoes
The calls to examine the Australianďż˝Soviet documents in the Moscow Literary archives have grown in volume over the past year.

Labour Review: What's New at the Information Centre
The latest issue of Labour Review - a resource for officals and students.

Satire: Kennett Boosts Chances: Two More Independents Dead
Caretaker Premier Jeff Kennett today admitted that voters perceived him as arrogant and out of touch, but insisted that they were wrong.

» Public Servants Seek Leave For Timor

» Goodbye Green Bans - Dumped by the Wave

» Government Rules Nobble Public Sector

» ACTU Pushes On With Privatised Portal

» Powerful New Years Eve Deal for TransGrid

» Banks Grill Staff on New Fees

» Off the Rails - Workers Gagged

» Staff Frustration Boils Over at Sydney Water

» Kennett Nose-Dive: Botsman Picks It

» Academics Fail Non-Union Deal

» Nike in Indonesia: Military Employed to Intimidate Workers

» The Laughďż˝s On Barry