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Crude Politics
It is one of the great mysteries of Australian politics that the Prime Minister has managed to emerge unscathed from one of the most profound geo-political misadventures since history was first recorded.
Interview: A Life And Death Matter
Macquarie Street and Canberra are squaring off over safety in the workplace, NSW Minister for Industrial relations, John Della Bosca, explains what's at stake.
Unions: Fighting Back
When John Howard's building industry enforcer started threatening people's homes, one couple hit the road. Jim Marr met them in Sydney.
Industrial: What Cowra Means
The ruling on the Cowra abattoir case highlights the implications of the new IR rules, according to John Howe and Jill Murray
Environment: Scrambling for Energy Security
Howard Government hypocrisy is showcased in its climate change manoeuvring, Stuart Rosewarne writes:
Politics: Page Turner
A new book leaves no doubt about whether the faction came before the ego, Nathan Brown writes.
Economics: The State of Labour
The capacity of the state to shape the political economy and thus improve the social lives of the people must be reasserted, argues Geoff Dow.
International: Workers Blood For Oil
A new book by Abdullah Muhsin and Alan Johnson lifts the lid on the bloody reality of US backed democracy for Iraq's trade unions
History: Liberty in Spain
Worker Self-Management is good management. The proof in Spain was in Catalania, Andalusia and continues in the Basque Country, as Neale Towart explains.
Review: Go Roys, Make A Noise
Phil Doyle thought he'd find nostalgia, but instead Vulgar Press' new book, Maroon & Blue is a penetrating insight into the suburban mind under stress.
 Howard Amps Up Repression
Andrews on the Fiddle
Robbo Flags Mobile Holidays
Shop Group Maroons Kids
Condition Critical
BHP Confronts Chilean Resistance
The Thin Yellow Line
Safety Goes to the Dogs
Pollies Wings Clipped By Junket Ban
Technicians Win Action Ballot
Academics Take Contract Lessons
Hardie, Ha, Ha - Directors Laughing
Amcor Sends Hundreds Packing
Warren Goes to Ground
Activist's What's On!
The Locker Room
Ruled Out
Phil Doyle plays by the rules Fiction
Tommy's Apprentice
Chapter One - Tommy and "The Boy" Politics
Westie Wing
Ian West wonders what might happen if the NSW Coalition actually did win power next March at the State elections.
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News
Howard Amps Up Repression
The federal government is suing a senior trade union leader for millions of dollars, alleging he tried to halt the spread of wage-cutting individual contracts.
CFMEU assistant naational secretary Dave Noonan faces the charges, as 107 Perth workers prepare to face charges that could see them fined up to $28,600 each.
Noonan faces fines of up to $2.5 million under legal action to be initiated by the Howard Government this week.
Lawyers for Mr Noonan have been informed that papers alleging a breach of the Trades Practices Act will be served on him as well as his union this week.
The action will be bought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission under secondary boycott provisions drafted by John Howard in the 1970's.
They allege Mr Noonan colluded with Bovis Lend Lease in terminating a Canberra sub-contractor's contract for employing independent contractors in 2003.
"This is a politically motivated attack from a government that is preparing to personally sue 107 workers for taking industrial action," Noonan says
"I am being pursued for standing up for decent conditions and job security in the building industry."
"This prosecution raises a number of questions about the political nature of supposed independent government agencies.
"First, why is the agency choosing the eve of elections for national secretary of CFMEU Construction, for which I am standing, to launch a prosecution against me after more than three years of delay?
"Secondly, it shows the extent the Howard Government is prepared to go in order to prevent union officials from protecting the rights of working men and women."
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Issue 321 contents
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