E D I T O R I A L

Seven Year Itch
For the past seven years, over 335 issues, Workers Online has been chronicling events in the labour movement and passing our judgments on all things union.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Flying High
The Australian international Pilots Association has rejoined the ACTU and president Ian Woods is taking it into new airspace.

Unions: TUF on Toll
As transport giant Toll expands across the region, unions are working together to boost their bargaining power, writes Jackie Woods.

Industrial: Forward to the Past
Anti-union building laws draw their inspiration from a century ago, writes Neale Towart

Economics: Debt and the Economy
Household debt is at record levels. Interest rates are rising. Production of real things is not increasing. The military generates most demand. How long can it go on?

Obituary: The Charlatanry of Milton Friedman
Evan Jones busts some myths about the grand-daddy of free market economics

Environment: Low Voltage
Nuclear Power and Prime Ministerial Pronouncements are seriously short of a few volts, writes Neale Towart

Legal: The Fair Deal
Anthony Forsyth proposes a social partnership agenda for Australia

Review: A Little History
The Little History of Australian Unionism is exactly that; fifteen thousand words on the topic, writes Rowan Cahill.

N E W S

Global Campaign for Jailed Iranian Union Leader

Bully Tactics Can�t Dull Protests

Which Bank Slashes Work Rights?

Sunday�s The Day For Future Rallies

Carmel Saves Job, Loses Bonus

Case Dismissed: No Justice in WorkChoices

China (S)trains Procurement Policy

Contracts Out on Sole Traders

Car Companies Do The Dirty

Historic Case Restores Security

Final Hurdle for Medibank Sell-Off

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Address to the Nation
ACTU secretary Greg Combet's speech to the National Day of Action

Parliament
The Westie Wing
Ian West recalls a time when the earth was flat, unions ran the country and Honest John Howard was the workers� best friend.

Health
Sick System
Punitive IR laws and a commercially-driven workers compensation scheme are conspiring to bully injured workers, writes Dr Con Costa.

L E T T E R S

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Boss With a Heart

This is a little strange for me to be writing this, for you see, I am actually a manager who has worked in the security industry for many many years who started as a casual guard so long ago I can't really remember when it was. The reason I thought I would write is simply because, having working with so many wonderful security employees I just wanted let everyone know that there some managers (me for one) who hold you in the highest regard.

Without all of you on the coal face (so to speak) the rest of us who sit in the head offices would be nothing ... it's all of you who make the big dollars for the share holders and directors, and what do you get - probably the lowest wage and hourly rate imaginable. I am one manager who is happy to admit that the very people whom we employ (and often never support when they really need it the most) are seen as nothing more than just a payroll number who can be manipulated and thrown from site to site or differing rosters without a single thought for how it will effect them or their families. To cut a long story short ... after almost 10 years working for the biggest security provider in the country (maybe the world) I was questioned re my loyalty to the company and why I was showing compassion toward an employee during a family crisis and allowing him some time off. Following this ... several more conversations and meetings took place, until eventually I was dismissed (or sacked if you want it simple terms) because they had issues with my loyalty to the company!

I will end this by saying ... please remember there are some of us who have been in the same position some of you are in right now, and we respect you and hold you in the highest regard. We will (or I will) continue to support the guys and girls for whom I am responsible for to try and make their day at work just that little bit more enjoyable - even if it does cost me my job (which it did ... and if I have to do it again, I wil).

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URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/355/letters2_two.html
Last Modified: 01 Dec 2006