
Issue No 41		26 November 1999

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Letters to the Editor

For Whom Belanger Tolls

I read with interest this morning Peter Lewis interview of Marc Belanger the on line pioneer. I recall my participation in 1981 in a technology conference of white collar trade unions organised by FIET which was attended by insurance and bank unions. I had two other trade union colleagues from india with me.

After my return I began to speak about the possibilty of total computerisation of banking and insurance to my large constituency which then was over 1,50,000. Whereever I went I spoke about the rapid technological changes in the pipeline and asked bank employees to take note of the changes that will come to India pretty soon. Leftist unions

went on saying they will resist introduction of new technology.Tthey did resist for a short while. By 1985 it was rammed into their throats.For every change to new technology they did trade off to convince their rank and file that they are getting something in return.

I have been trying to convince trade unionists to quickly join the internet revolution. Managements have taken to it Trade Unions are slow.

In a international discussion on the internet on Labour 2000 I had occasion last week to suggest almost the same thing Marc has suggested. A Labour college not at the international leve alone l but at national levels which will confer recognised degrees and diplomas to trade unionists, Labour education must begin in schools. I think trade unions should begin talking to students in the schools and colleges about labour movement as these constitute future workers.

At 65 I am trying to learn HTML to be able to upload labour matter on the first Labour Web site I am trying to build. I have not succeeded yet.I will before long.

Labour movement itself talks of its own set back -a self fulfilling prophecy. I think labour movement is becoming defeatist. There is hope still. They have to change and accept all the modern tools managements use.

L.V.Subramaniam Editor Labour Herald, Herald Features President Indian Managerial & Professional Employees Centre(IMPEC)

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Issue 41 contents

Interview: A Bob Each Way
ALP tactician Bob McMullan is responsible for charting Labor industry policy into the next millennium. He tells us where he�s heading.

Unions: Organiser of the Year
Just ten days to go before entries close for our $2000 air ticket. Here�s another nomination.

History: Labour Daze
A report from the 6th National Biennial Conference of the Australian Society For The Study Of Labour and Community.

Politics: Tomorrow�s Questions
While the turn of the century sees Sydney play host to the Olympic games, the International Youth Parliament 2000 will bring world focus to contemporary issues facing young people.

Health: Red Ribbons
December 1, World AIDS Day has a special place in the history of the AIDS pandemic.

International: Organised Chaos
Persistent rumours are floating around Jakarta that the former boss of the official pro-Soeharto Indonesian trade union movement is about to be charged with corruption.

Economics: Seattle Numbers Grow for WTO Protest
News of the agreement to smooth China�s entry to the World Trade Organisation has created its own "China Syndrome" for organisers of the Seattle WTO event.

Satire: Too Many Media Players!
The Productivity Commission has issued a report calling for the abolition of existing cross-media ownership laws.

Review: Leviathan
John Birmingham has lifted the lid on Sydney�s shady past - and found trade unions to be at the centre of the sordid tales.

Deface a Face: Reith Loses His Shine
With his Second Wave looking more like a splash in the bath-tub, Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith still reigns as the union movement�s favourite bogeyman.

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