
Issue No 44		03 March 2000

News

From the Lorry to the Creche, We're Watching

Workers are facing a wave of Big Brother attacks as employers move to install sophisticated technology in workplaces as diverse as child care canters and council trucks

Child care centres have begun installing cameras that allow parents to view their children over the Internet from remote locations.

But the Municipal Employees Union fears the installation of cameras will also mean that child care workers will be under constant surveillance

While the Carr Government's Workplace Surveillance Act protects workers in NSW, the MEU says there is nothing to stop images being broadcast interstate or overseas.

The Labor Council has agreed to investigate the issue and raise it with the NSW Minister for Children's Services.

Council Tracks Outdoor Workers

Meanwhile, Botany Council workers are campaigning against the installation of electronic tracking devices, designed by the US military, which have been installed in council vehicles to track their movement.

MEU state secretary Brian Harris says there are two issues at stake: the right of privacy; and the absence of consultation between Council and its workforce.

Botany Council installed the devices allegedly to increase productivity and enhance driver safety, but failed to disclose that the device has surveillance capabilities.

Brian Harris says Botany Council has also breached Award obligations when it failed to consult with workers over the introduction of this technology.

The MEU is pushing for legislative protection from unwarranted workplace surveillance. Section 8 of the Victorian Surveillance Devices Act 1999 prohibits the use of tracking devices to determine location.

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Issue 44 contents

Interview: The Big Fella
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley speaks about Labor�s evolving relationship with the trade union movement in the post-Accord era.

Unions: An Interactive Resource
The priority for unions in the 21st century is organising and growth. Greg Combet�s unions @work report identified the direction unions should be moving.

Media: Public Hearings
As the big media players look increasingly tarnished, the broadcasting minnows like FBi are seeking their share of the airwaves.

History: Labour History Under Siege
In good labour tradition, the history section of Workers Online begins the year with a call to arms.

Olympics: Games Greed Boosts Homeless Numbers
'Homeless in Sydney' is shaping up to be the theme of the Olympics with many property owners evicting tenants and pushing up rents.

Women: No Time To Be Casual
International Women�s Day is a day to take action. As a shop steward or union delegate why not use IWD as an opportunity to encourage the women in your workplace to join the union?

International: Serbian And Kosovo Unions Meet
The Italian metalworkers has hosted meetings on how to build a different future for the workers in the Balkans.

Labour Review: What's New
Read the latest issue of Labour Review our resource for students, activists and officials.

Review: Rock and a Hard Place
A hippie festival? Alternative? No way...the music festival know as the Big Day Out (BDO) is fast becoming a mainstream youth cultural event, a snapshot of the broader society that unions are struggling to engage.

» Directors: Two Strikes And You�re Out

» Track Workers Face Spot Drug Tests

» Big Bird Fights Ansett Jobs Flight

» LaborNet A Step Forward in Democracy

» From the Lorry to the Creche, We're Watching

» Penal Provisions Against Teachers Condemned

» Auditor General Moves on TAFE

» Yahoo! Under Fire for Union Censorship

» Unrest Bubbles Over Coke Sackings

» Jennie To Sign Off Online

» Basic Goods Sought for East Timorese

» Western Sydney Added to Campus Tour

» Pay Equity Update

» STOP PRESS: Mac Attack Tuesday