
Issue No 50		14 April 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Grave Fears Over Carr's Funeral Agenda

Funeral workers fear State Government plans to deregulate the industry will see a return to the days of backyard burials and multiple body burns.

Funeral Industry Union state secretary Aiden Nye says these are the sort of practices that used to occur before the State Government regulated the industry in 1987.

But now, under pressure from National Competition Policy principles, the Department of Health has sent shockwaves through the industry by reviewing the need for ongoing regulation.

Nye says if that happens, we'll see a return to the bad old days where backyard operations, crematoriums that burned more than one body at a time and ignored basic health standards were the norm.

He also warned that a deregulated market would see hospitals competing with funeral homes for the right to dispose of dead bodies.

"If they want a second rate service with no minimum standards, then they're going about it the right way," Nye says.

Unions and the legitimate industry are resisting the push, saying the industry actually needs more regulation - through a statewide registration scheme to be overseen by the Health Department with input from the community, including the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association.

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Issue 50 contents

Interview: The Gospel According To ...
Green Bans legend Jack Mundey looks back on his days in the BLF and the lessons that can be drawn from that experience today,

Unions: Spinning at the Casino
In the lead-up to this weekend's historic strike, active LHMU members at Sydney�s Star City Casino have been making their own news.

East Timor: Rebuilding From the Nightmare
NSW Attorney General Jeff Shaw travelled to Dili to get a first-hand perspective on the reconstruction work required.

History: Internal Democracy and the BLF
How the rank and file team that took over the BLF in the early sixties attempted to devolve power to the grassroots.

International: Towards Liberation
Zimbabwe trade unions are at the centre of the democratic struggle going on within the African Nation

Republic: The Referendum We Had To Have
Paul Norton finds some hope in last year's resounding defeat of the republic proposition.

Work/Time/Life: @work in the e-century
Marian Baird takes stock of how far we�ve come, or not come, in terms of our working life.

Review: Rocking the Foundations
Pat Fiske's wonderful documentary on the BLF should be compulsory viewing for anyone in the union movement talking about shifting to an Organising Model.

» Sock Nazis Spark Casino Strike

» Grave Fears Over Carr's Funeral Agenda

» Packer, Pratt to Profit at Unions' Expense

» Telstra Discrimination: 'Round one' to the Workers

» Timor Fundraiser a Blast

» Water workers flood CBD head office

» Libs Plead for Help on IR

» Employment National Workers Win CES Conditions

» Teachers Deal Still Undone

» Pressure Builds for Compo Pull-Out

» Pacific Unions Increase Regional Ties

» Ellis to Give May Day Toast

» Special Comp: Just Who Are Our Friends?