Issue No 53 | 12 May 2000 | |
NewsAdvocate in Trouble Over Rural Sackings
Questions have been raised over the role of Peter Reith's Employment Advocate in the sacking of four workers at the Toorallie mill in Bombala in southern NSW.
The Textile, Clothing and Footwear union says the director of Toorallie, Peter Smith, took on an anti-union attitude after being visited by an officer of the Employment Advocate - who he later referred to as his "advisor". Smith had been in talks with the TCFUA over the future of the mill amidst fears that workers there faced a National Textiles-style collapse. On March 8 he had undertaken that all make-up employees would be employed at least until June 30, 2001 and a much improved redundancy. But by April, he had backed away from that position, dismissing four workers without the promised additional redundancy pay and refusing to discuss the issue with the TCFUA. In addition, Mr Smith on loc al ABC radio, 2BA, blamed the Union for absenteeism amongst his employees. The mystery surrounds what happened between the two dates to lead to this change of position. The union suspects a meeting with the Office of the Employment Advocate on April 5 might provide a clue. Toorallie had earlier sought the assistance from the OEA in February to help it introduce AWA's (Australian Workplace Agreements) or individual contracts. This was defeated and the previously non-unionsied workforce got organised. The tension over the future of the company increased last week when 200 of the town's population of 3,000 rallied in support of the sacked workers. They are now preparing unfair dismissal cases. TCFUA assistant state secretary John Owen says it's an issue that has galvanized the small community and that further rallies are planned.
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Interview: The Fruitful Shaw After ten years in Parliament, NSW Industrial Relations Minister Jeff Shaw looks at some mountains still to be climbed. Politics: Budget in Reply Opposition Leader Kim Beazley replies to the Federal budget and paints Labor's alternative vision for the future. Economics: Petition to Move a Mountain A child born in Zambia or Tanzania or Bolivia owes more to international creditors than she or he will ever earn in a lifetime. International: Solidarity in a Cold Climate After an overnight bargaining marathon, Norway's unions have secured most of their main demands and have now ended their nationwide strike. Health: Workers Health Centre Comes of Age In 2001, the Workers Health Centre will celebrate its 25th anniversary, making it the longest running independent trade union based health and safety service in the country. History: A Tribute to the Fallen A Canadian tractor operator is seeking help to produce a book on monuments to people killed in the workplace. Satire: Ralph Web Ring Busted Following the dismissal of 27 Telstra employees last week for downloading hardcore pornography on their work computers, Ralph magazine sacked five employees yesterday for downloading positive images of women. Review: Waterfront - Through the Reporters' Eyes Fairfax journalists Helen Trinca and Anne Davies have skillfully transformed the waterfront war into the sort of thriller that any self-respecting Hollywood mogul would reject for being too wild to be true.
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