
Issue No 57		09 June 2000

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News

Conference to Set New Ground Rules for Labor

Measures to place greater responsibility on the Carr Government to monitor the employment practices of agencies and firms receiving state grants will be the focus of trade union-sponsored resolutions at the ALP State Conference.

Unions will move a range of resolutions on issues including competitive tendering and use of government funds, following concerns about the way the Carr Government has been indirectly supporting assaults on workplace rights.

Dissatisfaction came to a head with revelations the Department for State and Regional development has funded a Stellar call centre in Wollongong that planned to force all staff to sign individual contracts.

The resolution calls on the Government, when considering funding support to business, to look beyond the potential employment opportunities that might arise and focus on the actual employment practices the firm brings to the state.

"One key obligation placed on any business receiving funding ... should be a requirement to apply industrial relations and employment practices consistent with the Government's philosophies and approach," it says.

In a similar vein, a resolution on competitive tendering seeks to build social and industrial impacts into any decision to tender government services out to the private sector.

This resolution follows growing dismay about the impact of competitive tendering on rural NSW. Transport Minister Carl Scully has already agreed to halt the push in road and rail maintenance.

The resolution states that competitive tendering should only be a policy of last resort, "after all other means of improving efficiency and productivity have been considered".

Under the proposal, tenders that receive a cost advantage by undermine established wages and conditions shall be excluded. The cost of external bids would also have a loading applied to

Other resolutions include:

- calls for an inquiry into mobile Long Service Leave for all workers

- maintaining the current levels of workers compensation benefits

- allowing trade union to levy a service fees for non-members who benefit from union negotiated pay rises

- support for a comprehensive workers entitlements protection scheme

- privacy protection for the use of workplace emails.

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Issue 57 contents

Interview: Cocky Labor
On the eve of State Conference, Country Labor convenor Tony Kelly outlines how Labor is stealing the ground from under the National Party's feet.

Economics: Millenium Work Ethics - A New Social Partnership?
The future of work in the twenty-first century will be both provocative and challenging, according to Professor Russell Lansbury.

Politics: Extracting the Digit
Labor's federal communications spokesman Stehpen Smith outlines the Party's position on the controversial datacasting legislation currently before Parliament.

History: Hot Off the Press
Check out what's in the latest issue of Labour History - A Journal of Labour and Social History,

International: The East Timor of Africa
Nobel laureate Jose Ramos Horta will this week tell a Sydney audience of the parallels between East Timor and the nation described as the last colony in Africa - the Western Sahara.

Environment: MUA Snail Men Honoured
Brisbane wharfies Lehi Munday and Mal Monro look an unlikely Watson and Sherlock double, but their keen detective work has helped win the Southern Queensland MUA Branch two national environment awards.

Satire: Howard Says 'Sorry'
In a startling apology to the Aboriginal community, Prime Minister John Howard said last night he was deeply sorry that he turned up to the Corroboree 2000 celebrations.

Review: Front Stage and Pulp Fiction
The Waterfront War has made the transition from industrial showdown to cultural icon. Now it's inspiring artists.

» Rival Computer Deal Imminent

» Conference to Set New Ground Rules for Labor

» Call (of Nature) Waiting for Telstra Workers

» Democrats Come Through on Third Wave

» Joy's Bizarre Student Bid

» Commonwealth Bank Staff Strike

» Liberal Students Spark Uni Walk-Out

» Union Targets Asbestos Shonks

» Needle Stick Injury Sparks Waste Strike

» Security Guard Wins $100,000 in Back Pay

» Paddy Troy Memorial Prize

» Robbo for Post-Conference Smoko