
Issue No 63		21 July 2000

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Letters to the Editor

Fair Go on Fair Trade

As an enthusiastic supporter of WOL and the role it plays in drawing together issues and debate for working people in an accessible and serious way, I was shocked by your interview with Doug Cameron.

For a start, what's this 'AMWU Boss' headline supposed to mean? As you well know, Doug Cameron along with every other national official in Australian unions is actually an elected representative. This stands in stark contrast to actual bosses who are appointed by directors of companies who themselves are all too often a bunch of mutually self regarding incompetents. A populist style for a workers weekly is to be commended. A style that borrows from the reactionary and anti-worker populism of much of Australia's press to describe some-one whose views you do not agree with is totally unacceptable in my view. Shame on you.

My second point goes to the actual debate itself. Might I commend to you a search of the Web on these isues where you will find a level of sophisticated debate on so called free trade and its actual performance for the international economy which is far ahead of anything so far attempted in this country.

It behoves a serious and relevant weekly like WOL to keep abreast of debates such as this one, and to bring to your readers attention the views and analyses being developed by, among others, the EU, conservative economists in the US and of course, the ICFTU. Not a great thing to ask I would have thought. It simply is not good enough to frame the debate in the way you attempted to do without providing some background to the debates which are raging internationally, and at last reflected here by a democratically elected Australian trade union representative.

The ALP has a responsibilty to deal with these emerging issues and debates in exactly the same way it does in relation to other issues of vital importance to working people. Frankly, the current position of the ALP sounds as though they haven't had a thought since the late 8os on this issue. WOL should be prodding a deeper understanding and a wider, more informed debate by workers on this issue, not setting up crude and simplistic 'right-wrong' stereotypes.

I challenge you to deal with the issues raised by the emerging global economy, and the economic and social implications for all working people of the 'free trade' gospel. By the way, are you aware that the mantra being peddled by the current leadership of the ALP differs little from the doctrines espoused by the 'Manchester liberals' who dominated policy debates in the UK through most of the C19th. Now that would be a nice way to open the debate wouldn't it, because it was that same grouping that denied relief to Ireland during the famine, and fiercly resisted the formation of trade unions on the grounds that they were an interference in the market. Does this ring any bells with you? I'll bet it would to Australian workers.

Linda Carruthers

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Issue 63 contents

Interview: Paul Keating's Big Picture
The former Prime Minister is still painting on a broad canvass. He talks to Workers Online about the new economy, fair trade and political chi.

Unions: War in the West
Only six months after signing individual staff contracts, the gloss has worn off for some of BHP's Pilbara iron ore workers.

Environment: Farmers Fudge DNA Dangers
Farmers have missed the chance to have a meaningful debate into the use of genetically modified crops.

International: 'Dot Union' Proposal on the Table
ICANN, the global governing body of Internet domains, has released the following expression of interest in proposing a top-level domain for trade unions

Economics: Edge of the Abyss
Political economist Frank Stilwell argues that a constellation of events gives good reason to be worried about the Australian economy.

History: Taming the Tigers
Prominent labour historian, Dr Ming Chan, is visiting Australia to report on how workers are faring in the new Hong Kong.

Review: Music is Crap
It's already the second half of the first year in the new millenium. Who would have ever predicted a crisis in the popular music industry when we are at such an advanced stage ?

Satire: Last Kosovars Found Behind Couch
State Emergency Services personnel were called to a house in Brighton this morning, where the last five remaining Kosovar refugees have been found wedged behind a couch.

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