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  Issue No 63 Official Organ of LaborNet 21 July 2000  

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Letters to the Editor

Fair Trade a Protectionist Smokescreen


: Fair trade appears to me to be nothing but disguised protectionism. The AMWU leadership, having capitulated to the untrammeled rule of capital over the last twenty years or so through devices such as the Accord, and as a consequence having participated in the destruction of jobs, now wants to redress their industrial failures by protecting profits (not jobs)through "fair trade".

I also don't understand how tariffs on goods from developing countries actually help workers in those industries. If the workers of developing countries were crying out for developed countries to impose tariffs on the goods they make, then I would be prepared to listen. But that is not the case.

The alternative to fair trade is to help the trade union and democratic movements in developing countries to win their demands. So the Australian trade union movement would be better off concentrating its efforts on supporting for example independent trade unions in China and striking workers in Korea, and making Australia a refuge for those in other countries persecuted for their trade union and other humanitarian activities.

John Passant

Kambah ACT


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*   Issue 63 contents

In this issue
Features
*  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.
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*  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.
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*  Environment: Farmers Fudge DNA Dangers
Farmers have missed the chance to have a meaningful debate into the use of genetically modified crops.
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*  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
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*  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.
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*  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.
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*  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 ?
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*  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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News
»  Unions Lead Ethical Investment Push
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»  Surfing Good for Productivity - Management Experts
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»  Third World Conditions For Rural Workers
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»  Downer's Fiji Muddle Deepens
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»  Hotel Worker Survey Questions Olympics Preparation
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»  BHP Holds Gun to Kembla's Head
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»  A Burning Issue as Joy Campaign Goes National
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»  Garbos Forced to Ditch Early Start
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»  Telstra - Making it Sleazier For You
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»  Inquiry Blows Lid on Long Distance Trucking
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»  Cab Company Highlights Labor Hire Quandry
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»  What Olympics Jobs? Asks the AWU
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»  Republican Elections Called for August
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»  STOP PRESS: Landmark Legal Ruling on Asbestos
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Columns
»  The Soapbox
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»  Sport
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»  Trades Hall
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»  Tool Shed
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Letters to the editor
»  Fair Go on Fair Trade
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»  Fair Trade a Protectionist Smokescreen
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»  Maxine's Tool Time
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»  Telstra Rats
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»  Man in a Handmade Suit
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»  The Ideological Sound
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