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  Issue No 63 Official Organ of LaborNet 21 July 2000  

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News

What Olympics Jobs? Asks the AWU

By Matt Thistlewaite

Howls of laughter reverberated around the Sydney office of the Australian Workers Union after reading the news that the Federal government could cancel job seekers dole benefits if they do not chase Olympic Games jobs.

What Olympics jobs? Asked the AWU State Secretary Mr. Russ Collison.

The AWU is a major union covering Olympics workers and is party to the Olympics award, but says many of its members at Olympics venues are not being offered work in September.

"If anyone can tell us where all these jobs are we will be only too pleased to advise our members that currently work at Olympics venues but are uncertain if even they will be offered employment during the Olympics.

"We are the major union at Stadium Australia, the Sydney Superdome and the International Aquatic Centre. Currently these venues employ about 1 200 of our members collectively, but less than a quarter of them have been offered employment during the Olympics.

"At the Sydney Superdome about 900 employees were told by SOCOG they could apply for 60 team leaders and supervisors positions. The rest of the workforce at that venue during the Olympics will be made up of volunteers.

"Although our union endorsed the protocol with SOCOG for volunteers we were guaranteed our existing members at Olympics venues would be employed. Well there is less than two months to go and more than half of our members have not been offered employment.

I had to laugh when I read the comments of a spokesman for the Minister for Community Services Larry Anthony in the Herald this morning. He seems to think job seekers "should be able to find work" in the Olympics jobs boom.

"Obviously no research went into this comment. Never let the facts get in the way of an opportunity to beat up on the unemployed.

Anthony's spokesman failed to inform the Herald that these job seekers probably would not be paid for their Olympic work. Not even a free SOCOG track suit and a good dose of Olympic spirit can make up for that oversight


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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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