
Issue No 66		11 August 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

Tool Shed

Charge of the hyper rich

This week the tool shed is stressed to the max. The corro's bending, the rivets are popping, and the roof's lifting as a whole TEAM of huffing, puffing, cigar-chomping, champers-swilling, good old fashioned capitalists tog up to take on the labour movement.

Captained by Mark 'Cyclops' Paterson, the organizations of the megarich, the hyperrich and the wannaberich, joined together to put out 'a rare joint statement' attacking Labor's IR plan and put on the table their class warmongering readiness to fight it right through to the next Federal election.

The Business Council of Australia, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and the National Farmers Federation say 'they are extremely concerned about attempts by some unions to overturn some of the more constructive reforms of labour relations legislation in recent years.'

'Constructive reforms', of course, is boss code for 'the laws to smash trade unions.'

Cyclops and his cohorts apparently aren't very happy about industry bargaining, collectivism (the horror, the horror!!) and the idea that AWAs will be following Peter Reith into the dustbin marked history under an ALP Government.

Cyclops United want to play the game all by themselves, making up their own rules. Watch any loser footy team (St Kilda, the Cowboys) - they all look good on the training track playing each other.

But as the famous French football commentator (and very deep thinker) Jean-Paul Sartre once said: 'In football, everything is complicated by the presence of the other team.'

Cyclops can't handle the thought of having to play ball with an active, organized workforce playing in a union team, making management accountable and forcing them to raise their game.

Business surveys often reveal the low esteem Australian management is held in by their overseas counterparts. It's not hard to see why reading Paterson's waffle.

Business blokes are meant to be good with figures but Cyclops seems to have a bit of trouble counting 1,2,3. He seems to think there are three parties in IR when any switched on worker can tell him there are only two.

Maybe this inability to count explains how the fat cats keep adding zeros to their salaries. Maybe they think they're adding nothing.

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Issue 66 contents

Interview: Shifting Sands
Michael Crosby Joint Director of the ACTU Organising Centre talks to Workers Online about the changing nature of union power, 'use it or lose it' coverage and how the ALP will have to deal with a transformed union movement.

Unions: Mission Possible
From Cambodia to Kyrghyzstan, from Malawi to Mozambique, this is one nurse who accepts certain missions where life is on the edge, and she loves it.

Economics: A Progressive Alternative
Andrew Scott outlines a policy approach for an ALP Government that aims to deliver social as well as economic progress.

International: Unions Back International Seafarer Deal
Shipping union representatives from 56 countries have decided to back a pioneering international collective bargaining agreement with ship employers.

Politics: Apolitical Myth
Over the last ten years one story about public interest in politics has found resonance, especially in the US. It suggests that people are no longer interested in political issues. Researchers from the Demos Foundation put this claim under the microscope.

Satire: Elaine Nile retires citing victory in "War on Masturbation"
There were emotional displays and many tributes paid today as Elaine Nile, Christian Democrat MP of 12 years standing, announced her retirement from the Parliament.

Review: Pure Shit
The 1970s Aussie drug classic, Pure Shit - a 70s Australian style Trainspotting - is being dusted off for a one-off showing at the Chauvel.

» It Will Happen Again Warn Fiji Unions

» Telstra in Olympic Twist Over Games Allowance

» FAAA Uncovers Sham Employment at Impulse

» Saloon Doors Flap as Wealthy Owner Walks

» ACOSS Slams Job Network

» Scrap HECS Say Nurses

» Fahey's Flog Off Fiasco

» Things Go Better With a $100 a Day Extra

» Shopping Centre Silent Over Greedy Grab

» Selley's Workers Stick to Union

» Taxi Incentive Needed to Avert Olympic Shortage

» Sneaky Chubb Forced to Pay Redundancy

» Seaforth Picket Marks a Year With Picnic

» Road Rage! Air Rage! WORK RAGE!