
Issue No 69		01 September 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

Trades Hall

Paul Howes' Week on the Web

Builders, Local Government and Olympic Blues - all that and more in Paul's Web Week.

Another LaborNET site has just been launched for the Construction & General Division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union (CFMEU) http://www.cfmeu.asn.au/construction. This is a part of a major overhaul for the entire CFMEU site that will progressively include all the other divisions.

The site is very refreshing for a blue-collar union and one of the most notable features is an automatic translation feature which can translate the site into 12 languages, which with the multi-cultural makeup of the CFMEU's membership will no doubt be a valuable tool in facilitating communication within the union.

The site also features the Workers Online Live News Feed, International News, an online version of their journal Unity, information on awards, OH&S & Workers Compensation plus much more. This is a site to definitely keep an eye on and when it is fully completed will set the benchmark for union sites.

More Pollies

Michael Lee the Federal Labor Member for Dobell recently joined the ever-growing list of Labor politicians going online recently with the launch of his site at http://www.michaelleemp.com. The site was designed by icreate http://www.icreate.com.au which is an internet design company run by Bryn Battersby who is an ALP member from Wagga Wagga. Michael Lee's site is attractive and easy to navigate. However it is encouraging to see Lee go online and hopefully for MPs will follow.

icreate is also behind a new site launched by Penrith City Labor Councilor David Bradbury http://www.davidbradbury.com. Bradbury would have to be the first Councilor in Australia to go online and once again this is a very neat and attractive site. Unfortunately the site is almost completely static however he has made some attempts to make the site more interactive with a downloadable petition. The site is a bit light on the information side nevertheless Bradbury must be commended for being the first councilor to utilize the internet in communicating with his constituents and no doubt the site will evolve with time into a valuable campaigning tool.

Just to put in my two-cents worth: Why are all these pollies registering their sites in the US? This really is bad branding - if you are an elected member of parliament or a councilor you don't have to have a registered business name to get a .com.au domain. For example, Reba Meagher the State Member for Cabramatta's site is http://www.reba.com.au.

For a laugh

The funniest site I went to this week was The Onion.com http://www.onion.com. A satirical newspaper from the US similar to the Chaser here. Well worth a read

An Apology

I'm sorry this week's Web Week is a bit light on but as you can imagine with the Olympics only two weeks away it has been very busy. However to all those who have emailed me sites to review I will get to them, I promise so please keep on emailing me the sites and I will review them a put them in the LaborNET links section.

You can send mail to Paul at [email protected]

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Issue 69 contents

Interview: Global Warrior
International unions have won a game of political football with soccer`s hierarchy - and Aussie Tim Noonan is behind the victory.

History: King of Broken Hill
John Shields recounts the colourful life of William Sydney 'Shorty' O'Neil (1903-2000) and his place in the rich history of a remarkable town.

International: History Repeats At Firestone
More than 8,000 workers, members of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA), are set to strike at nine Bridgestone/Firestone plants in the United States at midnight tonight.

Politics: The Past We Need To Understand
In his Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture Malcolm Fraser retraces the path of Australian race relations and laments the terrible impasse we've reached.

Unions: Economic Democracy
Sharan Burrow on making Working Australia's money talk and reforming corporate culture for the 21st Century.

Satire: Another windscreen washer joins millionaire list
SYDNEY, Monday: After just a year in his new job, John Samuels has added his name to the burgeoning list of enterprising Australians who have made their fortunes by offering partial car-washing facilities in convenient inner city road-side locations.

Review: No Long Term
Much political commentary is about the global marketplace and the use of new technologies as hallmarks of the new capitalism. Richard Sennett investigates another dimension of change: new ways of organising time, particularly working time.

» New Benchmark In Bank Greed

» Olympics Deal Sparks Soccer Ball Victory

» Two Day Strike Hits BHP Mines

» Leightons, SOCOG Tremble Before Haka

» Hilton Hotels Limp As Strike Bites

» Wran Lends Boffins A Hand

» ACTU Meets Joy

» Barracks Workers Put The Pinch On Local MP

» Olympic Win For Taxi Drivers

» Australian Unions Keep Spotlight on Fiji

» Staff Eye Telstra Prize

» Dice Loaded Against American Workers

» NZ Union Federations Heal Split

» Pressure Mounts On Nike To Live Olympic Ideal