Issue No 69 | 01 September 2000 | |
NewsWran Lends Boffins A HandBy Dermot Browne
Scientific staff from CSIRO and other scientific organisations have been heartened by growing public support for their campaign against the government's plans to outsource their information technology systems to the private sector.
Following a successful round of protest rallies earlier this week, scientists have received many messages of encouragement from high profile scientists and political figures including former CSIRO chairman and NSW Premier, Neville Wran AC QC. Staff are concerned that the outsourcing of CSIRO's IT will damage the organisation's research ability. Sandy Ross, CSIRO Staff Association Secretary, said "Our success relies on teamwork and the IT people are an important part of that team. Outsourcing makes no sense." Mr Wran has written to the CSIRO Staff Association supporting their campaign. In his letter, Mr Wran strongly criticises the government's outsourcing plan calling it... "...an affront to the skills and talents, not only to IT staff, but to all the men and women, who together make up the scientific contribution of CSIRO. I think it is a great pity that the government has seen fit to undermine the intellectual integrity of Australia's principal scientific research institution and I sincerely hope that the arguments advanced against outsourcing will prevail." The campaign has also been strongly endorsed by both the Australian Democrats and the ALP with Lyn Allison and Kate Lundy both raising the issue in the Senate. "We have been greatly encouraged by the support we have received on the issue and we are determined to keep the pressure on. The work science agencies do has a direct impact on the future well-being of the nation and the economy. We understand that the Minister for Finance is seeking better information about the interrelationship between science and IT, and we welcome that," said Mr Ross. "We just hope the government can take on board how important IT is to the science agency research effort." For background information: www.cpsu.org.au/csiro
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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.
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