Issue No 70 | 07 September 2000 | |
NewsKilljoy Reith Targets Picnics and FunBy Bernadette Molomby
The CFMEU Construction Division has invited members of a Senate Committee to attend their annual Picnic Day to show them how important they are to hard working construction workers and their families.
The CFMEU made the invitation in a submission lodged this week on Picnic Days and Secret Ballots. The Liberal Government has introduced Bills in the Parliament that would remove Picnic Days from Awards and would require secret ballots before protected strike action. "Peter Reith told the Parliament that Award Picnic Days are rarely observed. Our submission to the Senate shows clearly that the Award Picnic Day is important to building workers and their families," said John Sutton, National Secretary of the CFMEU Construction & General Division. The union has responded to the Workplace Relations Amendment (Tallies and Picnic Days) Bill 2000 with a detailed submission arguing for Picnic Days to remain in Awards. "If there is a problem with Picnic Days, the Government should allow the independent umpire to decide whether or not they should be removed rather than dictating to the Commission what should and should not be in Awards," said Mr Sutton. "Building workers normally work six days a week, 10 hours a day. You would think this Government would support the family friendly Award provision for an annual picnic." Mr. Sutton said the secret ballot proposal was yet another union busting exercise by Peter Reith. "It is ridiculous for the Government to introduce a process for workers taking protected strike action that is more complicated and involved than the process in place to elect Members of the House of Representatives."
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Interview: New Internationalism In its battle with Rio Tinto the CFMEU has pioneered global campaigning. National Secretary John Maitland talks to Workers Online about globalisation, a union response and using new technologies to organise . History: Pickets and Police S11 protestors would do well to be wary. Fred Paterson, CPA member of the Qld Parliament, was bashed by the Queensland police on St Patrick's Day 1948, when a Labor Government was in power in that state. Education: The WEF -Why Should We Care? An event like the World Economic Forum attracts all the spin doctors for every interest, often obscuring real issues. For educators the issues may seem remote but a closer look shows that services like public education could be dramatically affected by the unfolding agenda of global trade liberalisation says Rob Durbridge. Economics: A Vandalised Economy Since New Zealand was opened up to the forces of globalisation, it has performed dismally, both economically and socially. NZCTU Economist Peter Conway reports. Unions: Our Vital Role in Society Eight months into his new role as ACTU Secretary Greg Combet reflects on the challenges facing Australian unions. International: Turning Up The Heat John Sweeney of the AFL-CIO says the union movement can and will reform the global economy, for as Dr Martin Luther King taught us, the moral arc of history is long but it bends towards justice. Satire: Threat to withhold pocket money derails S11 protest MELBOURNE, Tuesday: Members of the activist collective S11 announced today that they had decided to cancel their protest at the upcoming World Economic Forum meeting at Crown Casino.
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