
Issue No 70		07 September 2000

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News

Building Union Raises $42,000 For Paralympians

By HT Lee

At a fundraiser organised by the CFMEU for three paralympian swimmers held at at Pymont yesterday building workers, subbies and builders dug deep into their pockets to raise a formidable $42,000.

Unlike able Olympians who are feted with sponsorships from the corporate sector and promises of financial rewards if they win gold, Paralympians have to depend on their families and friends for financial support.

They train as hard as the full-bodied Olympians, won more golds at Alanta but still lack public and corporate recognition. They are indeed the poor cousins of the Olympic movement.

The construction union, the CFMEU has taken up this challenge of righting the wrong by sponsoring three paralympian swimmers--Janelle Falzon, Elezabeth Wright, and Denise Beckwith.

Entertainers Kaye Gordon and Charlie Smith provided first class entrainment.

CFMEU orgainser Tony Papa said: 'Once again we can depend on building workers and in this case the bosses as well to come and support a just course.'

Janelle who won one gold and two bronze medals at Alanta in thanking the building workers, subbies and builders said: 'You don't know how much this mean to us. We had to rely on our parents for financial support. Your generosity is overwhelming.'

The money raised will also go towards helping former building worker Tod Philpott, an amputee marathon runner take part in the New York marathon in November. It will also help pay for the transport costs of Carmelo, a disabled volunteer for Olympic and Paralympic games.

The Paralympians are the true Olympians and they need your support. You can help by buying tickets to see them in action. You can also help financially--contact CFMEU organiser Tony Papa on (02) 9287 9387 or 0419 843 056.

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Issue 70 contents

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.

» Nike Slammed Over Indonesian Factories

» Fairfax Joins Ferals

» Federal Government Blocks Rail Merger

» Auditor-General Blows Whistle On Outsourcing Madness

» Fly By Night Labour Takes Off

» CFMEU Rejects Reith Mischief

» The Organised Olympics

» Killjoy Reith Targets Picnics and Fun

» New Economy Spawns New Plagues

» Multi-national Stymies Peace Talks

» Greed of the Fatcats

» Women Challenge Prejudice in Maritime Industry

» Building Union Raises $42,000 For Paralympians

» Get Organised! NZ Unions Tell Army