
Issue No 72		06 October 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

News

Industrial Action Looms At IBM Global

By Dermot Browne

Staff from IBM Global Services Australia held stop-work meetings around the country yesterday over stalled enterprise bargaining negotiations.

CPSU Communications Union says that while IBM GSA is prepared negotiate agreement with CPSU to cover ex-Telstra staff whose work was outsourced to IBMGSA in 1997, it would not allow 'new' staff, who have joined the company since 1997, to be covered by this agreement. On most sites these employees work side by side.

At the stop-work meetings, members voted unanimously in favour of collective negotiations and put management on notice that they are prepared to take further action in support of the claim.

Stephen Jones, from CPSU Communications Union, said, "Our claim is fair and reasonable. Surely it make sense to have people doing the same job, on the same site, covered by the same agreement."

Staff are deeply concerned by management's hard line on this issue. As a member at the Sydney meeting put it."I have just come off a high after working on the Olympic project for IBM GSA. This attitude from management is real slap in the face."

Delegates will be meeting by telephone hook-up on Monday to discuss further industrial action.

View entire issue - print all of the articles!

Issue 72 contents

Interview: Taking It To The Union Busters
ACTU Assistant Secretary Richard Marles talks to Workers Online about turning back the anti-union sentiment growing in the business community, responsible unionism and the sense of fun to be found at the ACTU.

International: The White Knights
The International Labour Organisation has become the great hope for those fighting to give globalisation a human face. Australian Bob Kyloh is one of those working with trade unions within the ILO to make it happen.

Politics: Industrial Democracy for Australia
Glenn Patmore argues we need new forms of employee representation in the workplace to broaden employee participation.

Unions: Behind The Scenes
In a small office at Homebush Bay, as the world focused on all that was positive about our games, Unions 2000 and SOCOG officials worked tirelessly to ensure that no worker was ripped off. Chris Christoudoulou reports.

Satire: Parade of Icons �Could Have Included Even More Ex-Aussies� Say Critics
The selection of Greg Norman, Paul Hogan and Elle Macpherson to represent Australia in the �Parade of Icons� during the Closing Ceremony of the Sydney Games last night has prompted a storm of complaints from other famous former Australians.

Review: Elliott Smiths Figure 8
Smith is basically the secret love child of the fab four and it�s so blatantly obvious. That�s not a bad thing because one thing Lennon and McCartney were reknown for was there ability to pen catchy tunes.

» Interstate Rail Workers Rebel Against AWAs

» Australia Post Exposes Staff to Bomb Danger

» Alliance Builds Against Commonwealth Bank

» Carr Lauds Union Movement For Golden Olympics

» Big Brother Unwelcome In Child Care Centres

» Council Workers Win Community Language Allowance

» Fiji Facing Dictatorship

» Home Care Win Recognises Community Contribution

» Pressures Mount on Truckies

» Industrial Action Looms At IBM Global

» In Your Face Provocateurs

» Putting A Stop To Workplace Intimidation

» Australian History To Be Buried Alive