
Issue No 73		13 October 2000

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News

Rorter Reith's Gotta Go Say Unions

Unions have called for Peter Reith's sacking after he admitted that he flouted ministerial guidelines on the use of taxpayer funded phone cards.

Heading the call for Prime Ministerial action was the union that has most borne the brunt of Reith's class warmongering, the MUA.

'The MUA calls on this hapless minister to resign and payback the missing $50,000 and failing this the Prime Minister should demonstrate some leadership and sack him,' MUA NSW Branch Secretary Robert Coombs says.

PSA general Secretary Maurie O'Sullivan says heads would roll if such a scandal embroiled a public servant.

'There is no way he or she would survive. I can assure you that John Howard would not be going into bat as he is doing for Mr Reith,' he says.

'We are witnessing the most abject display of a senior minister absolutely abrogating responsibility. Peter Reith this morning snorted and snored and choked and coughed and farted as he tried to stumble through a minefield of accountability. He talked about the 'pin' attached to his phonecard, If, by some remote chance, he has any vestige of decency left in him, there is one thing he should do with his pin and that is he should pull it.'

Labor Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations Arch Bevis also called on Reith to step down pending the outcome of a police inquiry and repayment of the outstanding $49,000.

He said Reith's attitudes and actions towards ordinary Australian workers provide a telling contrast to the Minister's performance over his telecard.

'Peter Reith justified the mass sacking of 2000 Australian waterfront workers because he alleged they were 'rorters'.'

'For example, on10 March 1998 he claimed these workers were 'rorting' the system for just seeking a wage increase of$90 a week. Peter Reith's actions have cost the taxpayer an average of $192 per eek for five years.'

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Issue 73 contents

Interview: Righting The Wrongs
Improving the lives of Aboriginal people can't be taken out of the context of the economy, welfare and other areas says Bob McMullan, Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.

Economics: At The Mercy Of Gamblers
The plunge of the Australian dollar relative to the greenback has consequences for Aussie workers according to Frank Stillwell.

History: Labour History Under Seige Again
The Friends of the Noel Butlin Archives Centre have recently been informed of proposed changes to the Noel Butlin Archives Centre (NBAC), changes that will cut staff by more than 50% and leave the Archives mothballed in the tunnel where the repository is situated.

Workplace: Fighting The Flexible Firm
We are told that hardship and exploitation at work is dying out, and the new economy offers opportunity, freedom and job satisfaction for all. Richard Sennett unveils the true nature of the flexible workplace.

Safety: Being bossed around is bad for your health
A survey of more than 3,000 Australian workers has revealed that some 54% of workers experience intimidating behaviour in their workplace. In almost 85% of cases it is employers, managers and supervisors who are identified as the culprits.

Unions: Discrimination
New to the union and the maritime industry and with only a few days casual work to live off, Stephen Rolls courageously spoke up against individual contracts during a job interview with Burnie Port Corp.

International: Serbian Workers and Their Unions Fight for Freedom
Serbian workers and their unions have been at the forefront of the struggle for democracy in Yugoslavia as they led a general strike in response to attempts by President Slobodan Milosevic to nullify the defeat he faced in the Sept. 24 election.

Satire: A few more years of civilised brutality will advantage Aborigines: Ruddock
CANBERRA, Tuesday: The Minister for Reconciliation Philip Ruddock has defended his comments to French newspaper Le Monde claiming that Aborigines were disadvantaged because they were late in coming into contact with developed civilisations.

Review: Poetry For Workers By Workers
Poems about the trials and tribulations of a waitress and what you learn in a chocolate factory are among the gems from the 925 anthology.

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