
Issue No 74		20 October 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

Trades Hall

Paul Howes' Week on the Web

Paul charts the growth of LaborNet and checks out a site for yankeephobes.

New LaborNET sites launched

Social Change Online has been busy recently with the launching of two new union sites recently:

The Rail, Tram & Bus Union - Bus & Tram Division (NSW) has launched it's new website at http://www.rtbu.labor.net.au and the Australian Services Union (NSW Clerical Branch) has launched it's at http://www.asuclerical-nsw.asn.au.

UNISON

UNISON the UK's Public Service Union is Britain's largest union and has been the leading light in the international labour movement in terms of information technology. UNISON several years ago was faced with a declining membership and financial difficulties the leadership, realising that the union needed a massive overhaul, changed the focus of the union to organising and as a part of that shift also recognised the huge potential of the internet in communicating with their membership.

The Unions' website located at http://www.unison.org.uk was just one part of their own mini "Information Revolution". They now provide free internet access to their membership through "unisonfree.net" and have set an email network for their delegates and members. They were also the first union to set up a call centre "UnisonDIRECT" which now deals with an average 1,500 calls weekly. Currently a plan is being put into place where organisers will be armed with palm pilots which when a query goes through to the call centre a message will be sent to the organiser who will then deal with the issue.

Their website has lots of information concerning their IT strategy and the general direction of the union, so its well worth checking out.

Site of the Week - an oldie but a goodie

The Australian Liquor, Hospitality & Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU) site located at http://www.lhmu.org.au was one of the original LaborNET sites and still continues to lead the way in online union communications. Whilst the site is looking a bit old and could do with a bit of a facelift it's content is still being update regularly and a recent innovation in the form of Message Boards has given the site a breath of new life, well worth checking out.

God Bless America

With the Olympics over the world now looks to the next media orgy to be served up by the American publicity machine, that being the US Presidential Election with this in mind I though Australian readers (or even Canadians) may appreciate this site aptly named "Things that piss me off about America" http://www.geocities.com/amerrycancan/.

If you have any sites you want Paul to review or you think should be in the LaborNET Links section email him at [email protected].

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Issue 74 contents

Interview: Politics Italian Style
Italian journalist's union official Rodolfo Falvo talks to Peter Lewis about Italy's Rupert Murdoch and why Italian politics is so crazy.

Unions: A Partnership That Works
Students at Williamstown High in Victoria are benefiting from a creative partnership with TAFE and the Electrical Trades Union. Kevin Peoples reports.

International: Fiji Paymasters Fill Their Own Pockets
The Interim Administration imposed on the people of Fiji, as a result of the coup-makers, have voted themselves a hefty pay increase at the same time as they demand public sector workers take a twelve per cent pay cut.

Politics: USA Campaign 2000 - On the Road
Michael Gadiel reports on the thrills, spills, highs and lows of the US Presidential Election.

Women: Party Girl
'You can take the girl out of the Port, but you can't take the Port out of the girl' - Stephanie Key recounts her life as a feminist in a male bastion, the Transport Workers Union.

Satire: Telstra to issue $50,000 Reith Phonecard
CANBERRA, Monday: Telstra have announced Peter Reith-themed phonecard. The phonecard allows friends and family to make $50,000 worth of phone calls on it before you receive a bill. Plus, you only have to pay the bill in total if there is sufficient public outrage, otherwise the card costs just $950.

Review: Health, Wealth and Mutual Obligations
Mutual obligation for the poor only, increasing income inequality and a widening health gap. Welcome to the 21st century -or is it the 19th?

» Bitter Dispute Ends With Joyful Tidings

» Bodgy Telemarketers Face Union Wrath

» Another Bastard Bank On Rampage

» Employers Reject Individual Contracts

» Time To Come Clean

» Child Care Workers Tell Kim How Howard Nicked Their Money

» Reith Must Apologise Say Hotel Workers

» Telstra Too Smart On Casuals

» Primed To Win

» Payday Nightmare Follows AFFA Outsourcing

» Palestinian Community Seeks Union Support

» Trade Union Choir Rocks Town Hall

» WorkCover Goes For Gold In Paralympics