
Issue No 76		03 November 2000

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News

Senate Asks ANU To 'Please Explain' Archive Cuts

The Senate yesterday asked ANU to justify its proposed cuts to the Noel Butlin Archives Centre, - the largest non-government archives in Australia.

The Noel Butlin Archives preserve the historical records of some of the nations largest and historically important companies as well as the records of many trade unions, including the ACTU

Among its statutory responsibilities the ANU is supposed to engage in "encouraging, and providing facilities for, research and postgraduate study, both generally and in relation to subjects of national importance to Australia".

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deane Terrell, in his recently released "Plan for Growth", reiterated this as being the special role of the University.

The Friends of the Noel Butlin Centre say the Vice-Chancellor is aware that the "Commonwealth Government provides the block grant to us to support this special role". The Senate is questioning whether the ANU is honouring its obligations.

A spokesperson for the Friends of the Noel Butlin Archives Center, Mr Barry Howarth, said, "In discussions with the University it has become clear that what is at issue is not money - ANU had an operating surplus last year of $76.5 million and $80.5 million the year before, so $100,000 or even $200,000 a year extra is nothing - it is simply that ANU has no interest in what doesn't make money, even if is a research resource of inestimable national value."

Staff are to be cut from the current 4.5 to 2. In 1993 there were 8-while, under legal obligations to depositors, the amount of work needed to be done will barely diminish.

"It is ironic." Mr Howarth went on, "that the Archives, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne Archives and other archival establishments, has just won a competitive Rief Grant of some $100,000 for a special project; the Australian Trade Union Heritage Resources Gateway project. If staff are cut to two the Archives will probably be unable to participate in the project."

The Australian Trade Union Heritage Resources Gateway aims to remedy a significant gap in scholarly research infrastructure for unions and industrial relations, and to test emerging Australian and international archival metadata standards for description, resource discovery and publication on the Web. The project will build the first nationally accessible Web gateway and finding-aid linking historical detail, archival and heritage resources and Web sites on Australia's trade unions and peak union bodies from the nineteenth century on. It will also build upon existing archival and library infrastructure. The project will be used by tertiary and secondary educational researchers, industrial bodies and the Australian public nationally.

For further information contact: Dr John Merritt, FNBAC Representative on the NBAC Advisory Committee. (Ph 02 6236 9317; email: [email protected])

Ms Rosemary Webb, President, FNBAC. (Ph.02 6291 9656; email: [email protected])

Mr Barry Howarth, NTEU ACT Division Secretary.

(Ph.62924473/62494665; email [email protected]/[email protected]

Meanwhile...

The Sydney Branch, Australian Society for the Study of Labour History Invites You to Join Us for atour of lithgow's labour history sites on Sunday, 12th November

Join the Labour History group on train from Central Station. (last carriage) leaving 8.02 am (Strathfield 8.14, Parramatta, 8.26), arrives Lithgow 10.45 am to meet tour coach. (Train arrives back at Central at 6.23 pm).

The program includes guided tour of "Eskbank House" (built 1842, home of Lithgow Historical Society); Blast Furnace site; State Mine Heritage Park & Railway; Small Arms Factory Museum; and lunch at Workingmen's Club Bistro (children's meal available).

Cost incl. lunch: $35 ($30 concession; $25 children under 12)

(Note: not including return train fare - $19.40, Child/Senior: $3.30)

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Issue 76 contents

Interview: Withering On The Vine
Cooking shows and 'Bugs fucking to Mozart' may become the staple diet on our ABC as news and current affairs face a war of attrition. Quentin Dempster gives Workers Online an insider's view of our endangered national broadcaster .

US Election: Sugar Candy Politics
Like in everything else, Americans like their politics sugar coated. A Nation in denial, they are happier maintaining the fantasy that the world is a fine and dandy place says Michael Gadiel.

US Election: George W. Bushwhacked by Texas Truth Squad
The Texas Truth Squad are a group of Texan union members travelling the US on a crusade to expose the Republican presidential nominee as a corporate rogue who in his time as Governer proved himself as an enemy of the worker.

History: Federation and the Labour Movement
National celebrations will mark the Centenary of Federation next year. The labour movement's opposition to Federation at the referenda held around the Australian colonies in 1899 will attract less commemoration, although the republicans of 1999 might have benefited from reflection on the causes of working class discontent one hundred years earlier says Stuart Macintyre.

International: Unions Mac Their Day
McDonald's - the biggest employer of young people around the world - is increasingly becoming the target of union recognition campaigns, backed by human rights groups concerned about the fast food chains practices in countries such as Indonesia, China, Russia, Canada and Germany.

Satire: Wiranto�s charity album inspires genocidal maniacs everywhere
Indonesia�s favourite former strongman, General Wiranto, has recently decided to record an album of love songs. Entitled To You My Indonesia, Wiranto�s album has already sold 8,000 copies and is raising money for refugees.

Review: What About the Workers?
A big, gruff bloke in a blue singlet, on strike or just not working, and generally being difficult. That's the trade unionist for you. Barry Cohen's new book What About the Workers? shows this image may have a bit of truth about it, but he would be telling a few good yarns while he was standing about.

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» Push For 'Casuals' Parental Leave

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» White Boys Talk About Black History

» Senate Asks ANU To 'Please Explain' Archive Cuts