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  Issue No 76 Official Organ of LaborNet 03 November 2000  

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News

Joy Counts Cost Of Scabs

By Rowan Cahill

When Joy Mining Machinery workers returned to work last week after almost seven months of lockouts and strikes, they found their Moss Vale worksite defiled.

The damage had been done by departing scabs, recruited interstate six weeks previously by a scab recruitment agency. Their departure was part of the back-to-work settlement.

Power tools had been tampered with. It is understood one incident involving industrial sabotage came close to injuring an apprentice. All equipment will now have to undergo occupational health and safety checks at Joy's expense, and the involvement of WorkCover is expected.

Personal lockers had been gone through, and items removed, including personal papers.

Work clothes and boots were trashed, and the company will have to replace these.

Anti-worker signs decorated walls and lockers.

It is understood a workshop computer holding a special program used in the maintenance and repair of mining equipment, and representing years of work, was rendered inoperable. More company expense.

The previous week when striking Joy workers met at the local RSL Club to wind up their industrial action, scabs in a clearly marked Joy company vehicle attempted to verbally harass them.

Most of the workers were in the meeting, however, and the bulk of the obscene scab tirade fell on the ears of pensioners and retirees entering the Club for a special luncheon and bingo afternoon.

This scab initiative did nothing to enhance Joy's battered local reputation.

It is understood Joy management has withheld final payments to the scabs to cover worksite damage.

Damage done by the Joy scabs is similar to scab damage done to waterfront terminals during the bitter Patrick Stevedores dispute in 1998, where wharfie change rooms and facilities were trashed; tools and equipment were either sabotaged, or damaged by misuse; personal items were stolen from lockers.

Peter Reith's chaotic Workplace Relations Act has nourished the growth of adventurist and opportunist outfits specialising in the supply of scab labour and offering security expertise.

No matter what their letterheads suggest, these parasitical outfits seem little more than havens for maladjusted individuals with low self-esteem, attracting former school yard bullies and anti-social fringe elements.

The Joy company is the latest victim to be taken for a ride.


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*   Issue 76 contents

In this issue
Features
*  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 .
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*  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.
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*  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.
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*  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.
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*  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.
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*  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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News
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»  Senate Slams State Sector AWAs
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»  TAB Bosses' Gamble Threatens Cup Day
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»  Fijian Workers Fear Economic Meltdown
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»  Outsource or Perish Says Government
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»  Say Sorry, Ministers
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»  Union Women Set The Pace
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»  Toxic Foreign Flag Ship Threatens Reef
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»  Push For 'Casuals' Parental Leave
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»  Joy Counts Cost Of Scabs
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»  White Boys Talk About Black History
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»  Senate Asks ANU To 'Please Explain' Archive Cuts
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Columns
»  Away For The Games
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»  Sport
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»  Trades Hall
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»  Tool Shed
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Letters to the editor
»  Up Front Robber More Honest Than Banks
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»  New Offer For Telephone Users
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»  Earthworkers Unite
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