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  Issue No 77 Official Organ of LaborNet 10 November 2000  

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News

Illawarra Fights The Big Bastard


4000 steelworkers at BHP's Port Kembla plant walked off the job yesterday firing the first salvo in a campaign against the company's plans to contract out maintenance and other services.

The AWU and the other steel unions say the company has broken an agreement over consultation about contracting out and fear BHP's plan will kill up to 800 jobs.

AWU National President Graham Roberts says BHP had already made up its mind about contracting out before they talked to the workforce.

'The fundamental issue is job security,' he said. 'We have been abiding by agreements since 1983, starting with the steel plan. All of these agreements were about people being employed in well-paid satisfying jobs. There was a commitment from BHP to the Illawarra to continue to provide jobs to the Illawarra.'

The Port Kembla is the latest in a running battle between the Big Australian and its workers in steel, iron ore and coal as BHP executives increasingly adopt American-style anti-union tactics.

Port Kembla workers have committed to a public campaign to highlight the effects of the latest plan on jobs and the local economy, the efforts of union members over two decades to ensure an internationally competitive steel industry and the lack of commitment at the highest levels of the company to steel making in Australia.


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*   Issue 77 contents

In this issue
Features
*  US Election: Democracy Version 1.0: Time for an Upgrade America
This week the world's greatest democracy is looking pretty rickety. Michael Gadiel reports from the front line.
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*  Interview: Crikey! A Corporate Commando
He may be a lapsed Lib, but Stephen Mayne is making life hell in the boardrooms of corporate Australia. And he might have some clues for unions too.
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*  Unions: Class of 2000 Hit Redfern
They're just out of acting school and straight into the union. Tomorrow's stars and today's union members.
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*  International: US Cleaners Fast for Justice
Talks between striking janitors and the cleaning contractors who employ them resumed on Tuesday at the Sheraton Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut.
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*  History: Racing Radio
The Cup is over, but the races go on, and so does Labor council's radio station, 2KY, as it celebrates its 75th Anniversary.
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*  Legal: A Pandora's In-Box
Screening of employee's emails could be in breach of telecommunications laws, according to Minter Ellison lawyer Megan Dixon.
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*  Satire: Our Snobs Are Tops
Tony Moore on why the lucky country has always been a tosser�s paradise.
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*  Review: Brassed Off With a Tutu
Billy Elliott, currently a hit at the box office, gives a new twist to the working class rags to riches story.
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News
»  Games Workers Still Waiting on Closing Ceremony
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»  Showdown: Howard Faces Court Over Rail Sell-Off
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»  World Awaits Landmark Slave Labour Decision
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»  American Voters Reject Vouchers
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»  Illawarra Fights The Big Bastard
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»  Retailers Rethink FairWear Retreat
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»  Killer Holidays: Activist Fired for Taking Vacation
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»  ANZ Faces Contracts Challenge
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»  Cup Workers Score Heady Brew
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»  Meals on Wheels Turns Mean
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»  Wild Horses Get Maurie's Goat
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»  Labor Council backs Souths Rally
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»  Sisters Celebrate Four Years
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»  Reith to Face the Music
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Columns
»  The Soapbox
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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
»  Nader no Fels
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»  Sartor's Veladrome
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