
Issue No 80		01 December 2000

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

Letters to the Editor

Botsman Off Beam

The Brisbane Institutes director's recent 'expose' on organising missed the mark. The most important aspect of the ACTU Organising is its simplicity. There is no conflict between 'servicing' or 'organising' they're in all practical senses one in the same, as long as it empowers the workforce. Union Administrative support, through research, education and most services is 'organising' if it participatory and strategic to a process of empowering the workforce.

The suggestion that the X Generation is made up only of the 'directors' fellow travellers is ridiculous. Truck drivers may not be making a cafe latte in 'trendy' parts of Australia but some do 'aspire' to own there own business. They're small business people collectively bargaining in thousands of workplaces around the country. Owner/drivers act mainly with direct Union Administrative participation, through industrial services backed by strategic campaigns.

Union administration and such members from the L.H.M.U., I.E.U., some ASU Branches and many more, have developed a strong representative culture on behalf of individuals, professionals, employees aspiring to be managers and at times the management workforce itself. They also represent a large section of the workforce who are happy to be employees for a living.

The New South Wales Transport Workers' Union has just posted a 13.2% increase in membership for November 1999 to November 2000. This was achieved by organising as many strategic opportunities as resources allow. Members in organised sites have doubled in the last two years to the number of paid officials coordinating those sites. The number of delegates, committees and active union members has increased by over 700, whilst resignations in the last twelve months have dropped by 926. Thank goodness we didn't listen to the old guard views of the Brisbane Institute and the failed Kelty experiment they continue to embrace.

Tony Sheldon

View entire issue - print all of the articles!

Issue 80 contents

Interview: Chewing the Fat with Della
In a rare extended interview, NSW 's new industrial relations minister State John Della Bosca outlines his vision for the new workplace.

Unions: Organising - There Is No Choice
LHMU national secretary Jeff Lawrence responds to Brisbane Institutue director Peter Botsman's attack on organising.

Corporate: The Riddles of Democracy at Telstra
Shareholder activist Stephen Mayne explains how the big guys ran roughshod when he and trade union activists attempted to stand for the Telstra board.

Education: Training for Change
Labor Council's Michael Gadiel outlines a traiing agenda for the 21st century.

History: A Stack of Hypocrits
Ballot rigging, sanctioned by the courts, sponsored by the government were a Liberal Party and Bob Menzies speciality - and they introduced legislation to legalise it.

International: African Unions Go To War Against AIDS
The war on AIDS is now the number one priority of the ICFTU's African Regional Organization (AFRO), which has launched an ambitious five-year action plan in nine of the most severely afflicted African nations.

Satire: Teenage Hackers Behind Shock Cabinet Reshuffle
Seasoned front-benchers and political greenhorns alike were joined in stunned surprise today, as a sudden Cabinet reshuffle radically altered the shape of the Federal Government.

Review: Manufacturing Dissent
A new production explores Australian's approach to refugees and their experiences coming to a strange land.

» It's Official: Union Leaders More Trusted than Bosses!

» Reith Isolated on Workers Entitlements

» Light for Shafted Woodlawn Miners

» ATO Workers Stand Up to Bullying Bean-Counter

» Schweppes Lockout Bubbles Internationally

» Online Registration Takes Hold

» Bush Apprentices Face Breadline

» ALP Council Faces Workers' Wrath

» Local Action to Back Burma Sanctions

» WorkCover Needs First Aid Help

» Shier Under Fire � At Your ABC

» Social Charter Puts Heat on Howard

» Wattyl Make 'Em Fair Dinkum?

» International Union Aid Jobs on Offer

» The Soapbox

» Sport

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» Botsman Off Beam

» Botsman Off Beam II

» Fatherly Advice

» Concerns on Fundraiser

» Let's Be Frank about Frank!

Notice Board
- Check out the latest events

Latest Issue

View entire latest issue
- print all of the articles!

Previous Issues

Subject index

Search all issues

Workers Online - 2nd place Labourstart website of the year

LaborNET is a resource for the labour movement provided by the Labor Council of NSW

URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/80/letters1_one.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005

[ Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Credits ]

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW