Issue No 81 | 08 December 2000 | |
Letters to the EditorCity Council Conspires to Compress Comrades?
Or is it only Inconceivable Incompetence?
Dear Sir, As a delivery driver, I travel all over the Sydney Metropolitian area and recently I came across several industrious council workers and as these workers are much maligned as parisites and bludgers , I thought I would do my good deed and commend these fellow battlers. I wrote to Parramatta Council and the Local Paper , the Parramatta Advertiser commending these Council Workers, whom I had seen industriously working away in stressful circumstances at Wentworthworth Ave , Wentworthville. (June2000) What a contrast to the debacle displayed by workers employed by the same council on Woodville Road / Spring Garden Street Granville , on Thursday November 30 , at around 9:30am. Here we had workers walking in and out of the heavy traffic in the inside lane, there were workers, on the road, gesticulating and arguing with each other, oblivious to the fast moving heavy vehicles. There was inappropriate and deceptive signage's, including a "Road Closed" sign on the inside lane of Woodville Road. It was obvious that an accident had not occurred, only through divine intervention, rather than the disgracefully dangerous traffic control system in place at the time. I was tempted to contact the police traffic division and complain, but I took the easy way out, preferring not to get involved. I only hope that no one was injured because of the brief and regretted irresponsible neglect of my Civic Duty in reporting that which I believe to be criminal. I can only pray that the apparent lack of value put on the safety of these workers, by their supervisory staff, was an aberration, and not indicative of some underlying behaviors so common today with dictatorial and oppressive employers particularly when dealing with those who appear to be intellectually challenged? It would appear there is a pervasive death wish encompassing this organization, because, on Tuesday, the 5th December, while doing a trip from Parramatta to Liverpool, along Woodville Road , these same workers were on the road again , without any protection whatsoever . What happened to Unions looking after their members or does this Local Government Industry have too many members and it is attempting to discard a few? Or perhaps it is another case of domestic/political blindness when it suits the purpose or the pocket! Robert Cardwell
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Interview: Back to Work After a stretch of unemployment following the 1996 election, former Keating Minister Robert Tickner is now helping others find work. Media: Reality Check Aiden White, head of the international journalists' union, argues that online journalism presents a new set of challenges for organising. Economics: In the Same Boat In an unprecedented move, a coalition of industry, community and trade union groups have joined forces to address long-trerm unemployment. International: Nepalese Hotel Workers Ask for Support Hotel workers in the small Himalayan nation of Nepal have finally decided to vent their anger and call a general strike for Monday - over a 21 year old dispute. Unions: Speaking in Tongues Labor Council's Mark Morey outlines the successful campaign by local government workers for a community language allowance. History: Fighting Words The anti-conscription campaign of 1914-18 tore the ALP apart; but this was not the first time the labour movement took a militantly anti-war stance. Politics: A New Socialism In an extract from his new book, political economist Frank Stilwell argues the need for a new radicalism to counter the Third Way Satire: Roy Slaven on the Rampage John Doyle's history of the ABC stretches back to a 1958 evening in Lithgow on which he was "scared shitless" by Blackboard on Mr Squiggle. Review: Mauled in the Bear Pit Vengeance may be sweet but it is always made better when you are able to write a book about yourself that also provides the opportunity to dump a bucket load on those who undertook your removal.
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