
Issue No 82		20 December 2000

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As a Died in the Wool Westie Steps Up

By Mary Yaager

Meanwhile, Ian West, popular former Assistant Secretary of the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, has become the face of blue collar workers in the NSW Upper House.


	The Hon . Ian West MLC

For the past 24 years Ian was an Official with the Miscellaneous Division of the LHMU. As part of his strategy to ensure workers get heard in Parliament, Ian will be issuing a regular newsletter called "Workers' Voice."

Ian wants to continue working for blue and white collar Unions in his new role, "Working in the Union movement, in particular a blue collar union, gave me perspective on the daily struggles faced by workers to feed, shelter and educate themselves and their families," West says.

"There is no finer feeling than to have helped someone to help themselves through the union collective to find dignity, respect, and some semblance of equality."

"Unions have given voice to the aspirations of ordinary people and have agitated to change unjust laws and made living and working conditions more bearable for the whole community."

'Westie', as he is affectionately known by his union colleagues received a tumultuous standing ovation after delivering his heartfelt inaugural speech. Since then Ian has spoken on the Wattyl workers' lockout, Reith's ongoing attacks on the MUA, and Federal political interference in the ABC.

Early next year Ian will host a Forum to increase awareness within the Union movement about how to better access the State Government and its Ministers. "I believe Unions may be able to learn something from the activities of some community and private interest groups who appear to be very effective in lobbying the Government and other MP's for legislative change."

For the full text of Ian's first speech, go to http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au, then click on "Members" then "Ian West." Ian can be contacted on (02) 9230 2126 or by email on mailto:[email protected] (copies of "Workers' Voice" on request)

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Issue 82 contents

Interview: Being Michael Costa
Labor Council�s secretary on the 2KY sell-off, the Olympics and his plans for the future.

Unions: Millennial Milestones
In a year of highs, some trade union stories stuck in the collective consciousness. Here's ten of the best.

International: Eric Lee's Year in Review
The editor of Labourstart looks back on the global issues that mobilized labour in the past 12 months.

Organising: Dispatches from the Field
Despite the 'Botsmanesque' critiques which have been levelled at Organising, it would be hard to deny that the year 2000 has seen more and more unions in NSW latch onto the approach - at least in principle anyway.

Economics: Who Gets Gold??
At the end of this Olympic year, Sydney Uni's Frank Stilwell charts the winners and losers in the new sport of redistribution of income.

Politics: Election 2000: The Winner is Gridlock
In the last in his series on the US Federal Election Campaign, Michael Gadiel, our roving reporter, gladly signs off.

Satire: Chaser Launches Book
In the great tradition of repackaging old material to cash in on Christmas, the team from The Chaser & Silly 2000 has produced its first book.

Review: Cultural Wasteland
The spotlight was on Australian culture in 2000. But was it a missed opportunity, asks Peter Zangari.

» Mad Monk's Secret Union Past

» New Life for Trades Hall

» Top Cop is Our Organiser of the Year

» All We Want for Christmas

» Summer for Social Justice

» Unions Return to Mosh Pit

» Unions Head West

» Big Bastard Censors Dissidents

» South Coast Labor President Steps Down

» As a Died in the Wool Westie Steps Up

» Dying Workers' Asbestos Plea

» Workers at Centre of Turn Of the Century

» Truth about S11 Starting to Come Out

» The Soapbox

» The Locker Room

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» The Greatest Team Ever?

» ABC Online Did Strike

» Why Nader Vote was not Wasted

» John Scrooge's Christmas Gift

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