
Issue No 83		09 February 2001

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News

Sartor Thanks Workers for Games by Outsourcing Jobs

Sydney Lord Mayor Frank Sartor is under fire for moving to contract out council jobs immediately after the successful Olympic Games.

Workers are accusing Sartor of a breach of faith after approving a timetable for a new round of competitive tendering, despite per-Games promises that such action would not be necessary.

Council workers rallied at Sydney Town Hall this week to condemn the plans, which would include the St Peters Waste management Facility, Recreation and Community Services, Property Cleaning, Goulburn Street Parking Station and Roads and Footways Maintenance.

The Municipal Employees Union's Paul Reid told Labor Council that an earlier round of competitive tendering had seen the loss of 200 jobs. At the time, workers were guaranteed there would be no further

That was until the Olympics were over anyway. "Council workers worked around the clock to make the city presentable - and their efforts were appreciated by the whole community," Reid says.

"But less than two weeks after the Closing Ceremony, Council went back on its word and said many of those jobs were now up for grabs."

NSW Labor Council assistant secretary John Robertson, who addressed Thursday's rally, says unions had resisted the competitive tendering by state government department.

"We will be just as active in ensuring that local government jobs remain under the control, of the councils, who should be accountable for the services they provide," Robertson says.

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  Issue 83 contents

Interview: Dispatch from Davos
ACTU President Shahran Burrow reports back on the trade union movement�s presence at last week�s meeting of the heavyweights of global capital.

Unions: After the Gold Rush
Recent mass sackings at high-profile e-businesses are beginning to expose the flimsiness of the �jobs for all� predictions made on behalf of the sector.

Economics: The Other Davos
While the world�s business leaders met in Davos, a very different gathering was taking place in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Pat Ranald was there.

Politics: While We Were Snoozing
As we lay in our banana chair through summer the political world kept turning with a new man in the White House. Here�s what we missed while we were off the air.

History: Federation Day, 1901
One hundred years after Australia became a nation, Ralph Sawyer relives the original Federation Day through the eyes of Billy Hughes.

International: Burma: The Struggle Continues
As the internatinal community moves to bring Burma to account, APHEDA - Union Aid Abroad is working on the ground.

Review: Inside the Journopolis
In his new book, Rob Johnson brings the infamous Cash for Comment Affair to life.

Satire: Families Demand Longer Work Hours
A new report confirms the long held suspicion that employees who reduce their workload to spend more time with their spouse and children just end up annoying their families even more.

» Union Busters Target Call Centres

» Workers Take Message to World Bank

» Korean Worker Bashed for Questioning Wages

» Steelworkers Draw The Line

» Sartor Thanks Workers for Games by Outsourcing Jobs

» Outworkers Still Waiting for Action of Sweatshops

» Workers Casualties in Wentworth Fire Sale

» Fantastic Win for Furniture Workers

» Billions Spent on Mine Takeovers

» No Guarantees on Orange Jobs

» M5 Project- Worker Pays the Price

» Forum: Organising Youth in a Hostile Workplace

» Western Sahara Marks 25 Years of Waiting

» Action as Australia Considers WTO Ties