
Issue No 84		16 February 2001

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News

Racing Radio Makes Way for Workers’ Voice

The historic sale of 2KY passed a major hurdle at this week's Annual General Meeting with affiliates voting unanimously to approve the deal with the NSW TAB.

Under the Labor Council rules, any seven affiliates could have vetoed the sale. A second and final vote is now required in four weeks time.

Labor Council secretary Michael Costa said the decision to sell 2KY after 75 years was an historic one that would net the Labor Council $25 million, while retaining about $15 million in assets.

Costa said the sale would allow Labor Council to return to its original intention in broadcasting, with the building up of a remaining radio licence 2KM as 'The Workers Voice'.

Labor Council's wireless committee will oversee the new station, which will broadcast news and current affairs in a manner that promotes the interests of the labour movement.

Costa said $10 million from the sale would be dedicated to the redevelopment of Trades Hall, in a project that would be overseen by assistant secretary John Robertson.

He said attempts to restore the building with a third party had proved impossible to negotiate through planning laws, and that the go-it-alone option was the only way to ensure the restoration project was realised.

Seven Union Rule Overturned

The AGM also voted to overturn the long-standing seven-union veto rule, originally introduced to prevent Jack Lang selling 2KY in the 1930s.

The rule had been reviewed in the wake of the obstruction to the proposal to redevelop Currawong. But despite noisy protests from the self-styled Friends of Currawong at the meeting, Costa said Currawong would be explicitly excluded from the rule change.

Costa said the issue was more about the Council's ability to manage it's assets. He said he had received legal advice from Jeff Shaw QC stating that the rule was so prohibitive that it would be likely to be overturned by an appeal in the Equity Division of the NSW Supreme Court.

Instead, a list of key Labor Council assets will be developed by affiliates, which would require a 75 per cent majority to dispose of.

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Issue 84 contents

Interview: Life After Wartime
After ten years representing the interests of the labour movement in Parliament, Jeff Shaw is back at the bar. And loving it.

Legal: Why the Freeloaders Should Pay
Michael Costa explains why service fees are not only fair - they are economically rational.

Organising: Young Activists Bask in Union Summer
Sydney students have spent three weeks of their summer holidays experiencing on-the-ground work with unions.

Unions: Things Are Looking Up On The Dock
After six years as a call centre worker, Marios Ellas has joined the union movement. Here's his first impressions.

History: Trades Hall – The Royal Connection
Republic, who needs it when we have the Trades Hall decreed by Royal Imprimatur? So tug your forelock as work commences to restore the building.

International: Greetings from Hong Kong
Chan Wai-Keung from the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions outlined the challenges facing Hong Kong workers.

Politics: One Nation - The Old Labor Link
The resurgence in One Nation in the WA election has the pundits again reaching for the tea-leaves. But are they pouring from the wrong pot?

Review: Elect the Ambassador
Labor frontbencher Duncan Kerr unveils his vision for a new international democracy.

Satire: Man Buys Big Issue for the Articles
A Melbourne businessman claims his recent purchase of the "Big Issue" was due to his interest in the magazine's editorial content.

» Young Workers: The Wage Gypsies

» Union Members Tell Scabs: Sing for Your Supper

» Genetic Advances Spark New Privacy Issues

» Wentworth Twenty Emerge Victorious

» Racing Radio Makes Way for Workers’ Voice

» Another Major Centre Takes Union Call

» Transport Passes Key Issue for Young Workers

» Shier Calls the Cops! - Fear and Loathing at the ABC

» BHP Contracts Battle Goes Back to the Coalface

» Newcastle Mill to be Union Project

» Government Must Lead on Casual Leave

» Della Ends Discrimination on Leave Entitlements

» Rural Safety Campaign Pays Off

» Mom Always Said … Don’t Break a Picket