
Issue No 86		02 March 2001

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News

National Textiles Workers Struggling 12 Months On

Twelve months on from the landmark National Textiles employee entitlements dispute, two thirds of the workers are still without work.

The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union this week marked the first anniversary of the battle with the Prime Minister's brother, with the preview screening of a documentary of the dispute which grabbed the nation's attention.

The documentary recounts how the National textile workers applied pressure on the Prime Minister until he guaranteed their full entitlements, more than $11 million in total, embarrassed by his brother Stan's role in the saga..

But TCFUA secretary Barrie Tubner says it's sobering to realise how many of the 340 workers have failed to secure new full-time jobs.

"This shocking statistic yet again emphasises the real need to ensure that sacked workers are paid out their full entitlements - and not just the measly crumbs available under the Howard federal scheme," Tubner says.

While the federal government has established a 'safety net' entitlements scheme, the unions regard it as grossly inadequate, with workers only able to recover a fraction of what is owed because of statutory caps on key entitlements like Long Service Leave.

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Issue 86 contents

Interview: Master of Opposition
Over the past five years, John Faulkner has turned the Senates Estimates structure into his own House of Pain. He explains the art of Opposition.

Politics: Beazley the Bridge Builder?
As the Howard Government flounders, Brett Evans looks at the challenges Kim Beazley faces as his hour of destiny approaches.

Unions: Lashing & Loathing at Patricks
Three years since one of the Howard Government�s most infamous episodes, the Waterfront War, Zoe Reynolds discovers how casuals are now doing the doing the dirty work on the docks.

Legal: Workers Without Rights
Mark Morey outlines the legal status and (lack of) rights for foreigners in Australia on working visas.

International: Dispatch from the Dispossessed
Mahendra Chaudhry, Leader of the People's Coalition and the Fiji Labour Party comments on this week�s court decision.

Economics: Business Power and Mobility
The US election season makes it patently clear how Big Business is able to transform its financial resources into political power via campaigncontributions.

History: The Spoilers and the Split
The Movement, Groupers, the DLP and The Doc. All have been blamed in various ways for the ALP split in the 1950s, ensuring the ALP was kept out of federal government until 1972. Can One Nation return the favour?

Review: The New Hard Politics
Dennis Glover argues that policy has taken over from spin as the political battleground of the new century.

Satire: Bradman Latest: Family In Dramatic Court Action
The family of the late Sir Donald Bradman yesterday sought a restraining order against Prime Minister John Howard after it became apparent that he wants to be involved in every single detail of the The Don's funeral.

» StoneTemple Pirate Outrage Hits Canberra

» Five Star Exploitation at Regent

» Workers Say: We Deserve Better

» Carr Called on Ten Year Temps

» National Textiles Workers Struggling 12 Months On

» MUA Prosecutes Patrick for Crippling Workers

» Test Case: Is Redundancy a Universal Right?

» Who Pays for the Public Works?

» Seven-day Strike at Five BHP Mines

» Chubb Cuts Place Security Guards at Risk

» Vic Employers Support New IR Laws

» Lock-Out Tactics Poison Neighbourhood

» Shangri-La: Lawyers Take Over from Thugs

» Daewoo Workers See The Ugly Face Of Globalisation

» Labour Wings to Meet in Macquarie Street

» Costa Kisses the Rings

» Meat Workers Dropped from the Queue for Q Fever Vaccine

» Activists Notebook