
Issue No 89		23 March 2001

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

Letters to the Editor

AXA Has Form

I was very interested in your article about AXA and the Wentworth Hotel in Sydney.

I worked for National Mutual for 8 and a half years. Then they decided to sell one of their subsidiaries to Suncorp in September/October 1994.

I think National Mutual and Suncorp wanted me to work for the subsidiary. I told both companies that my employment contract is with National Mutual.

I was asked by the HR manager at National Mutual to go to their offices on the day after the sale. I asked 'what will happen?'. The HR manager for National Mutual said I will get 4 or 5 weeks pay. They did not even bother to make an offer to me to transfer to the subsidiary. I decided not to take up their 'offer'.

I tried to get an employment contract with Suncorp. Suncorp did not give me a contract for the next 18 months. I found this situation extremely unpleasant and the behaviour of both companies irresponsible.

I recommend that people do not do business with either of these companies.

Ken Clarke

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Issue 89 contents

Interview: Paddy Takes the Helm
Irish, internationalist, republican, socialist & seafarer - Paddy Crumlin intends taking the old traditions of the labour left into the 21st century, the community and cyberspace.

Unions: Breaking the Mould
Mark Hearn looks at how women union delegates are helping to change the culture in the traditionally male bastion of glassworking.

Legal: Washing Their Hands
Mark Morey outlines how Liberal neglect of the working visa system has led to exploitation of guest workers.

International: Violence Betrays Shangri-La
Shangri-La hotel union members carrying a coffin marked Robert Kuok have been assaulted and beaten by police in Jakarta.

Economics: Corporations: Different Than You and Me
Corporations are fundamentally different than you and me. That's a simple truth that Big Business leaders desperately hope the public will not perceive.

History: The Steel Octopus
Be prepared for a flood of Nostalgia from the media about the �Big Australian�, as it prepares to flee our shores and finally internationalise its digging operations. Workers won�t forget BHP�s less than worker friendly past and present (and no doubt it�s future).

Review: Mean Nation
John Allen charts the fall and fall of philanthropy in Australian society.

Satire: Ryan 'A Big Wake-Up Call For Me': Beazley
The narrow victory to Labor in the Ryan by-election has delivered a big slap in the face to Leader of the Opposition Kim Beazley.

» Abbott and �Drinking Buddy� Under Microscope

» Working Visas: Ruddock Sells Dump to Abbott

» Tourist Guides Bussed In

» Fair Wear Holds Breath as Carr Celebrates

» Labor to Restore Public Sector�s Dignity

» Its Time for Carr to Act on Safey on Building Sites

» Bread Maker Slices Workforce

» Workers Show Grace Under Pressure

» Engineers Win BHP Redundancy Case

» Transport Drug Pushers Not Charged

» Training Body Needs $150 Million to Cope with Growth

» HIH Urged To Safeguard Employee Entitlements

» Carr Proposal For Public Schools Flawed

» Human Smirk Returns to Spiritual Home

» McGauchie Appointment Draws MUA Fire

» Bove Loses McDonald's Raid Appeal

» James Hardie Called to Account

» Australasian Union Organising Conference

» Activist Notebook