
Issue No 89		23 March 2001

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

Letters to the Editor

Leichhardt Debate Hots Up

Dear Ed

HT Lee and others in Leichhardt have every right to be concerned about asbestos removal being carried out safely in their street. Several years ago my brother died an extremely painful death from asbestosis (?) He was in a Hospice in Perth at the end and was nursed with great care and tenderness until he died but he was only 58 and should have lived much longer had he not been exposed to asbestos back beginning in about 1959. It is a horribly painful death and I will never forget how he looked when he died and how angry I felt and still feel towards those who knew it was dangerous and deliberately exposed workers to the danger of asbestos. It should be banned completely and James Hardie should pay up proper compensation. My brother tried to get compensation but was unable to and his circumstances were such that his daughter was not able to be paid compensation either. It is a shocking way to die and many people will have lost out on their entitlement to compensation due!

to technicalities. Whoever is responsible should be accountable and pay up. In relation to your story one can only wonder why a supposedly "progressive" council like Leichhardt is doing employing non-union labour and endangering their rate payers. Shame Leichhardt Council Shame.

Yours sincerely

MAUREEN KING

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Dear Workers Online,

I write to agree with your article entitled Leichhardt Council Endangers the public. As a Labor Councillor on Leichhardt Council I am seriously concerned that contractors engaged by the Council are endangering both there own workers and the local residents by not using proper safety control when handling asbestos. I believe that the problem stems from Council contracting out these services in the first place. The Labor Caucus has been raising the issue of the problems related to the contracting out of services for years.

Leichhardt Council, along with many other public sector employers have been reducing the amount of in house staff over several years (mainly by attrition), this has led to work being allocated to contractors instead of being performed by Council Staff. This removes the Council's ability to ensure that Occupational Health and Safety standards (as well as other award conditions such as fair pay, etc) are being adhered to.

This asbestos disaster has highlighted that contracting out just does not work. To address the issue the Labor Caucus will be moving a motion at the next ordinary Council meeting to create an agreement between the relevant unions and the Council on the engagement of fair contracts, ie, an agreement outlying that Council will only engage contractors that abide by the Award and OH&S legislation.

We will also be looking at the Council's ability to appoint inhouse staff to perform more of the general works and services of the Council. Hopefully the independent and Liberal Councillors will see this disaster for what it is and support our motion.

Yours Sincerly

Councillor Alice Murphy

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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