
Issue No 89		23 March 2001

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News

Fair Wear Holds Breath as Carr Celebrates

Opponents of sweatshops in the clothing industry are hoping that Premier Carr's celebration of his sixth anniversary of office will bring some joy for outworkers.

Carr is due to give his State of the State address at Penrith on Sydney, two years since he was returned to office in a landslide.

Before that election the Premier vowed his government would introduce legislation to protect the rights of outworkers, but no action to implement the stated policy has been forthcoming.

FairWear coordinator Debbie Carstens says there are 100,000 outworkers in NSW who are working 14-14 hour days for as little as $2 or $3 per hours and no access ton workers compensation or superannuation.

Key initiatives that FairWear want to see implemented include :

* retailers to be compelled to know where their clothing is produced and under what conditions

* DIR and TCFUA to have access to commercial records in the contracting chain to ensure retailers and manufacturers are fulfilling their obligations.

* System established through which outworkers can recover moneys owed to them, with recourse to retailers and manufactures, not just their employers.

"There is nothing we are asking for today that the Premier did not promise two years ago," Carstens says.

Supporters of the FairWear Alliance of church, union and community groups will be attending the Penrith address in anticipation.

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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 ï¿½Big Australianï¿½, as it prepares to flee our shores and finally internationalise its digging operations. Workers wonï¿½t forget BHPï¿½s less than worker friendly past and present (and no doubt itï¿½s 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 ï¿½Drinking Buddyï¿½ Under Microscope

» Working Visas: Ruddock Sells Dump to Abbott

» Tourist Guides Bussed In

» Fair Wear Holds Breath as Carr Celebrates

» Labor to Restore Public Sectorï¿½s 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