
Issue No 9		16 April 1999

News

Public Speaks: We Are Not Monsters!

Two-thirds of Australians believe unions are good for the country, laying down a clear challenge for the movement to intensify recruiting.

The national Newspoll survey, commissioned by Labor Council, came up with heartening findings, with support for unionism far outstripping actual membership rates.

The Labor Council executive will restructure its operations to place greater empahsis on organising and recruiting. Labor Council secretary Michael Costa will chair the high-level committee which will co-ordinate organising and recruiting campaigns across the affiliates.

Importantly, the Committee will be given an annual six-figure budget generated from income from the Currawong development, should it be approved next month. It would work closely with the Trade Union Training Authority to develop and implement recruitment strategies.

Costa says the survey results shows the tremendous opportunity for unions, while rebuffing the federal government's anti-union agenda.

Key finds of the survey were:

- 67 per cent of respondents rejected the proposition that Australia would be better off without trade unions.

- 44 per cent said they'd join a trade union if they were free to choose.

- 53 per cent said management had more power than unions.

NSW Labor Council secretary Michael Costa said the figures were heartening and showed that the blatant attacks on unionism from the Howard Government and rogue employers did not have widespread public support.

"What this shows is that the community overwhelmingly supports trade unions; it's our job to ensure the unions are effective in organising and delivering services," Costa says.

"It highlights the critical importance of providing training and skills for unions officials to meet this challenge.

"It's also clear from the figures that management hostility is a deterrent to many workers who want to join a union and shows the Employment Advocate is not doing its job.

"The Employment Advocate should be focussing on employers who discourage or threaten employees who want to be union members rather than harassing unions in conducting their legitimate activities.

"I call on the federal government to alter its industrial relations legislation to provide structures that allow the community to fulfil its desire to join trade unions."

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Issue 9 contents

Interview: Ms Plibersek Goes To Canberra
The new MP for Sydney talks about her new job, new ideas and why she won�t be writing a book about them.

Unions: More Jobs, Better Pay?
Peter Reith shears the Pastoral Industry Award, making a mockery of his election rhetoric.

History: Work and Community
This is the story of a little corrugated iron factory. In a lane. In Rozelle.

Review: Tailing Out
When BHP left Newcastle steelworks, it also left a rich working culture. A ground-breaking project is now honouring what has been lost.

International: ILO Warns Danger Evolving With Technology
The ILO estimates over 1 million work-related fatalities each year -- and the danger spots are changing.

Labour Review: What's New at the Information Centre
View the latest issue of Labour Review, Labor Council's fortnightly IR newsletter for unions.

» Public Speaks: We Are Not Monsters!

» Qantas to Dump Aussie Accents

» Carr�s Faction Call Music to Costa�s Ears

» But Thumbs Down to Small Business Labor...

» Blow for Reith's Anti-Unionism

» Un-Reconstructed Unionists on Study Tour

» Unionists to Celebrate May Day

» Tanner to Bragg with Billy