
Issue No 90		30 March 2001

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News

Breakthrough on Sweat-Shops

Textile workers are claiming a 'world first' in securing legislation in NSW forcing clothing manufactures to take responsibility for their chain of production.

Premier Bob Carr announced the long-awaited outworker initiative during his State of the State address last weekend, coiniciding with his sixth year in power.

He had been heavily criticised for standing still on legislation after announcing it as policy before the 1999 state election.

FairWear convenor Debbie Carstens says the package is a significant step forward in protecting the right of outworkers.

"In other jurisdictions there have been voluntary codes, but the proposed legislation would make a legal requirement that retailers and manufactures take responsibility for their labels.".

Carstens also welcomed the appointment of four blingual inspectors in the Department of Industrial relations, but said their were reservations about the government's level of financial commitment for community work

She said the right of recovery for outworkers further up production chain to manufacture and retailer was also an excellent development because many workers see their employers disappearing with their wages. "It's probably the single most frequent issue that the union deals with for outworkers," she says..

The Government will also establish an Ethical Clothing Trades Council - and Fairwear hopes it will be included in that.

But Carstens says she's disappointed legislation is 12 months coming which will further delay brining justice to this industry.

Textile Clothing and Footwear union state secretary Barry Tubner endorsed the package and thanked Labor Council assistant secretary John Robertson for the key role he played during negotiations.

FairWear Incorporates

Meanwhile, Fair Wear is about to incorporate nationallyand is looking for four people from NSW to be nominated onto the initial National Committee, for the purposes of incorporation. Meetings of the National Committee will happen by teleconference.

For nominations or a copy of FairWear's draft constitution at mailto: [email protected]. Please forward nominations as soon as possible (by 1st April at latest).

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Issue 90 contents

Interview: On the Up and Up
On the eve of new figures showing the slide in union membership may be bottoming out, ACTU secretary Greg Combet takes stock of the state of the movement.

Unions: Organising Theory
Labor Councilï¿½s Chris Christodoulou reports back from this weekï¿½s ACTU Organising Conference

Economics: The Failure of the Third Way
In his presentation to this week's ACTU Organising Conference, John Buchanan painted a dark picture of the emerging labour market.

History: Emblems of Unity
The Gregory J. Smith Collection of Trade Union badges was auctioned today in Sydney. Smith compiled a book on 763 of his remarkable collection which was published in 1992.

Legal: Della's Compo Plan
Labour lawyer Richard Brennan places the NSW workers compensation reforms under the microscope.

International: East Timor Goes Union
Workers in the fledgling nation have established their equivalent to the ACTU to build a safety net for workers.

Satire: Management for the Post-Industrial World
A new management fad is sweeping the post-industrial world, which has major social and political implications at the macro and micro level. We have called it "Purge Management Strategy" (PMS).

Review: Surviving The Temptations of TV Island
Cultural analyst Mark Morey rakes over the coals of American TV culture to find very little is there.

» Compo Wars: Round One to the Workers

» Breakthrough on Sweat-Shops

» Beazley to Force Executive Disclosure

» Call Centre Union Busters Get Wake-Up Call

» Victorious Workers Paint the Picket Red

» Grenadier Workers Maintain Vigil

» Kembla Water Rats Face Extinction

» Employers Told: Casual Workers Have Full-Time Rights

» Good On Ya Mum, Buttercupï¿½s Leaving Town

» Forty Seven Years of Service Rewarded

» Telstra Called to Account on Legionella

» Record Low Aussie Dollar Adds to Surging Profits

» No Progress on Stonemasons

» Burrow Lobbies on BHP and US Trade Abroad

» Feed the Shangri-La Workers Fund

» STOP PRESS: Union Numbers Up - ABS

» The Soapbox

» The Locker Room

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» Crumby Company

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