
Issue No 92		20 April 2001

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News

Sydney Water Workers On Strike

Sixty members of the Australian Services Union NSW and ACT Services Branch, working from Campbelltown and Liverpool Depots, voted to stay out on strike until next Tuesday.

The strike follows a member being sacked by Sydney Water against Management's own policies.

The Drug and Alcohol in the Workplace Policy states "employees must not be adversely affected by alcohol or drug use during working hours". There was no evidence that the ASU member was adversely affected.

The Code of Business Ethics Policy states that "employees should be free from the influence of alcohol or drugs when reporting to work and when at work". There was no evidence that the member was under the influence.

The member admitted to drinking three middies of light beer over one and a half hours.

The Committee, in its recommendations, stated "it is the view of the Committee that the intent of the Drug and Alcohol in the Workplace Policy and the associated pro-active campaign adopted by Management are designed to foster a workplace free of drugs and alcohol. The intent is that no level of alcohol or drugs is acceptable".

The ASU disagrees that the policy has, in fact, that intent.

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  Issue 92 contents

Interview: Beyond the Accord
Simon Crean cut his teeth in the trade union movement, now he's gearing up to run the economy.

Politics: In Defence of Della�s List
The proposition that trade unions should ask members of the ALP for a commitment that they uphold Party policy should hardly be controversial.

Corporate: The Real Rorters
The unspoken sore of the WorkCover Scheme is non-compliance by employers. None more so that in the construction industry, as this CFMEU paper details.

Legal: In the Real World
Lawyer Ross Goodridge exposes the defficincies in the new medical assessment guidelines for workers compensation by looking at real case studies.

International: The Docklands and Global Labour
Ma Wei Pin and Jasper Goss recount how the struggle of a group of Indonesian hotel workers effected a lucrative Melbourne contract.

History: Sweatshops in America
Since the dawning of the Industrial Revolution, many generations of Americans have toiled in sweatshops.

Unions: Losers Never Start
At the end of her six week vigil, Grenadier delegate Michelle Booth gave her heartfelt thanks to the trade union movement.

Review: Working Classes: Global Realities
The Socialist Register 2001 looks at class realities and the lives of workers in the new century.

Satire: Democrats Change Leader
The Democrats have a new leader after belatedly discovering that Meg Lees had become the second Democrats leader in a row to defect to another party.

» Costa To Join Della�s List

» Compo Campaign Gathers Steam

» Della�s List: Dissident MPs Targeted

» Day of Mourning to be Compo Focus

» Small Steps in Negotiations � But Hard Yards Still to Come

» Important First Step for E-Mail Privacy

» Outraged Cleaners Continue AXA Axings Protests

» Grenadier Picket Ends � But Legacy Lives On

» Entitlement Dramas in Health and Printing

» Nurses Still Waiting on Olympics Bonus

» IRC Delays Hit Eight Month Barrier

» Claims of Dirty Tricks Conspiracy at Mobil

» Sydney Water Workers On Strike

» MUA Rides Anti-pollution Wave

» Governments Urged On Child Slavery

» Time To Act on Pay Discrimination

» Construction Union Supports Folk Festival

» Activists Notebook