
Issue No 95		11 May 2001

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News

Labor Councillors Feel Childcare Heat

ALP-endorsed members of local councils face a campaign from trade unions to provide paid maternity leave to workers employed in local government.

The campaign to extend a right enjoyed by federal and state public sector workers into the local government sector is being run by the Municipal Employees' Union.

MEU State Secretary Brian Harris says while the union has been able to achieve Paid Maternity Leave in some councils such as Sydney City, Newcastle City and Wollongong City, it is something that should be available to all workers.

"Within NSW many employees in Local Government undertake a variety of functions for the community that often resemble those functions undertaken by other public sector authorities.

"However, because the employees work for a Local Government authority as opposed to directly being employed by the Crown (Federal or State), they have been excluded

NSW Labor Council secretary Michael Costa says parity for local government workers is an issue Labor councilors should be promoting.

"Paid maternity leave is a principle that is supported by ALP Policy and Platform and it is not an unreasonable ask for councilors endorsed by the ALP to be publicly supporting the issue," Costa says.

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  Issue 95 contents

Interview: Geek Guys
Two of the union movement�s pioneers in new technology, Peter Ross and Mark McGrath, chew the fat about wired unionism and virtual politics.

Compo: Costa�s Angels
Behind the spotlight of the workers comp campaign four women trade union officials have been burning the midnight oil to protect injured workers.

Legal: View from the Bench
Compensation Court judge and former Attorney-General, Frank Walker, argues the Della Bosca workers comp reforms are a threat to judicial independence.

International: Timor: Time for the Truth
HT Lee was in Dili when the militas ran rampage. Now he wants the truth to come out.

History: True Believers
Frank Bongiorno looks at the origins of the Australian Labor Party, which celebrated its centenary of Caucus this week.

Corporate: Trust Me, I�m a Multi-National!
BHP unions have united across the factions to urge �No� vote on the planned Billiton merger.

Unions: AWAs � A Doomed Future?
ACTU Assistant Secretary Richard Marles plays clairvoyant and predicts a dismal future for AWAs.

Satire: Bush Defends One China Policy - Then Another China Policy, Then Another ....
President Bush today announced a major change to the United States� policy of �strategic ambiguity� towards the status of Taiwan and its One China policy.

Review: Surviving Survivor
Workers Online's Reality TV correspondent Mark Morey rakes over the coals of the Survivor II result.

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» Arnotts Workers Call for Consumer Boycott

» Asian Women at Work: Daring To Act

» Academic Sacking Sparks Global Row

» Labor Councillors Feel Childcare Heat

» Rail Workers Win Maintenance Security

» Knitwear Company Stitched Up Over AWAs

» Three Stripes and You�re Out

» Unions and Students Move on Harvard

» IT Workers Alliance � Last Call for Comment

» Our News Feed Hits 1000

» Activist Notebook