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Interview: The Wet One
NSW Opposition industrial relations spokesman Michael Gallacher stakes out his relationship with the union movement.
Bad Boss: Like A Bastard
Virgin Mobile is sexy and funky, right? Well, only if those terms have become synonyms for dictatorial or downright mean.
Unions: Demolition Derby
Tony Abbott likens industrial relations to warfare and, like a good general should, he is about to shift his point of attack – from building sites to car plants, reports Jim Marr.
Corporate: The Bush Doctrine
For the powerful, consumerism equals freedom, and is all the freedom we need, writes James Goodman
Politics: American Jihad
Let’s get real. The origins of modern Islamic terrorist groups are in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Langley, Virginia not Baghdad, argues Noel Hester.
Health: Secret Country
Oral history recordings are an inadequate tool in trying to find out what happened to Aboriginal stockmen and their communities on cattle stations in Northern Australia, writes Neale Towart
Review: Walking On Water
On the 20th anniversary of the first AIDS-related death, Tara de Boehmler witnesses the aftermath of losing a loved one to the illness in Walking On Water.
Culture: TCF
Novelist Anthony Macris captures life on the shop floor in this extract from his upcoming novel, Capital Volume II
Poetry: The UQ Stonewall
The University of Queensland has sought to join the ranks of union-busting companies like Rio Tinto in trying to sack the president of the local union - and made the mistake of thinking they were dealing with an array of acquiescent academics.
The Soapbox
I Walk The Line
American civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has weighed into the Hilton Hotel dispute with this special message to the workforce. Postcard
Mekong Daze
Union Aid Abroad's Phil Hazelton fires off a missive from Laos where he is spending a year working with the community. Month In Review
Bush Whackers
It was a month where the world teetered on the brink of peace, no thanks to the leader of the free world, writes Jim Marr The Locker Room
The Laws Of Gravity
Phil Doyle goes looking for the fine line that separates sport from an exercise in time-wasting Bosswatch
Snouts in the Trough
It’s AGM season in the corporate world, and deal after shady deal is being exposed as highfliers treat company accounts like the proverbial honey-pot. Wobbly
Songs of Solidarity
There has been a proud history of pro-worker tunes dating back to the early days of the 20th century, which will be continued in a new CD, writes Dan Buhagiar.
The Legacy of 11/9
From the orgy of righteous indignation that has enveloped the ‘Free World’ this week a more chilling truth is emerging: if the suicide bombers were attacking Liberal-Democracy they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
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One Year On: Ansett Crash Still Hurts
Cole Exposed By Immigration Scam
Car Workers on Howard Hit List
Mystery Windfall for Hilton Workers
Shock: Abbott Backs Workers
Union Billboards Censored
Track Grab Ignores Lessons of Glenbrook
Casual Approach to Air Safety
Bosses Say No Living Wage For NSW Childcarers
Pastry Workers Tell Boss To Get Puffed
Injury Toll Mushrooms
Victorian Zookeepers Down Buckets
Pride and Safety for Workers Out!
Activists Notebook
The CFMEU Race Debate #1
The CFMEU Race Debate #2
Keeping it Clean
Sue the Leaders?
Wrong Way, Go Back
The weekend machinations over the structure of the ALP are in danger of missing the fundamental point: Labor’s current malaise is caused not be an excess of core values but through a deficit.
Corrigan Fires Shot in Rail Showdown
Fight Begins For Long Weekends
Experts to Arrest Drug Test Outbreak
Jobs Auction Hitting Bank Workers
Libs Pledge Moderate IR line
Workers Kick Grand Final Goal
NSW Screws Down Lid on Funeral Scams
Hilton Strike Break Plans in Tatters
Detention Centre Workers Demand Safety Search
Religious Teachers Win Legal Coverage
Pressure Builds on Parking Sting
US Docks Lockout Hits Sea Trade
Activists Notebook
Jacks and Jills
Shame on Murray
Use or Abuse of Long Term Casuals
Speaking in Tongues
Casual Days
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Poetry
The UQ Stonewall
By David Peetz
The University of Queensland has sought to join the ranks of union-busting companies like Rio Tinto in trying to sack the president of the local union - and made the mistake of thinking they were dealing with an array of acquiescent academics.
"Your contract will be terminated. It's not your performance, there's nothing wrong with that."
"So it's my area of work, is it?"
"Yes, your area."
"And, what is my area?"
"um...you know...your area".
With these words, the University of Queensland last month sought to join the ranks of union-busting companies like Rio Tinto in purporting to terminate the president of the local branch of the National Tertiary Education Union, George Lafferty. The attempted sacking, prior to a round of enterprise bargaining, raises major questions both of freedom of association and freedom of speech, as Lafferty (recently promoted to associate professor because of outstanding performance) had recently sought to challenge university policy on matters such as a push to charge full fees to certain undergraduate students. A meeting of around 400 colleagues yesterday resolved to initiate a campaign against the university, including an international boycott against UQ management, unless the sacking is reversed. The University's defence has been a Wall of Silence.
Accordingly, Workers Online found inspiration in Pink Floyd's The Wall (by Roger Waters you can listen at http://www.cs.umd.edu/~mstark/mp3/Another.mp3 ) to put to music the position of UQ and then the response of George's fellow workers at UQ and other Brisbane universities.
THE UQ STONEWALL
by David Peetz
"We don't need you in Education,
No obstacles to our control,
No sharp debate in faculty boardroom,
You speak up, your career is blown.
Hey! Teacher! Leave - you're on your own!
All in all, we'll say you're, redundant then stonewall
All in all, we'll say you're, redundant then stonewall
We don't want him in Education
We want full fees when kids enrol!
No critical thinking in the classroom -
Noses stuck to the grindstone!
Hey! Teachers! Keep those lips all sewn!...
All in all, when he's gone, we can screw one and all!
All in all, when he's gone, we can screw one and all!" ...
"We want the union in Education,
We don't need your thought control!
No victimisation in the boardroom!
Don't think we'd leave him on his own!
Hey! You, Dean! Leave our man alone!
All in all, take on one, then you take on us all!
All in all, take on one, then you take on us all!"
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