The brother of a trainee paramedic who died in an ambulance crash has been docked a day's pay, after attending the funeral of another paramedic who died with his brother.
Terry Oakley's brother, trainee paramedic Phil Oakley, died with Rob Bland when their ambulance ran off Maroondah Highway and hit a tree while attending an accident. Mr Oakley was unable to return to work as scheduled on the 6th of January and used his three day's bereavement leave from January 6 to 8, attending his brother's funeral on the 8th. He was docked for attending Mr Bland's funeral the next day. Mr Oakley will also lose his February rostered day off because he attended a combined memorial service for both men at St Paul's Cathedral. (Source: Herald Sun) Almost one in five Victorian workers is low paid, earning an average of $10.42 an hour. A new report has found more than 370,000 Victorians earn $461.70 a week or less, leaving less than $390 a week after tax. The State of Working Victoria survey found those working in hospitality were among the worst paid. A third earned less than $12.50 an hour. Junior sales, clerical and service employees also tended to be low-paid. Women were more likely to be poorly paid than men, and about 40 per cent of low income earners were under 30. The ACTU wants a pay increase for the lowest paid workers of $26.60 a week, which would raise the minimum adult wage to $12.50 an hour. (Source: The Age) The Howard Government has laid out a $50 billion defence plan while admitting new delays and cost blowouts of more than $6 billion on major projects. The Opposition alleges claimed that of the 20 most expensive Defence projects that were planned when John Howard came to office, two have been cancelled and the rest are a total of 85 years and $7 billion over budget. (Source: The Age) Quote of the Week: 'The best time to invest [in Iraq] is when there is still blood on the ground'. (delegate to a conference on investing in Iraq) 'Me? No, I couldn't do that to my family'. (the same delegate when asked if he would be going to Iraq) All the News that Fits weekly anarchist news service visit us on the web - www.apolitical.info email us ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) to subscribe to our email list. -- Visit the proposed Leftlink web site at http://www.leftlink.net/ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsub: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
