LL:ART: NEW ANTI-UNION ASSAULT
New Anti-union assault The following article was published in "The Guardian", newspaper of the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday, October 20th, 1999. Contact address: 65 Campbell Street, Surry Hills. Sydney. 2010 Australia. Phone: (612) 9212 6855 Fax: (612) 9281 5795. CPA Central Committee: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "The Guardian": <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Webpage: http://www.cpa.org.au> Subscription rates on request. ** PLEASE NOTE OUR CHANGED EMAIL AND WEBPAGE ADDRESSES AND MAKE THE NECESSARY ALTERATIONS TO YOUR ADDRESS BOOK CPA CENTRAL COMMITTEE: [EMAIL PROTECTED] "The Guardian": [EMAIL PROTECTED] Webpage: http://www.cpa.org.au ** By Anna Pha Without waiting for his second wave anti-union laws to be passed, Workplace Relations Minister Peter Reith has released details of his third round of union-bashing legislation. He is proposing measures to permit employer-sponsored unions to squeeze out genuine unions, for individual union members to be able to apply for the disamalgamation of unions, and for unfinancial members to be able to vote in the ballot. The title of the discussion paper, "Accountability and democratic control of registered industrial organisations", is as big a lie as the "More Jobs, Better Pay" Bill - the second wave - that is currently before the Senate. The careful manipulation of language in the Bill is such that the words "trade unions" do not even appear in the title of Reith's discussion paper. In fact, inverted meaning - where the intent and practical outcome of the laws are the opposite of the words and phrases used to describe them - runs throughout all of the government's industrial relations material. This is a reflection of the insidious, demagogic and anti- democratic nature of the Howard Government itself. The paper has four main thrusts: 1. to facilitate the fragmentation of unions and deunionisation of workplaces, with the replacement of genuine, independent unions by company unions - what Reith calls "freedom of association"; 2. to bog unions and officials down in paper work and accountancy procedures - in the name of "increased accountability"; 3. removing control of the union from elected union officials and members - what Reith calls increasing "the level of democratic control" and "autonomy"; 4. extension of penal provisions for non-compliance - called "protecting the integrity of the workplace relations system". Company unions In the 1996 Workplace Relations Act the Government reduced the minimum membership requirement for a registered trade union from 100 to 50. Now Reith is proposing a further reduction to a minimum of 20 members for "enterprise associations". The definition of "enterprise association" is being broadened to include workers in different locations employed by the same employer. When Reith uses the term "freedom of association", he means freedom from association. While life will be made tougher for genuine trade unions, the registration (and book keeping) will be simplified for small company-compliant unions. At present one of the criteria for registration is that the proposed organisation is supported by the workers eligible to be members. This would be waived. The organisation only has to be "viable". "Newly registered enterprise unions may face difficulties in representing members where there is an order in place ... to give one or more organisations coverage to the exclusion of all others", says Reith. But this can be overcome, he argues, by ensuring that "orders for exclusive coverage do not exclude enterprise unions registered after a coverage order is made from representing employees". That is, employers would be able to set up company unions, regardless of exclusive coverage by genuine trade unions. Any action on the part of the union or its members to try to hinder the creation of company unions could result in deregistration of the union and civil court penalties for those involved. At the same time as encouraging the proliferation of company unions, Reith would like to undo union amalgamations. He has already extended the time limit for applications to be made for disamalgamations and is now proposing that "non- financial members" be able to initiate the process and vote. Unfinancial (lapsed) members should be kept on the rolls for two years, then contacted and given up to three months to rejoin, says Reith. They should be able to "rejoin", without paying a joining fee or loss of continuity of membership! Autonomy in a straight-jacket There are a number of proposals to bring the financial affairs of trade unions into line with corporations law - annual reports including financial management strategies, use of accrual accounting (incorporating assets), etc. (Small unions would be exempt from the most onerous of these requirements.) Reith is looking at adopting Western Australia's legislation where unions are required to set up a sep
LL:PR: Greens-Media Greens Release Pangea Report
-Original Message- From: Oquist, Ben (Sen B. Brown) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Monday, 18 October 1999 13:49 Subject: Greens-Media Greens Release Pangea Report 18 October 1999 Greens Release Pangea Report The Greens today released a 61-page brief for Pangea, dated August 1999, from consultants Dupont and Associates and Bergin and Associates, advocating a nuclear waste dump for Australia to 'protect the global environment', 'strengthen disarmament', 'promote non-proliferation' and 'strengthen the alliance with the US'. The report says 10-11 000 tonnes of waste is available each year, including 100-110 tonnes of plutonium. The current waste stockpile is 200 000 tonnes and this will grow 'in coming decades' to more than half a million tonnes. 'Australia cannot run or hide' from this problem and a waste repository 'would strengthen Australia's environmental credentials'. Taking the world's N-waste would gain favour from Washington and the UN and 'provide a major economic dividend in the form of investment, tax revenue and royalties' as well as trade. Releasing the full document, which he says was obtained by Greens WA Legislative Councillor Ms Giz Watson, Senator Brown said the determination of Pangea in targeting Australia is clear. The new state target is South Australia. Pangea's proposed 'high isolation site' would take some 3400 casks of waste from 70 ships, delivered by rail for disposal up to 5 km underground in a 14-square kilometre site. Neither the port or dumpsite are named, but the rail-line would be 300-1000 km long. The report claims investment of $1.5 billion annually from 2006 to 2009 and 5000 construction jobs with an annual operating expenditure of $700 million, which 'could support over 5000 jobs Australia-wide' (this indicates about 1000 direct jobs only - Bob Brown). The report says 'China, North Korea and Russia would probably be persuaded' to dump in Australia. Senator Brown says the report is a bombshell. It shows Pangea now has South Australia in its sights with Whyalla or Port Augusta as likely sea terminals for the huge inland dump. A West Australian port with a SA dump site is also possible. "Contrary to the conclusions of the consultants, the proposal poses great environmental and economic risks for Australia. It means Australia and its oceans will be the garbage recipients of a dangerous unmanageable industry. The multipartisan action in Western Australia which has sunk Pangea's hopes there must now be replicated at national level to make it clear Pangea is not wanted anywhere in Australia", said Senator Brown. In the Senate today, Senator Brown will give notice of his bill to prevent N-dumping. More information Ben Oquist. 02 6277 3170, 0419 704 095 -- You can now receive Greens Senator Bob Brown's media releases by e-mail. Go to www.altnews.com.au/Greens and sign up to the 'Greens-Media' opt in e-mail list. -- Ben Oquist Greens Senator Bob Brown Parliament House, Canberra 2600 Australia +61 2 62773170 ph +61 2 62773185 fx www.tassie.net.au/bobbrown - - GREENS-MEDIA Home Page http://www.altnews.com.au/Greens/ View Msg HEADERS for HELP and OPTIONS available from the ListServer. Tell all your friends about the Australian Greens petition to establish an International Criminal Tribunal for East Timor here: http://www.altnews.com.au/greens/timorpetition/ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:ART: EDITORIAL: PRIVATISATION -- THE ENEMY
Editorial: Privatisation the enemy The following Editorial was published in "The Guardian", newspaper of the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday, October 20th, 1999. Contact address: 65 Campbell Street, Surry Hills. Sydney. 2010 Australia. Phone: (612) 9212 6855 Fax: (612) 9281 5795. CPA Central Committee: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "The Guardian": <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Webpage: http://www.cpa.org.au> Subscription rates on request. ** PLEASE NOTE OUR CHANGED EMAIL AND WEBPAGE ADDRESSES AND MAKE THE NECESSARY ALTERATIONS TO YOUR ADDRESS BOOK CPA CENTRAL COMMITTEE: [EMAIL PROTECTED] "The Guardian": [EMAIL PROTECTED] Webpage: http://www.cpa.org.au ** We are told about "competition", "choice", "efficiency", "paying off the public debt", but not about the deaths and injury resulting from profits first and relegating safety to a minor consideration. These issues have come to the surface again following the lethal British rail crash a few weeks ago. British Rail had been built up as an integrated, publicly owned rail system for more than a century. But it took the "economic rationalists" only a few years to smash it up and sell it off. In 1994 it was divided into 25 Train Operating Companies, three Rolling Stock Leasing Companies, Railtrack which owns the track and signals, and three Train Freight Companies. There were also three engineering service companies. This nightmare is further complicated by more divisions within these companies. This was Margaret Thatcher's doing but the British Labour Party, although talking about re-nationalisation, has done nothing about it and, before the most recent crash and fatalities, was about to privatise part of the London Underground and the air traffic control system. These have now been put on hold at least. And why did the accident happen? We are told that one of the drivers went through a signal light on red. But where were the fail-safe systems which exist but have not been installed? There are automatic systems which put the brakes on if a train goes through a red light. Furthermore, there had been complaints going back years about the location of the particular signal light where the accident occurred, but the complaints were ignored by management. Thatcher's Tory Government thought the cost of $1 billion for the safety system might stand in the way of their privatisation plans. The Labor Government which followed, didn't insist upon it either. Following the most recent accident (and this was not the first at the same signal point) the British Minister of Transport has come out in favour of the computerised safety system but the Government wont pay and the private operators would put up charges to pay for it. So privatisation has created a maze of different companies - the companies which operate the trains do not own the railtracks or run the signals system. Other companies operate the freight and passenger flow. Different companies again operate the engineering side of things. What does all this amount to? In anyone's language it is plain stupidity or to be more accurate - criminality. The real culprits are those who, pursuing their mantra that "private is best" created such a monstrosity out of the formerly publicly-owned, integrated system. A Financial Review article (14/10/99) reveals that Britain's rate of rail-passenger deaths was three times those for Italy, Belgium and Spain in the ten years to 1996 and higher than those in France and Germany. And what is the difference? In these European countries the rail systems remain publicly owned and they have installed the already developed and available safety systems. Have Australian Governments learnt from these lessons? Apparently not. The Victorian Government privatised the Victorian rail system, also slicing it up into segments. The Federal Labor Government privatised National Rail and the NSW Labor Government is hell-bent on privatising and fragmenting the State Railways - a process which has already commenced. But the opposition to privatisation is growing. In NSW the Government's proposal to privatise the electricity network was thrown out - at least for the time being. The NSW Labor Council has strongly opposed the privatisation of the rail system. Labor Council President, John Whelan said "this is a big campaign, against the tide of economic rationalism, but it has our highest priority." A Council report showed that fragmentation would lead to inefficiencies, fewer jobs in rural areas, contractors would have little interest in training apprentices or improving employee skills and this would have an impact on safety. The present process of "contracting out" has already led to the creation of about 3,000 separate contracts requiring a large bureaucracy to manage them. They would multiply under further privatisation. Public transport provides a service while privately owned transport gives priority to sharehold
LL:DDN: Higher Education Rally 21 October
12:00pm - Meet outside the UTS Tower building 1:00pm - Meet outside Sydney Town Hall Forwarded from [EMAIL PROTECTED] While much of the focus on the Kemp document has been on the student fees issue it is also important to remember that "reforms" are also intended for staff in the universities. There is a clear threat to break down working conditions in the universities and to do everything possible to increase workloads and limit salary increases. Kemp also wants to smash what he sees as the unbridled power of the NTEU in higher education (if only). In other words he wants to do an MUA on us. The National Day of Action is as much about staff as it about students. We need to demonstrate our support for the students, but we also have to show that we will defend our industrial and professional integrity. Howard has back-pedaled from Kemp and his submission but if you trust the PM's words then you also believe that he has never broken a promise. His and his government's record speaks for itself. The government has acknowledged that academic staff have a case for higher salaries and that they are prepared to make available $259m over 3 years, which it described as "an additional 2% salary supplementation" to universities. However,the Government is only willing to make the additional funds available on condition that universities, who are allegedly the "victims of pattern bargaining", reform their existing "Neanderthal" industrial relations practices. The Government has so far refused to give details. If you have classes/meetings between 12noon and 3pm on 21 October, rearrange them or provide alternatives. For the latest, see www.edunions.labor.net.au:80/nteu/rights/industmemo/imoct99.html SEE YOU AT THE RALLY Sue Burgess President, UTS Branch of the NTEU LL.NK -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:DDV: Changes to Higher Education
Dr. Kemp has proposed to cabinet that fees be deregulated fully at Higher Ed and that students pay full interest rate loans on their education. This proposal would price Universities with reputations out of the hands of those not on large incomes. Although there have been following denials the state branch of the National Union of Students has set up a web site so people can direct their anger at Kemp. Please log on to www.nofees.net to lodge your protest. There is a National Day of Action being held this Thursday 21st at 1.30pm at the State Library if anyone can attend. Fergus Vial Education Officer National Union of Students Victorian Branch LL.VJ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:INDEX: What's in Green Left Weekly this week
Green Left Weekly, Issue #381 October 20, 1999 Green Left Weekly provides news, information, opinion and debate from an environmental and left perspective. Featured this week: RICH NATIONS TIGHTEN THE SCREWS While there is talk about "forgiving" some of the debt of the poorest countries, the reality is that the imperialist countries are continuing to amass riches at the expense of the Third World. COVER STORY Fake debt write-off: rich nations tighten the screws The rich get richer and the poor get advice RESISTANCE MAGAZINE Kemp plans to dismantle public education Students fight Kemp The thick end of the privatisation wedge Eyewitness in East Timor East Timorese student speaks Old wine in new bottles at QUT Indonesian students demand: military out of politics! Plans for student solidarity Pollution: profit over people Griffith University elections FEATURES Historical feature: The PKI turns to Sukarno NEWS Opposition to nuclear waste dump Activists contest Centrelink elections Politics in the pub launched in Lismore Brisbane Resistance Centre spooked More Hunter jobs threatened `No jobs on a dead planet' Sutherland Council to campaign against reactor Energex pay scandal Activist centre in Melbourne to move Action updates Members First gathers momentum in ACT Westpac chews off the hand that feeds it Meeting condemns `murderous' nuclear industry NTEU strikes at Newcastle University Rio Tinto's court win challenges union movement University forces non-union ballot ISSUES `False memory syndrome' and sexual assault `A critical time for the solidarity movement' Activists plan solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor Genetically modified organisms in Australia Editorial: Harsh strings on aid to PNG Networker: More than a technology Murdoch off-side in league coverage You and politics: a rare but enlightening combination INTERNATIONAL NEWS Xanana: `We have not been rendered powerless' Mumia Abu-Jamal's death warrant signed Colombia: US moves to restore order in its `backyard' Privatisation behind British train disaster East Timorese youth leader urges continued solidarity International call for bear hunt moratorium Kurdish women appeal for solidarity US Senate rejects nuclear test ban Zimbabwe: health workers' strike for a better system The campaign against GM crops in Britain From bad to worse at Tokaimura Military takes over Pakistan Martial law imposed Plutonium shipments challenged Indonesia: behind the jostling for president CULTURAL DISSENT Festival to feast on in Adelaide Bohinta: Changing shapes Henry Reynolds book: A part of Australian history to be proud of REGULAR FEATURES Loose cannons ... and ain't i a woman?: Who are they trying to kid? I Looking out: will act the way I am treated Life of Riley: Dilated to meet you On the box Write on: letters to the editor Chris Kelly cartoon ~~~ GREEN LEFT WEEKLY Australia's leading alternative newsweekly Break the media monopoly: read it, buy it, write for it, sell it. http://www.greenleft.org.au/ [EMAIL PROTECTED] SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY SUBSCRIPTION: $10 FOR 10 ISSUES ~~~ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
LL:ART: Reebok admits problems at Indonesian factories
Reebok admits problems at Indonesian factories http://www.theage.com.au/breaking/9910/19/A63280-1999Oct19.shtml Source: AP | Published: Tuesday October 19 7:40:45 AM BOSTON, Oct 18 - In an effort to improve conditions at factories worldwide, Reebok is blowing the whistle on itself for bad working conditions at its factories in Indonesia. The athletic shoe and apparel company, known for giving out annual human rights awards, said an independent study found problems with gender fairness, management communication and health and safety procedures. Some workers suffered rashes from harsh chemicals and pregnant women had to stand or sit on uncomfortable stools with no back support. The women also had to work near chemicals that could trigger nausea and vomiting. "The research team concluded that the major 'social problem' in the case of these two factories had less to do with willful violations of workers' rights than with problems of communication," the report said. "Workers were given complex forms and other documentation that they simply did not understand; this was further complicated by the fact that management seemed to assume that no clarification was needed." Stoughton-based Reebok International Ltd ordered the report in an effort to learn about and improve working conditions at its factories around the world. "We hope that this will also break through and encourage more companies to do something like this," said Sharon Cohen, the company's executive vice president for human rights. "We have nothing to hide." Reebok paid $US35,000 ($A53,582) for the report, which led to more than $US500,000 ($A765,462) in factory improvements. Human rights activists have long worried about labour conditions in developing countries that make American attire. Last month, former football star Frank Gifford defended his wife Kathie Lee Gifford during a heated Capitol Hill news conference where labor activists said her clothing line is still produced in foreign sweatshops. Medea Benjamin, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco-based labor rights group Global Exchange, said Reebok's report was a vast improvement over a 1997 Nike report on labor conditions at its foreign factories. Although the Nike report on Vietnamese factory conditions was conducted by former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, workers' rights advocates called the probe a sham and a guided tour. Benjamin applauded Reebok for carefully studying the factories and publicising the results. Reebok owns none of its own factories, relying instead on a network of subcontractors. Reebok is supplied by five factories in Indonesia, and also buys products made in China, Thailand, Vietnam and Brazil. * This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
