Write on: letters to the editor

Zionism Zionism reached its zenith when Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since then it has been going through the agonising process of coming to grips with Middle East political and ethnic realities. My contention is that an endurable peace settlement will be achieved when the Palestine Arab Refugees are repatriated back to Israel and compensated for the loss of their property and possessions that they left behind in 1948. This has been advocated by left wing political forces in Israel sine then. International pressure from other interested parties has played a significant part in promoting the peace process. The USA is motivated by their economic interests in the Middle East. The realities of Israeli political life must inevitably challenge the validity of the philosophical premises upon which zionism is based. The Palestinian Arab Refugees must consider it galling to witness thousands of Jews from the former USSR and a much smaller number from the USA being encouraged to settle in Israel after an absence of 2000 years, while after 48 years they are prevented from returning. We are living through rapidly changing times, and the discoveries that are being made in the science of astronomy is establishing an intellectual climate where insular nationalism is becoming an anachronism and an absurdity. Your paper is a beacon of light pointing the way forward to a better and brighter future.
Bernard Rosen
Sydney Unions electioneering The looming federal election means that, on top of the general media barrage, workers are about to be inundated with propaganda from their unions. The ACTU and its affiliates have delayed the much needed union membership drive to put resources into a strong campaign to denounce the Liberal's industrial relations policy and to re-elect Labor. The SA TLC have produced two TV ads highlighting the potential for individual contracts under the Liberals and most unions are conducting letterboxing in marginal electorates. The union movement is correct to demonstrate the dramatic undermining of conditions that would occur under a Liberal government. What is remarkable about the unions' campaign, however, is their silence on the impact of current ALP policies. The unions stress there will be no choice for workers between awards and workplace agreements under the Liberals. But they fail to acknowledge that under current legislation enterprise bargaining means exactly the same lack of choice. Women, in particular, have suffered significant erosion of their conditions under the federal ALP's enterprise bargaining scenario. They are still segregated into job sectors which have had the lowest rate of wage growth under EB and greater "flexibility" in workers' hours under EB reinforces women's predominance in casual and part-time positions. The majority of workers are much clearer about the role of the ALP in government than the union bureaucrats. They understand that the ALP/Liberal industrial relations choice is a farce. If the union movement is to retain any relevance or credibility amongst its declining ranks it needs to provide an honest analysis for its members.
Melanie Sjoberg
Democratic Socialist candidate for Hindmarsh SA
[Edited for length.] Making a quid I recently received a Formula 1 invitation which read, "There's a thousand ways to enjoy the 1996 Australian Grand Prix, but few will rival the comfort and pleasure of the formula one lunch and afternoon at the five star Carlton Crest ... on the 10th of March." Who would organise such an event. Transurban? The Liberal Party? A bitumen company? The registration form gave the organiser as "Labour Day Pty Ltd" and a contact name of Fred Van Buren, so I decided to phone Fred and find out. To my surprise and disgust, Fred's an official for the National Union of Workers, the union that I belong to. It was explained to me that for a mere $310 I would get a three course lunch, refreshments and the chance to watch the Grand Prix in a relaxing atmosphere. Even if I had $310 (not having had a decent pay rise for four years), I would be breaking bail conditions imposed when I was arrested last year for my activities in the Save Albert Park campaign. Asked if the NUW should organise an event where union members and officials clink champagne glasses while SAP activists are being arrested under the Kennett government's repressive laws, it was explained to me that most unions are supporting the event and if the trade unions could make a quid out of this sorry spectacle then well and good. The money would go to a good cause, they said — re-electing the ALP (is that good?!) or funding the fight against privatisation (while a race is being staged at a privatised park, surely not!). This is the sorry path that corporate unionism takes you down. No scruples, no principles, no solidarity, just the urge to make a quid. It is a cruel slap in the face for the SAP activists who have been fighting the anti-working class policies of the Kennett government.
Dave Mizon
Melbourne
[Edited for length.] Open letter to South Coast federal members and aspiring candidates Why should we vote for you? At its recent (January 23) Cabinet meeting the Government offered to lend us the money (at interest) to give ourselves a pay rise. We have been seeking a 15% pay rise and had been promised 5.6% by Education Minister Simon Crean. Instead we got the loan offer: the Government would lend the Universities the money for a 5.6% rise and then they would repay it. Most smaller Universities say they can't begin to afford this so the only way they could repay the money would be by sacking staff. Thanks a lot, Mr Crean. This comes after years of rising student loads and demonstrated productivity gains, as would be admitted freely by every University management, and has been by our own. Over the last three years, real pay rates for academics have declined since rises haven't even kept up with inflation. In the meantime, the Australian Public Service has received a 15% rise, CSIRO staff 14% and, of course, the politicians have looked after themselves (as always). It all makes the rhetoric about the clever country seem more offensively distant from the reality than usual. Well, Messrs Tickner, Martin, Knott and Hollis, we've had it with you as a bunch and with the party you represent. Over the years the ALP has received by far the majority of NTEU members' votes, as well as considerable active support. If the present stance of the Cabinet is maintained and if your own level of support for your considerable number of constituents in higher education remains at its current (invisible, inaudible and intangible) level, the old pattern of support for you will reverse itself. That support will transfer itself to parties and individuals who can assure us that they will treat their supporters as they should be treated. On this subject, the University of Wollongong NTEU Branch would like to hear public statements from candidates from other parties. Other than the ALP, that is, since recent Cabinet statements have been pretty unequivocal.
Michael Morrissey
President
University of Wollongong Branch
National Tertiary Education Union David Martin In your Green Left No. 215 you had a rather insignificant Letter to the Editor headed: David Martin submitted by his wife Elizabeth. I was extremely disappointed that the entire letter had not been published in view of this writer's distinguished service to the working-class and anti-fascist cause, also his stature in the field of the arts. In fact, I believe the matter deserved treatment as a feature article. Is it that we have no respect for the past and those prominent in it? Is it that we wish to bury the past in the false hope that it will, in some way, establish a firm footing in the present? If we cannot appreciate the significance of the past neither can we form a vision for the future. Surely, considering the verbosity of many articles, some considered editing of such would allow space for an important topic as the contribution made to our struggle by David Martin and on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
Geoff Kerry
Orbost Vic