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40,000 strike in Fiji

By Norm Dixon Fiji's trade unions on April 23 staged a widely observed general strike to protest against the government's attempts to impose wage restraint and its refusal to stem the loss of jobs associated with economic "restructuring". More than

Students defy police ban

By Zanny Begg BRISBANE — The Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 22 banned a march by university students to Camp Solidarity and the MUA picket line at Fisherman Island. Although students agreed to 20 conditions set by the police, the magistrate

Kazak leader on hunger strike

Kazak leader on hunger strike By Stephen Dye In the last seven years in Kazakhstan, thousands of factories and state-owned enterprises have been closed, and unemployment has reached unprecedented levels. Those who are lucky enough to have a job

On the box

Actively Radical TV — Sydney community television's progressive current affairs producers tackle the hard issues from the activist's point of view. CTS Sydney (UHF 31), every Thursday, 10pm and Saturday, 7pm. Ph 9565 5522. Access News —

Life of Riley: Who's for waterfront reform?

Who's for waterfront reform? Recently, I had an opportunity to catch up with some professional stevedores at a city wine bar, whose name and location, for the moment, must remain a secret. They were not your standard blue-singlet-type docker,

Left on-line

Left on-line WWWW (Wharfies on the World Wide Web) — The hottest topic on the web at the moment is the courageous struggle of the Maritime Union of Australia to defend its right to organise. Sites devoted to labour issues throughout the world

Child-care for the rich

By Theresa Moore As PM John Howard railed against the "use" of children on the MUA picket lines, toddlers were in the forefront of demonstrations outside public hearings of the Senate committee of inquiry into the impact of commonwealth government

The uses of racism

Editorial: The uses of racism The uses of racism Just over two years ago, John Howard coasted into office promising to make us all feel "comfortable and relaxed". That was only one of countless broken promises — all of which were intended to

MUA's court victories a setback for Howard

MUA's court victories a setback for Howard By James Vassilopoulos Taking advantage of a seemingly unlimited legal fund — legal expenses are a deduction from taxable income under Australian corporate law — Patrick Stevedores has appealed to

Britain lets Indonesia off the hook

By Jon Land At the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva, the British government — backed by the Australian and other governments — has been manoeuvring to prevent a strong resolution on East Timor from being adopted. On

Industrial action debated on South Coast

Industrial action debated on South Coast By Andrew Hall WOLLONGONG — More than 200 union delegates on April 21 and 22 met to consider the waterfront dispute. The meetings voted almost unanimously to support the resolutions of the ACTU

Police: allies of the working class?

Police: allies of the working class? By Shane Bentley At an early morning visit to the Patrick picket line at Port Botany in Sydney, it was surprising to see so many supporters of the wharfies brave the rain and the cold to join the peaceful