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Radio doco series on waterfront struggle

The Workplace has Become a Warzone: Reflecting on the Waterfront Dispute of 1998
The Stick Together Show, 3CR
May 4, 11 & 18, 8.30am (repeated May 6, 13 & 20, 10am)
<http://www.3cr.org.au>

Kevin Rudd's Work Choices lite

The April 27-29 ALP national conference adopted an industrial relations policy for the forthcoming federal election. Forward with Fairness confirmed Kevin Rudd’s announcement on April 17 that a future ALP government would seek to enforce the Howard government’s ban on all strikes outside of a recognised bargaining period and insist on secret ballots before strikes could be called.

Sydneysiders urged to stay for anti-Bush protest

“Activists are calling for Sydneysiders to stay in the city during the APEC summit in September to protest against climate change and war, despite the NSW government urging people to go away for the weekend to ease expected congestion”, Australian Associated Press reported on May 3.

Life and death under Russian capitalism

Men in Contemporary Russia: The Fallen Heroes of Post-Soviet Change?
by Rebecca Kay
Ashgate, 2006
236 pages, $121.50

Melbourne contingent planned for APEC protests

Melbourne’s Stop the War Coalition (STWC) held a public meeting at Trades Hall Bar on May 1 to discuss organising a contingent to protests at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference, being held in Sydney in September.

Powderfinger silenced by lawyer

Brisbane rock band Powderfinger have removed a song from their upcoming album after being threatened with legal action by the lawyer of a cop who is on trial for beating aboriginal Palm Island man Mulrunji to death.

Music for West Papuan freedom

Merdeka: Artists from around the world unit in support of the independence movement in West Papua
Dancing Turtle Records, 2007
Only available from <http://www.dancingturtle.co.uk>

On the box

Bastard Boys — It was the fight that stopped the nation, the 1998 battle for Australia's waterfront, becoming a war for the hearts and minds of Australians. ABC, Sunday and Monday, May 13-14, 8.30pm. Cutting Edge: Will Israel Bomb Iran? — What

Sacked for refusing to sign an AWA

Twelve workers have been sacked for refusing to sign AWAs (individual contracts) with their employer, Vopak Terminals, a Port Botany company that stores and handles bulk petroleum and chemical products.

Tamils reject 'terrorism' allegations

Two leaders of Melbourne’s Tamil community have been arrested and charged with terrorism offenses. Aruran Vinayagamoorthy and Sivarajah Yathavan have been accused of diverting funds raised to help tsunami victims to assist the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Pakistani socialist arrested

On the afternoon of May 4, a contingent of police arrested Farooq Tariq, the general secretary of the Labour Party Pakistan, in his Lahore office. LPP members in Lahore and Karachi held demonstrations protesting Tariq’s arrest. The party has been targeted for its pro-democracy activities, particularly its role in the ongoing movement for the restoration of the chief justice of Pakistan’s High Court, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Bastards then, bastards now

Bastard Boys
Sunday May 13 & Monday May 14, 8.30pm
ABC TV