George speaks on IR bill
CANBERRA — ACTU president Jennie George spoke at the Canberra Workers' Club on July 10 on the potential effects of the government's planned industrial legislation on workers, particularly women. Unionists asked what they could do to fight the bill, apart from supporting Cheryl Kernot. They also questioned the ACTU's reluctance to call a national stoppage on its August 19 national day of action.
Health survey
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ADELAIDE — The Council on the Ageing and the SA Council of Social Service have launched a project — A Vision for Health — to gather information about people's experiences with the health system since July 1, 1994.
The project aims to develop an accurate picture of how the health system operates and to raise possibilities for future campaigning. To participate in the project, send details of incidents relating to the health system to GPO Box 1583, Adelaide 5001. The final stage of the project will be a phone-in between 11am and 8pm on August 24. Phone 231 0422 or 1800 182 324 (country callers).
Mundey speaks on livable cities
BRISBANE — Jack Mundey, prominent environmentalist and author and former leader of the NSW Builders Labourers' Federation, addressed the theme of "Livable Cities — Urban Renewal" at a Politics in the Paddo Workers Club here on July 8. Mundey described the union "green bans" movement, which he and other NSW BLF leaders co-founded in Sydney, as "the birth of urban environmentalism". The working class suffers the worst environmental problems in society today, he said. Therefore, "workers have a right and a responsibility to fight for the environment".
Employees to pay for equipment
PERTH — Despite a recent workplace agreement in a dental clinic which requires workers to pay for damage to equipment out of their wages, the WA Liberal government has said that legislation protecting workers from paying for accidentally damaged equipment or machinery is not necessary.
Last month, Robe River Iron Associates won a court case in which a former employee was found negligent and ordered to pay the company $11,000 for the cost of fixing a damaged compressor.
Power unions offered deal
LATROBE VALLEY — Power industry shop stewards met on July 1 and adjourned to a later date without voting on a deal negotiated between the power unions and the companies. The stewards felt that the government was using such deals to divide the powerful sections of the industry from the weak, allowing its industrial relations legislation to be enacted and then broken when it suits it.