Workers & unions

Australian Education Union TAFE members joined a state-wide strike on August 21, the first time in 12 years the teachers have taken strike action. Allen Jennings reports.

Despite claims of corruption and so-called “illegality” in the Construction Forestry Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU), Labor's new laws is aimed at nobbling one of Australia's most militant unions that has managed to protect the health and safety of workers in the very dangerous construction industry.

Labor passed its draconian anti-Construction Forestry Maritime Employees Union bill through parliament on August 20, by six votes. Sue Bull and Pip Hinman report.

woman not really happy

Be happy. Think of your wellness. Across organisations, private and public entities, government bodies and social clubs, the cult of contrived happiness abounds with ritualistic, clotting repetition, writes Binoy Kampmark.

mass protest in Bangladesh

Mukta Barai is President of the Socialist Students Front, the student wing of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh, and played a leading role in the recent protests. She spoke with Susan Price and Jacob Andrewartha about the political situation in Bangladesh and the challenges for the democratic movement.

Labor failed to pass its anti-CFMEU bill after the Coalition withdrew its support, arguing it was not strong enough. Sue Bull reports.

Voting by postal ballot is underway in the National Tertiary Education Union in the University of Sydney with union members having until August 30 to decide on their new representatives. Jim McIlroy reports.

Jonathan Strauss argues that a fighting, democratic union movement would entail members and delegates’ meetings directing industrial action and political campaigns, opposing state intervention and not subordinating union strategy to Labor’s pro-capitalist project.

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Isaac Nellist discusses the national weekend of rallies to end violence against women, what could be done after Rex Airlines falls into administration and students protest in India after corruption and exam leaks impacted millions. 

woman holding a sign at a protest

Keir Starmer’s Labour government has the power to reshape Britain. However it is likely to maintain policies protecting the wealthy, targeting the vulnerable and supporting US foreign policy, and must be challenged, argues Derek Wall.

Nationalising, or “insourcing” Rex, including regional and inter-capital city services, could be the first step in taking the airline industry into public ownership. Jim McIlroy reports.

CFMEU members in Victoria are standing strong with hundreds of members attending an overflowing branch meeting keen to discuss a fight-back. Sue Bull reports.