SYDNEY -- Several unions are supporting a Sydney Workers' Cultural Project, which will take up a variety of social and cultural issues among workers. An initial project will take up the question of workers with disabilities. Main supporters of the project include the metalworkers', teachers' and miscellaneous unions.

• NSW rail industry unions are fighting a State Rail Authority decision to charge a 2.5% commission on payroll deductions for a range of services including hospital cover. Union representatives say employers made big savings with the introduction of payment of wages into bank accounts instead of cash payment, and are now after even more.

• NSW nurses are angry over Greiner government plans to reorganise the Macquarie and Gladesville hospitals, with the loss of around 100 specialist psychiatric beds. The nurses' association says psychiatric care facilities are already inadequate.

PERTH -- About 24,000 workers here began voting on March 17 on the proposed amalgamation of the Federated Miscellaneous Workers and the Liquor and Allied Trades unions. The new body would have 130,000 members nationally, and would be called the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union.

• The Seamen's Union of Australia continues its vigil outside the offices of Robe River Iron Associates (12 St Georges Tce) and Mitsui Australia (221 St Georges Tce), in support of sacked Cape Lambert tug crew members. Supporters are welcome.

KAMBALDA, WA -- At least 300 AWU members have gone on strike at Western Mining Corporation's Kambalda nickel mines over piece rates and productivity. A 24-hour picket is preventing movement of ore trains.

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