Ray Fulcher

  • Socialists challenge unions to fight Kennett

    MELBOURNE — One year after the election of a Liberal government, Victorians are facing a worsening standard of living. Official unemployment is 13%, and in some areas youth unemployment is 40%. Premier Jeff Kennett is

  • Victorians face slashed compo

    MELBOURNE — In November, thousands of long-term injured workers will be pushed from Victoria's WorkCover scheme onto Social Security benefits. Before then, thousands more will be encouraged to jump with lump sum pay-outs of up

  • Union action planned for October 6

    MELBOURNE — The Victorian Trades Hall Council has called for a "week of action" against the Kennett government's attacks on workers and public services. Beginning October 3 and culminating in a city rally on October 6 as

  • Coode Fire Commemorated

    Coode Fire CommemoratedMELBOURNE — On August 21, local residents of Melbourne's inner west joined with environment activists to release balloons carrying tags for return to the Hazardous Materials Action Group at Coode

  • SPSF capitulates to Kennett

    MELBOURNE — The new leadership of the State Public Services Federation (Victoria) has accepted the Kennett government's industrial program of individual contracts. The move was welcomed by Premier Jeff Kennett and Trades Hall

  • Paying for enterprise bargaining

    Paying for enterprise bargainingMELBOURNE — A document circulated to DSS managers on July 19 advises them of the amount of salary dollars and ASL (Actual Staffing Level, i.e., jobs) they will be losing in order to pay

  • Problems with DSS enterprise bargaining

    MELBOURNE — Public Sector Union officials and Department of Social Security management have cooked up an enterprise bargaining package which is currently being put to PSU members around the country for "feedback". The

  • Victorian unions call March 1 general strike and rally

    MELBOURNE — A meeting of 1500 union delegates on February 4 voted unanimously for a March 1 stoppage and rally in Victoria against the Kennett government's reactionary policies. The meeting was considerably smaller than

  • Williamstown fights transport cuts

    MELBOURNE — Williamstown residents and users of the Williamstown train line are campaigning to prevent closure of the much used line in Melbourne's west. The Kennett government intends closing the line from Newport to

  • Anti-Kennett campaign must be saved from the ALP

    MELBOURNE — Victorian Trades Hall Council industrial officer, Brian Boyd, has distributed a discussion paper with the avowed intention of promoting a "healthy, open and fear-free discussion"

  • Officials manipulate PSU pay campaign

    Federal public servants voted overwhelmingly in October to authorise Public Sector Union officials to negotiate with the government on enterprise bargaining in the current 8% wages campaign. A survey in August showed that 60%

  • Call for new political alliance

    MELBOURNE — "Nine years of concessions under the ALP-ACTU Accord have left the unions seriously weakened. Labor politicians continue to assure big business that they can better deliver wage cuts and industrial peace", said