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Defying the evidence on prisons

By Sean Healy SYDNEY — The NSW coroner's report into the death in custody of a young Aboriginal man, James Brindle, has highlighted the urgent need for alternatives to incarceration for minor offences. Yet politicians are strengthening their "law

AMWU makes good start on protecting workers' entitlements

By Jonathan Singer The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has announced it will establish an industry-wide trust fund to pay workers' sick leave, annual leave, long service leave, severance pay and other accruable entitlements. The AMWU is also

Death warrant for Mumia Abu-Jamal?

It is possible that Governor Tom Ridge will sign a new death warrant for Mumia Abu-Jamal soon, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. The move is motivated by the state's desire to force Abu-Jamal's legal team to file for a writ of habeas corpus

Turkish workers resist austerity

By Norm Dixon Workers turned out in huge numbers in Turkey's capital, Ankara, on July 24 to oppose government moves to "reform" the country's social security system. Turkey's right-wing coalition government, elected in May on a wave of anti-Kurdish

Stop Peter Reith, union basher

By Jonathan Singer After Patrick Stevedores sacked its work force (all members of the Maritime Union of Australia — MUA) in April 1998 to try to force the union out and cut jobs, Australian workers began industrial action that was not ordinary.

National student league formed in Indonesia

National student league formed in Indonesia By Max Lane JAKARTA — On July 9-12, delegates representing 19 student activist committees met to form a new national student organisation, the National Student League for Democracy (LMND).

Academics strike at UNSW

Academics strike at UNSW By Bea Brear SYDNEY — Classes at the University of New South Wales were cancelled on July 28, the third time this year, because of industrial action by academic staff. Since October, the National Tertiary Education

Indonesian trade union leaders to tour

Indonesian trade union leaders to tour By Pip Hinman SYDNEY — Plans are well under way for the national speaking tour, from August 8, of Indonesian trade union leader Dita Sari. Dita's tour, organised by Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and

Building workers rally for Workcover

By Tom Flanagan SYDNEY — Ten thousand construction workers jammed the streets in a march from Sydney Town Hall to NSW Parliament House on July 28. Andrew Ferguson, state secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU),

Looking out: Shared space #3

Shared space #3 By Brandon Astor Jones "The vilest deeds like prison weedsBloom well in prison air:It is only what is good in manThat wastes and withers there ..."Oscar Wilde, from The Ballad of Reading Gaol This is the third in a series of

WWF sides with Shell and Enron

Amidst great controversy, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and (MBG) recently agreed to support a gas pipeline project proposed by Enron and Shell Eastern Bolivia. The San Miguel-Cuiabá pipeline, a joint

Academics warn of further action

Academics warn of further action By Andy Gianniotis WOLLONGONG — A strike by Wollongong University academics took place on July 28 and 29. The strike was called by the National Tertiary Education Industry Union (NTEU) after a breakdown in