News

Tax staff support bad agreement By Ben Courtice MELBOURNE — The Australian Tax Office management's draft enterprise agreement was accepted by 79.6% of staff who voted in a ballot taken between July 13 and 15. Fifty-six per cent of
By Alex Bainbridge HOBART — Premier Tony Rundle has ended months of speculation by calling an early state election for August 29, accompanied by a partial dismantling of Tasmania's proportional Hare-Clark voting system. Rundle is campaigning on a
Warehouse workers fight casualisation By Gail Lord SYDNEY — Members of the National Union of Workers (NUW) have been on strike for over a week to stop attempts by Davids Ltd to increase casualisation and working hours for its warehouse staff.
By Tim Gooden CANBERRA — On July 1, the Community and Public Sector Union joint national secretary, Wendy Caird, and national assistant secretary, Doug Lilly, travelled to Canberra to inform the ACT branch secretary, Jennifer Eccles, that at
By Nick Everett BRISBANE — Around 30 union members walked off the job in Brisbane's Centrelink Call Centre at 2.45pm on July 10, frustrated by continuous computer system problems. Before the walkout, 53 Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU)
Trade union leader reports on Indonesia By Bayardo Rodriegas MELBOURNE — At a reception for Victorian Trades Hall secretary Leigh Hubbard on July 17, participants heard about the growth and prospects of Indonesia's fledgling independent trade
Transport workers rally against industrial laws By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Members of the Transport Workers Union rallied here on July 17 to protest against the federal government's repressive industrial laws and warn of further action if
Residents rally to save green belt By Alistair Dickinson SYDNEY — The Australian Defence Industries (ADI) Residents Action Group is hoping for a big turnout for a march and rally starting at 11am at the ADI gates in St Marys on July 26. The
West Enders to march against Hanson By Bill Mason BRISBANE — A march and rally against racism, called by the Democratic Socialists and Resistance, is set to liven up the streets of West End on July 25. The theme is: "Hanson has no solutions!
By Tony Iltis HOBART — More than 600 students and activists gathered at the Students and Sustainability Conference (S&S), held at the University of Tasmania and the Lea Scout Camp, July 6-10. The conference is an annual forum of student
By Andrew Hall WOLLONGONG — Almost 300 people rallied in the main street of Kiama on July 17 to protest against Pauline Hanson's first visit to the Illawarra. There were many young people and unionists, particularly maritime workers, in the
Crane drivers fight attacks By Shane Bentley SYDNEY — Mobile crane drivers, members of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), employed by three companies — Gillespie, Wilson and Kanabrook Cranes — have been locked out