News

New BHP steel agreement

New BHP steel agreement By Andrew Hall WOLLONGONG — A small proportion of the 5000 workers at BHP's Port Kembla steelworks met on November 6 and endorsed a new three-year steel agreement. The agreement "reflects a commitment by the company,

Hunger strikers protest war in Kurdistan

Hunger strikers protest war in Kurdistan By Kerryn Williamsand Arty Titiz MELBOURNE — On November 9, Kurdish women here began a hunger strike on the steps of Parliament House to protest against the war on the Kurdish people by the Turkish

Jabiluka campaign debates perspectives and plans national day of action

Jabiluka campaign debates perspectives and plans national day of action By Pip Hinman Discussion around a controversial set of new perspectives proposed for the anti-Jabiluka mine campaign by the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) is

MUA-Fluor Daniel deal criticised

MUA-Fluor Daniel deal criticised By Susan Priceand Ben Reid MELBOURNE — News of the agreement between the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and contractor Fluor Daniel has caused uproar among unionists. The agreement, which entails substantial

News briefs

CFMEU organiser jailed PERTH — On November 4, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union state assistant secretary Joe McDonald was arrested for trespass at Woodside Petroleum's project in North Fremantle. McDonald was refused entry to the

Who dies, where?

By Melanie Sjoberg I have a longstanding argument with one of my brothers about the incidence of workplace injury. He counters my emphasis on the outrageous statistics of workplace deaths with the notion that if it was really as bad as I claim,

Queensland native title law passed

Queensland native title law passed By Bill Mason BRISBANE — The state Labor government's native title legislation was passed by the Queensland parliament on November 11, granting most of the mining and pastoral industries' demands. The law

Activists discuss the future of unions

Activists discuss the future of unions By Ben Reid MELBOURNE — The re-election of the Howard government threatens to bring in a new period of extensive attacks on workers' rights and trade unions. Seventy people attended a seminar, organised by

Centrelink workers prepare for industrial campaign

Centrelink workers prepare for industrial campaign By Nick Everett BRISBANE — Community and Public Sector Union members around the country will hold stop-work meetings on November 19 to discuss industrial and community action in response to

SA public sector pay dispute

SA public sector pay dispute By Melanie Sjoberg ADELAIDE — Industrial action is to disrupt the state public sector over the next few weeks because of workers' dissatisfaction with the state government's enterprise bargaining pay offer. Clerical

Workers, activists endorse steelworker candidate

Workers, activists endorse steelworker candidate By Stephen O'Brien and Alison Dellit NEWCASTLE — The Democratic Socialists have received support from a wide range of sources in the Newcastle by-election. Green Left asked some of those who

Dili massacre commemorated

Dili massacre commemorated November 12 was the seventh anniversary of the massacre by Indonesian troops of 270 East Timorese at the Santa Cruz cemetery. The unarmed East Timorese were attending the funeral of a student who had died during an