News

Karen Fredericks, Melbourne A mass meeting of 150 La Trobe University staff gathered on June 24, at two days' notice, to condemn a paltry enterprise bargaining offer from the university, contingent on increased student fees and the Coalition

#2 Meat workers win after long battle LAUNCESTON — On September 15, an 18-month industrial dispute came to an end at Blue Ribbon's plant in St Leonards. Seventeen workers received $500,000 in wages owed, which had accumulated since the

Dave Riley, Brisbane On April 7, 2000 trade unionists gathered in the Roma Street Forum to protest against the Howard government's Work Choices laws and to hear a report from the Light the Fuse workers' rights tour that had been organised by the

MELBOURNE — On September 14, 200 people attended a forum at Melbourne University to hear Mamdouh Habib speak about his time in the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay. The forum was organised by Students Against War and Racism. Habib condemned the

Paul Oboohov, Canberra Sixty members and supporters of Save the Ridge blockaded tree-clearing machinery to prevent it leaving a fenced compound on the Bruce/O'Connor Ridge on June 18. They aimed to stop tree-clearing for the Gungahlin Drive

Sue Bolton, Melbourne The implications of the Howard government's draconian new workplace laws have dominated the airwaves over the last couple of weeks. You would therefore think that the decision by a meeting of 1800 union delegates to support a

John McGill & Emma Murphy, Adelaide On September 14, 200 people rallied outside the Prospect Radio Rentals outlet in support of 16 employees who have been locked out without pay for one month. The rally was addressed by Australian Manufacturing

Happy memories "In our subjective memory communism is a land of happiness: we had more money, security, friends, time and even a sense of purpose." — Comment by Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza, May 25, on the results of an opinion survey revealing

Jon Lamb, Darwin On September 2, a cross-union meeting of academic and general staff at Charles Darwin University voted not to accept the university's offer of a 10% wage rise, and discussed taking industrial action. Up to 1500 staff members may

SYDNEY — On March 20, the NSW Refugee Action Coalition held a forum about the 151 Chinese asylum seekers (of 245 detainees) being held in Villawood detention centre. Speakers included Mark Goudkamp from RAC NSW; Chin Jin from the Federation for a

NEWCASTLE — Forty people attended a meeting on September 17 to hear anti-war activist Donna Mulhearn describe last December's inspection of Pine Gap by Christians Against All Terrorism. Pine Gap plays a vital role in aiding US-led wars and

Alex Bainbridge, Hobart Public sector nurses have won significant improvements in their pay and conditions after a hard-fought dispute with the Tasmanian government. The decision to accept the government's offer was made at mass meetings held