News

By Jane Beckmannand Alison Dellit NEWCASTLE — Maritime Union members here employed by Patrick have a long struggle still ahead of them. Patrick's Newcastle manager, Chris O'Brien, has said repeatedly that he would close the facility rather than
By Edward Johnston BRISBANE — Seventeen inmates from the 20-cell Maximum Security Unit (MSU) at the Woodford Correctional Centre in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland, refused food from April 4 in protest at conditions in the US-style
By Zanny Begg BRISBANE — On April 21, the MUA sent out an urgent message for more people to join the Fisherman Island picket line to stop goods loaded with scab labour leave Patrick's port. Within two hours, around 500 people, mostly trade
Industrial action debated on South Coast By Andrew Hall WOLLONGONG — More than 200 union delegates on April 21 and 22 met to consider the waterfront dispute. The meetings voted almost unanimously to support the resolutions of the ACTU
By Margaret Perrott WOLLONGONG — The slogan of the old Painters and Dockers Union — Touch one, touch all — will be the message carried on May Day by members of the Eric Wicker Defence Committee, which was launched on April 7 at a meeting of
Rally supports abortion rights By Robyn Marshall BRISBANE — Around 100 supporters of abortion rights rallied in the King George Square on April 24 as part of a national weekend of action for women's right to choose. The rally called on the
By Cameron Parker PARRAMATTA — It may have been a long way from the picket lines on the Sydney wharves, but the police still felt the need to send a senior constable to monitor the situation as supporters of the MUA gathered at a public meeting
Sustainable Universities Month By Francesca Davis The National Union of Students' national environment department has named May "Sustainable Universities Month". A national campus-based campaign will highlight unsustainable university practices.
Just do it, Nike! By John Gauci SYDNEY — According to the footwear giant Nike's "Informed Consumer Update", Nike's factory workers in the Third World sometimes earn more than doctors and engineers in their countries. As well, Nike's policy of
BRISBANE — Some of Australia's leading social change trainers will be here May 1-4 for the Queensland environment movement's first conference dedicated to training environmental and social change activists. The conference, hosted by the Queensland
Destruction of native forests continues By Francesca Davis On April 20, 70 protesters gathered around Harris Daishowa's woodchipping mill in Eden, preventing 40 trucks from entering the mill. Thirteen arrests were made. The protest was part of a
Police violence at Indonesia solidarity protest By David Gosling CANBERRA — On April 24, more than 150 students and solidarity activists travelled from NSW and Victoria to meet local activists at the Indonesian embassy for an emergency rally in