News

  • Action updates

    Nike forced to close MELBOURNE — Corporate giant Nike's city superstore was forced to cease trading for more than an hour on April 27 after 100 protesters blockaded it for fifth Friday night in a row. Blockaders demanded an end to Nike's

  • Buried books highlight funding crisis

    BY JO HARNEY & MICHELLE BREAR SYDNEY — A scandal involving a university's burial of library books has inspired students to re-ignite a struggle for better quality education and more equitable funding. In 1995, approximately 10,000 books, some

  • Lismore's first May Day

    LISMORE — A lively crowd of 150 spoke out against corporate globalisation and marched through the streets here on April 28. The action was the first May Day celebration to be held in the region. It was a colourful protest, with

  • NSW workers defend compensation rights

    SYDNEY — More than 1500 workers, led by Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union members, and supported by unions affiliated to the NSW Labor Council, marched to state parliament on April 27 to protest against the state Labor

  • 'All left-wingers should rally around'

    Craig Johnston, the militant leader of Victoria's Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, has been one of the Socialist Alliance's strongest backers since the announcement of its formation. Here is an abridged version of his speech to the

  • WA bus drivers launch fight back

    PERTH — Metropolitan bus drivers here are fighting back against years of low pay and worsening conditions. At an April 18 stop-work meeting, drivers from three bus companies — Perth Bus, Path Transit and Southern Coast Transit

  • Mobil plans union-busting tactics

    ADELAIDE — An attempt to sack maintenance workers employed at Mobil's Port Stanvac plant in South Australia was exposed by the Australian on April 12. Mobil is the Australian subsidiary of US-owned oil giant ExxonMobil. According

  • Socialist Alliance 'will make a mark'

    BY JORGE JORQUERA  MELBOURNE — “It is exciting to hear of the newly established Socialist Alliance. Australia has for some time now had a great need for a left alliance. The Labor Party appears to have moved to the right, finding itself

  • School closures campaign gathers momentum

    SYDNEY — The April release of the NSW Labor government's "Building the Future" report has generated a community backlash not seen since former NSW Coalition education minister Terry Metherell took the axe to public education in

  • M1 calls on cops to 'avoid violence'

    BRISBANE — The M1 Alliance here has sent a letter to Queensland premier Peter Beattie and to the commissioner of police asking them to ensure that police officers exercise restraint and don't repeat the violent assaults of their

  • Socialist Alliance takes 'first step'

    SYDNEY — “When I first heard about the idea of the Socialist Alliance, these old bones straightened up a bit. I wanted to know more about it. I wanted to be able to participate with tens of thousands of others to change the

  • Labor Council backs May 1 'Unity Rally'

    BY SAM FROST & KATHY NEWNAM ADELAIDE — The United Trades and Labor Council here has decided to back a "Unity Rally Against Corporate Tyranny", which will conclude the Adelaide M1 Alliance's blockade of this city's stock exchange. The UTLC's