News

Youth wages: slavery in the free market?On June 24, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) handed down its final report on junior wage rates. With the federal Coalition government and big business hailing the findings

MELBOURNE — Student union leaders at Chisholm TAFE are optimistic about maintaining student control of the fledgling Chisholm Association of TAFE Students (CATS) after a recent occupation of the administration office at the

Tough deal for sex workersOn June 20, the Queensland Labor government introduced what Premier Peter Beattie called "a tough package of prostitution law reform". The "reforms" will legalise and regulate brothels, while increasing

More than 200 members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union at Dorf Industries are on strike and staffing a 24-hour picket line. They are opposing the company's attempt to relocate to Sydney and their treatment. The

MUA officials withstand challengesThe final results of the 1999 elections for the Maritime Union of Australia are now in. Both nationally and at branch level, the incumbent leadership has managed to withstand the challenge of

Albury residents protest against freewayCANBERRA — Sixty people travelled from Albury on the NSW-Victoria border to Parliament House on June 21 to protest against the federal government's refusal to consider alternatives to

CANBERRA — More than 900 staff at the Australian National University voted overwhelmingly on June 24 to demand an enterprise bargaining agreement that guarantees no net job losses, maintenance of superannuation contributions and

Solidarity from AMWU workers for East Timor and IndonesiaMELBOURNE — East Timorese independence activists Alex Tilman and Gil Santos from Fretilin and Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET) member Bronwyn

In need "[Kosova]'s going to be like Bosnia or Cambodia. There will be almost as many foreigners trying to help as those who need it. And they will need restaurants and bars and brothels, and this place will never be the same." — A UN official,

24-hour strike at Email plantsMORE THAN 5000 workers employed by whitegoods manufacturer Email took part in a 24-hour stoppage on June 17. The stoppage affected all 22 Email plants across the country, except the largest, in

Settlement won by staff at Sydney UniversitySYDNEY — National Tertiary Education Industry Union (NTEU) members at the University of Sydney have agreed to accept the latest enterprise bargain offer made by management on June

NEWCASTLE — On June 25, the Newcastle University Council debated a motion to withdraw funding from the university and community radio station 2NUR FM. 2NUR is the only community radio station in the Hunter region. It broadcasts