News

  • Building workers to strike

    The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) construction division has called a national strike for May 20 to protest against the government and the building industry bosses' attempt to strip back national building industry awards.

  • Conservation Council's funding cut

    Conservation Council's funding cutBRISBANE — Queensland Conservation Council chairperson Carol Booth has accused the Coalition state government of campaigning against outspoken conservationists, following natural resources

  • Australia belatedly aids West Papua

    The news that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will use $10 million from AusAID for a famine relief program in West Papua (Irian Jaya) is welcome. Such an effort has been needed for many months. Ninety defence personnel, three

  • Maritime union campaign briefs

    MUA alleges sabotage BRISBANE — Waterside workers who triumphantly returned to work at Patrick's wharves at Hamilton and Fisherman Island on May 8 have alleged that the non-union work force damaged facilities, including the boom of a

  • Meeting opposes 'Ocean wart'

    HOBART — Hobart Town Hall was filled to capacity for a meeting organised by the Denison branch of the Tasmanian Greens to oppose the proposed Oceanport retail and residential development at Princes Wharf. The proposed six-story

  • 100,000 rally against Workplace Relations Act

    MELBOURNE — More than 100,000 people rallied against the Howard government's Workplace Relations Act (WRA) and attack on the maritime workers here on May 6. The rally was part of a day of action adopted by

  • Patrick attempts to thwart High Court decision

    Patrick attempts to thwart High Court decisionADELAIDE — With most Patrick wharves back in operation, the previously quiet docks in Adelaide were swarming with people who had responded to a call from the Maritime Union for a

  • Loose cannons

    Sounds good "People are coming from all over the place, and when there is a mass of people gathered, anything can happen." — An Indonesian National Police spokesperson on anti-Suharto demonstrations. The things that matter "Political reform

  • Biggest Labour Day in 25 years

    Biggest Labour Day in 25 yearsAs the last of the more than 10,000 Labour Day marchers poured into Albert Park at 11.40am on May 4, Maritime Union national organiser Jim Tannock announced the MUA's High Court victory from the

  • 'Stop the rot!'

    'Stop the rot!' SYDNEY — On May 8, as federal health minister Michael Wooldridge arrived at Westmead Hospital in Sydney's west, he was confronted by 100 health workers chanting "Stop the rot! Save our teeth!". The NSW Public Service Association,

  • Battle to save Kimberley Fitzroy River

    Battle to save Kimberley Fitzroy River On April 30, the WA government tabled a memorandum of understanding between the government and Western Agricultural Industries (WAI) regarding a large-scale irrigation scheme in the west Kimberley region.

  • Struggle continues as wharfies return to work

    After a month of mass pickets, wharfies are back at work at the major Patrick operations, following the Maritime Union of Australia's win in the High Court. Mick O'Leary, national organiser of the MUA, told Green Left Weekly