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Strike debates

The right to strike, strikes and workers’ control at the ACTU Congress 2012 by Chris White. Unionists need to organise for the right to strike, for the effective strike and for workers’ control. 1. Unions’ right to strike campaign is to repeal all Fair Work Act penal powers and for a ‘firewall’ protection for workers [...]

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ACTU job protection debate

Australian Jobs Protection to be discussed at ACTU Congress Australians believe everyone should pay their fair share. Everyone should contribute. Everyone is entitled to a fair go. How can it be that: Some of our richest Australians, like billionaire Clive Palmer, did not pay tax in his main private company last financial year. BRW lists [...]

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We Built this Country

SYDNEY BOOK LAUNCH “WE BUILT THIS COUNTRY BUILDERS’ LABOURERS AND THEIR UNIONS 1787 TO THE FUTURE” by Humphrey McQueen The book should be compulsory reading for new and old union officers and organisers; it will certainly challenge them to decide whether they are workers’ representatives or ‘workplace relations practitioners’. Howard Guille, former secretary of the [...]

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The WorkChoices restoration

The Workchoices Restoration or “Unfinished Business”: The Qantas lockout and power at work under the Fair Work Act A shorter version is in Australian Options by Don Sutherland – November, 2011 The context for the Qantas and Nurses’ dispute Right now, about 40% of the Australian workforce is employed in “precarious” or “flexible” employment, and [...]

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“Fair”? Work Act

WorkChoices and the Fair Work Act: Removing the Choice to Strike by Chris White (The following is from the Journal of Political Economy no 56 p68 www.jape.org. But this key Howard repression of strikes remains in 2012 in the Fair Work Act and hence I only add in the ALP government. Unions still campaign for [...]

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Bans for the barrier reef

In light of the current alarm about dredging and dumping in the Reef, it is worth recalling how it was saved by union action which is now illegal under the Fair Work Act. This interesting extract from Humphrey McQueen’s new book reminds us how important trade unions have been in protecting Qld coastline and the [...]

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ACTU for the right to strike reforms of FWA

ACTU submission on the FWA Review February 2012 Section only on the Restrictions on taking protected industrial action – one key reform for the Gillard government and Minister Bill Shorten “The UN and ILO recognise the freedom to strike as a fundamental human right. It is particularly important in the context of collective bargaining. However, [...]

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Fair Work Act Review

Fair Work Act Review Submission by Chris White I recommended two changes for more secure work to the Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work in Australia. 1. Amend the Fair Work Act to have a real right to strike. 2. Amend the Fair Work Act to restrict casual and other forms of precarious work to a [...]

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Insecure work

Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work in Australia http://securejobs.org.au/ I recommend two changes for more secure work. 1. Amend the Fair Work Act to have an effective right to strike. 2. Amend the Fair Work Act to restrict casual and other forms of precarious work to a limited period and apply more secure contracts of employment. [...]

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