We Built This Country – Builders’ Labourers and their Unions, by Humphrey McQueen, Ginninderra Press, Port Adelaide, 2011, 364pp, $30.00 Review by Howard Guille This is the second book of Humphrey McQueen’s research into builders’ labourers and their unions. Read it, as the author says, with the earlier volume ‘Framework of Flesh: Builders’ labourers battle [...]

Review: We Built this Country

FWA review
Fair Work review is an opportunity to dispel employer myths and strengthen workers’ rights 20 December, 2011 ACTU Media Release Next year’s review of the Fair Work Act must not become a forum for employer grandstanding, and unions will take a strong interest to ensure the voices of working Australians are heard and that their [...]

MP pay system not for workers
Union leaders are understandably upset that their union members do not get these large increases. Putting aside the Remuneration Report’s recommended high level for the base rate for MPs, one issue is the wage fixing system itself- that under the Fair Work Act for all and for the political elite their own. Our political elite [...]

China toys
Making Toys without Joy: ICTI CARE Covers Labour Rights Violations for Global Toy Brands like Disney, Walmart & Mattel from SACOM In Guangdong province, where 70% of China’s toys are exported, migrant workers’ basic salary is around CNY 850-1320 (USD 134-208), actually the same as the statutory local minimum wage. And the minimum wage is [...]

Poultry workers win
Congratulations to all the NUW members at Baiada in Laverton for your hard work and fearless efforts over the last four months of negotiations and 13 days on the picket line. Your resolve has lead to a new Agreement that you were told you would never have. While many members have said they are grateful [...]

Nurses fight on
2011 EBA Update: Victorian ANF Members resolve to continue action A statewide mass meeting of public sector ANF members resolved today to continue with the industrial action contained in resolutions of the 4th and 11th November 2011, including ensuring that the bans do not endanger anyone’s health, welfare or safety. Members heard of the various [...]

Elliott Johnston speaks
Elliott Johnston’s title was ‘the rule of law’ but he soon turned to capitalism and politics and cites Don Dunstan and supports self-determination for aboriginal people, the environment and workers rights and more… Public Forum on the 5 October, 2004, to a packed Elder Hall University of Adelaide. Organised by Australian Options with the support [...]

Burrow ITUC and ILO condemn Fiji Junta
ILO Condemns Fiji Junta over Labour Rights 18 November 2011: The UN’s International Labour Organisation has issued a strong condemnation of Fiji’s military Junta over severe violations of labour rights. The ILO’s Committee on Freedom of Association described the situation there as “extremely serious” and requiring urgent attention. The ruling follows the arrests of Daniel [...]

Pilots legal challenge
The Qantas pilots AIPA quite rightly are aggrieved by Fair Work Australia’s decision to terminate, rather than suspend, their industrial action. The AIPA has applied to the Federal Court in a legal challenge – while negotiations continue. Pilots wearing red ties and mentioning politely to their passengers their concern for job security in line with [...]
IMPORTANT NOTE
About The Author
Chris has worked in the trade union movement for 30 years and researches on left politics, union issues and China labour law. He lives in Darwin.
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