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Cameron strips AMWU state branches of power

BY SUE BOLTON SYDNEY — The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union national conference, held July 21-25 at Sydney's plush Parkroyal Hotel, adopted a series of rule changes which strip decision-making power from state branches and shift it to the

AFGHANISTAN:'Unsafe for refugees to return'

BY ROHAN PEARCE The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) should reverse its newly announced policy of promoting the voluntary repatriation of refugees to Afghanistan, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on July 23. The

Police attack peaceful protest

BY FEDERICO FUENTES PERTH — On July 25, police launched an extremely brutal attack on a peaceful student protest. Thirty-five students were assaulted with batons and squirted with pepper spray. The students had gathered at Curtin University to

Dayson workers picket

SYDNEY — The strike at Dayson air conditioning remanufacturing plant in Sydney is now in its 10th week. Seven workers, including two union delegates, were sacked after demanding union representation in negotiations with management. For

Nurses head to arbitration

BY BILL MASON BRISBANE — Queensland nurses were threatened with disciplinary action only hours after industrial bans were lifted, according to the Queensland Nurses Union (QNU). The bans were lifted following a July 24 arbitration commission

Loose cannons

100-0 rule? "We don't have a 60-40 rule operating at any of the state conferences of the Liberal Party. We don't have 10, 20, 30, 40 or any percentage of votes allocated to business interests. But we do, very importantly, we have a broad sympathy

Ruddock's dirty tricks exposed

BY SARAH STEPHEN On July 19, immigration minister Philip Ruddock announced that in April his department had informed Ali Baktiyari, father of two boys who sought asylum on July 18 from a British consulate, that it intended to cancel his visa.

Building workers rally against royal commission

BY CHRIS LATHAM PERTH — Despite driving rain, 1200 construction workers protested on July 24 against the return to Western Australia of the royal commission into the construction industry. Communication, Electrical and Plumbing Union organiser

Socialist Alliance seeks Victorian registration

BY GRAHAM MATTHEWS Following successful campaigns to gain electoral registration at the federal level, and in NSW and Tasmania, the Socialist Alliance is now campaigning for electoral registration in Victoria. “To register in

A little (true) story

A senior work colleague,A family friend.A beer gut, a beardand a gold wedding band.A young employee,A confident womanA coffee at workAn unwanted question ..."Will you fuck me?"It slowly sunk inThe "friendly" affectionThe attention from him.She felt

Civilising the building industry

BY SUE BOLTON & SAM WAINWRIGHT On July 24, the day after the Australian Industrial Relations Commission rejected the Australian Council of Trade Unions' petition to compensate workers for excessive overtime, Construction, Forestry, Mining and

'Women can do anything!'

REVIEW BY KATRINA CHANNELLS& JIM MCILROY Bend It Like BeckhamDirected by Gurinder ChadhaStarring Parminder Nagra and Keira KnightleyScreening at major cinemas This film is excellent because it encourages young women to play soccer! It is a