In May this year, Melbourne lost an inspiring feminist and working class organiser. Edith Morgan was a veteran fighter against injustice. A founder of the Older Persons’ Action Centre, well into her 80s she led resistance by pensioners and superannuants against attacks such as the introduction of the Goods and Service Tax. A regular spokesperson… Read more »
workers
Katie Ball: rebel with a “can do” attitude
The death of Katie Ball on 25 June leaves a big gap in activist circles. Katie was a tenacious fighter for disability rights, the environment and against imperialist war. In her autobiographical piece in Jocelynne Scutt’s 1992 collection As a Woman she explains: “I refuse to limit my social and political participation to campaigns which… Read more »
Gaylene Seadon – Farewell to a gutsy feminist fighter
On 31 May, Gaylene Seadon’s long fight with breast cancer came to a close. Gaylene, who was mother to Matthew and Katie, was 49 years old. She fought cancer in the same way she struggled against bosses, sell-out bureaucrats and patriarchs — with tenacity! Until ill health slowed her down, I knew I’d find myself… Read more »
Junior rates are Wage Slavery – Equal Pay NOW!
According to the Howard Government, young people should be grateful for being paid peanuts. The “youth wage,” it claims, gives them a foot in the door and reduces unemployment. But does it create jobs or slaves? International labour standards and human rights conventions prohibit workplace discrimination on various grounds, including age. Similarly the Australian Industrial… Read more »
Pay up now! Stolen wages campaign demands full compensation for fleeced Indigenous workers
Fred Edwards is 64 years old with a heart condition, asthma and diabetes. Yet, as a former stockman from northern Queensland’s Gulf Country, he has to get back in the saddle in order to pay off his car loan before he can retire. Descendants of Elliott Bennett, who died in 1981, are suing the Queensland… Read more »
Workers fire up against Abbott’s ongoing anti-union push
Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott spent last year trying to convince employers to be “more militant” — and take on unions. He takes every opportunity he can to convince bosses that many of them have made “insufficient use” of “all sorts of freedoms and flexibilities” within the existing industrial relations laws. In August Abbott presented… Read more »
Your Say
Workers Reject War Madness Both the Pakistani and Indian regimes have nuclear weapons and are currently whipping up nationalism and chauvinism in order to create war hysteria. Neither regime cares for the interests of the working class and peasantry of the region. Since coming to power, the Pakistani military dictatorship under Musharraf has introduced vicious… Read more »
Remembering the real Alec Campbell 1899 – 2002
When Alec Campbell died in Tasmania in May, the nationalistic humbug monitor went off the scale. There was a State Funeral at which Prime Minister Howard spoke. There were wrap-around specials in all the newspapers and endless drivel from the talking heads on TV and radio. All focussed on two months at the beginning of… Read more »
Kennett wrecked Victoria, but Bracks has not repaired the damage
Judy McVey is a Community and Public Sector Union delegate, a leader in the Refugee Action Collective and a member of the International Socialist Organisation. She is the preselected Socialist Alliance candidate for the Victorian State seat of Brunswick. “I’m standing to show people that there is an alternative to the world we live in… Read more »
Life on the Line: Residents and unionists unite to stop Stonehaven Power Station
An unusual campsite sits 8 kilometres from Geelong in the middle of golden fields and beside a yellow dirt road. The campers — set up with a caravan and tents — are here for the long haul. The protesters recently celebrated the 200th day of their community picket, which was established in December 2001. The… Read more »
