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World trade union network against Rio Tinto launched

World trade union network against Rio Tinto launched World trade union network against Rio Tinto launched By Norm Dixon Trade unions with members in the Rio Tinto corporation have launched a worldwide network to defend workers' pay and

Sydney action to defend abortion rights

Sydney action to defend abortion rights An emergency meeting of abortion rights campaigners in Sydney on February 14 decided to organise an action to protest against the charges laid in WA. The action will be held on Friday, February 20, at 5.30pm.

Blair Labour's 'reforms'

[Printed here are excerpts from three articles in Socialist Appeal analysing the British Labour government's social policies.] 'Welfare to work'? The Labour government intends to introduce workfare for the long-term unemployed. Workfare is an

Fee boycott at SCU

Fee boycott at SCU By Bernard Wunsch LISMORE — The administration of Southern Cross University has imposed an up-front fee of $18 on all students enrolling this year. In response, the Students Representative Council is organising a boycott. SRC

Few to direct preferences in ACT elections

By Russell Pickering CANBERRA — The Democratic Socialists are the only progressive party contesting the ACT election who will be recommending where their supporters direct their preferences. Sue Bull, Democratic Socialist candidate for Molonglo,

IWD forums debate feminist issues

IWD forums debate feminist issues In preparation for International Women's Day, forums on issues confronting women have been held in Perth and Adelaide. In Perth, Shannon Buckley writes, approximately 30 women and men participated in a one-day

Russian workers refute myth of passivity

By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — Part of the Russian "soul", western tradition holds, is a unique bent for passive suffering. Centuries of peasant revolts, not to speak of other convulsions, give the lie to this myth. Nevertheless, it still gets

Philippines left confronts the economic crisis

Philippines left confronts the economic crisis MANILA — FRANCISCO NEMENZO, a founding member of BISIG (Union for Socialist Ideas and Action) and the newly-established AKBAYAN! (Citizens' Action Party) spoke to Â鶹ӳ»­ Weekly's REIHANA MOHIDEEN

A powerful read

Treading Our Own Paths: A book of writings by people from the Canberra region who have experienced psychiatric illnessEdited by Robin DavidsonFootsteps Press, 1997.92 pp., $10 (includes postage)ACT Writers Centre, PO Box 23, Griffith, ACT 2603Also

Democratic Socialists: time to put the unions on a war footing

Democratic Socialists: time to put the unions on a war footing "Corporate Australia sniffs a decisive victory at Webb Dock", Dick Nichols, the Democratic Socialist Party's industrial convenor said last weekend. "That's why the union movement has to

CFMEU wins WorkCover top-up deal

CFMEU wins WorkCover top-up deal By Michael Bull MELBOURNE — The Master Builders Association (MBA) last week agreed to union demands for workers' compensation top-up insurance to cover the state government cuts to WorkCover. Construction

A story that needs to be told

Snake CradleBy Roberta SykesAllen and Unwin, 1997. 330 pp. Review by Maureen Sexton Snake Cradle is the first volume of Roberta Sykes' three-volume autobiography Snake Dreaming. Sykes leads us through the story of her life until 18 years of age. We