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India: mafia, massacres and mass resistance DELHI — Class exploitation takes extreme forms in India. Workers are forced to sell their labour for a pittance. Landlords and bosses use criminal gangs to enforce subservience, with wholesale massacres
Free East Timor campaign escalates By Vannessa Hearman MELBOURNE — The East Timorese community held a rally in the city centre to coincide with the New York signing of an agreement between Indonesia and Portugal on East Timor on May 5.
Science minister approves reactor By Jim Green SYDNEY — On May 3, federal science minister Nick Minchin gave his approval for the construction of a new nuclear research reactor at Lucas Heights. Minchin's announcement coincided with national
By Jonathan Singer Federal industrial relations minister Peter Reith on May 6 detailed proposed "second wave" changes to industrial relations law that will further reduce workers' ability to organise industrial action and control their unions and
NZ students say: 'Butt out of student affairs' By Zanny Begg In April university students across New Zealand were asked to vote in referendums on whether membership of student unions should be compulsory or voluntary. Initially the private
By Nick Everett On May 3-5, Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) members in Centrelink, the federal government's service delivery agency, voted on a new enterprise agreement. The result was 63% for, 37% against, reflecting a sharp debate among
Music for buffaloes and punters alike By Vannessa Hearman MELBOURNE — "Buffalo Music", a May 1 concert raising funds which will go to East Timorese farmers for buying buffaloes, attracted more than 500 people and raised almost $7000. The crowd
Wik When I heard our esteemed Attorney General in an ABC interview (March 22) criticise the findings of the United Nations Committee on Discrimination that the Wik amendments were discriminatory and therefore breaking international law, it was like
Socialist wins seat in first Scottish parliament By Lisa Macdonald A socialist was elected to the first Scottish parliament on May 6. Tommy Sheridan headed the Scottish Socialist Party's (SSP) Glasgow regional list for the second vote, which is
By Sarah Peart When I heard someone yell out "Hey chick!", I calmly turned around prepared to explain to this juvenile male that I don't appreciate being referred to as a fluffy baby chicken. To my shock, I found that it was a feminist woman. The
Unionists say no to UN deal By Pip Hinman SYDNEY — On May 6, the day after Indonesia and Portugal signed the United Nations-brokered deal on East Timor in New York, activists here picketed the Indonesian Trade Promotion Centre to voice their
Bronc Finlay, 1904-1999 On March 11, in his 95th year, Communist Party veteran Bronc Finlay died. One of Comrade Finlay's greatest contributions to the proletarian cause was spearheading the Communist Party of Australia's courageous and