1. Unionists Show the Charity Queens a Thing or Two

In the April Edition of the ETU NEWS we reported how the wonderful generosity of unionists had culminated in a donation of $18,000 to the Austin , Mercy and Repatriation Hospital project in Heidelberg . At the initiative of unionists, including our own OH+S man Tim Stephenson and Shop Steward Reno Lia, construction personnel parking on site in the multi-level Studley Road Car Park are donating $2 per vehicle entry. The donations will go to three charitable projects at the local site.

The charitable projects are: Austin - Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre, Mercy - purchase of a 3D ultrasound (X-RAY) machine suitable for use with critically ill, premature babies, Veterans - restoration of the Cenotaph Memorial on the corner of Studley Road and Burgundy Street .

With a second instalment of $30,000 presented on Monday 5 April 2004 the tally is now $48,000. Reno and Tim tell us a figure of $100,000 by completion date - December 2004 - is a real possibility. Well done all.

Get Well, Ian

On a sad note a much loved ETU member Ian Park suffered a stroke not long after posing for a group photo on site at the project. Ian's wife Val has told the ETU Online that he has shown some improvement. So popular is Ian that unionists raised $3,200 for him in two days after they learnt of his stroke. All at the ETU wish him well.

2. Defend Craig Johnston

Most ETU members would be aware that Craig Johnston, former AMWU Victorian State secretary and one of the Skilled 6, faces charges that could see him sent to gaol. We hardly need to tell you that many people are suspicious the way the charges against Craig have evolved. Throughout history unionists have never received the cotton wool treatment of our white collar criminals and other real criminals. Funny how a police officer in Sydney says 'something happened' to the woman who claimed to be raped by Canterbury Bulldog players yet no charges will be laid. We'll leave you to think about that. You don't have to be a QC to know that the criminal justice system is riddled with hypocrisy. If you want to express your support for Craig join a Mass Rally at the County Court - 250 Williams St. Melbourne - on Mon day 10 May. For more information go to - http://ericyeo.homeip.net/defendcraig/

For those who have never thought that unionists can be victimised by governments or courts, the book Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win ! by Liz Ross - which deals with the Builders Labourers Deregistration battle between 1981-84 - should be compulsory reading. Published by Vulgar Press the book contains some classic posters and reminds us how important it is to support Craig.

3.Lift Industry Members Mass Meeting

Members are reminded there will be a mass meeting on Thursday, May 6 of AMWU and ETU members to discuss issues including Long Service Leave. We'd ask that you encourage fellow workers to attend the meeting.

Details are:

Date: Thursday, May 6

Time: 1:00 pm

Venue: Trades Hall Council,

Lygon & Victoria Street

Carlton South

4. Hey Johnny Howard, What about My Family?

The ACTU has lodged evidence in support of its Work and Family Test Case showing that Australia is second last among the western OECD nations on work and family balance. Kind of makes a joke of the Howard government's so called love of the family? Let's hope Mr Latham looks at the research before he develops a policy on how parents can finds time to read to their children.

According to the ACTU
Australia is ranked thirteenth out of fourteen OECD nations.

In Australia, less than half the mothers with children under six years old are in work (45%) while the top six countries have work rates above 60%.

• Denmark is the best performing nation with almost three quarters of young mothers in work (74.3%).
  This evidence seems to indicate that work-family flexibility is a problem in Australia . It's either work or stay at home.
  The key workplace reforms being sort by the ACTU case are:
  
  The option to work part-time after the birth of a child.

• Flexible working hours, school-friendly holiday times and more workplace choice.
• An option to take up to two years unpaid parental leave.
• A new entitlement of 5 days paid leave to care for a child or relative.
• Access to unpaid family emergency leave for all employees, including casuals.

Test Case submissions by employer groups and governments are due in mid May and the AIRC is scheduled to hear the case from 30 August 2004 . Copies of the ACTU submission are available on request. All material will be available from the ACTU website next week.

5. A Night at the Flicks for a Good Cause

The Friends of the University of East Timor Library (FUNTLL)

invite you to join them for a special fundraising evening at the Cinema Nova. The group supports the rebuilding of collections and library services for the Universidade Nasional Timor Lorosae, organising training programs in Australia and East Timor for its staff, and helping provide required library materials and equipment.

  Your support for this event will assist our future projects.

' To Be and to Have' ( Etre et avoir )

This new documentary from Nicolas Philibert (In the Land of the Deaf) became a phenomenon in France . It spends a year in a single room schoolhouse in the Auvergne where a dozen children between 4 and 10 are taught by one man. Georges Lopes is a few years shy of retirement, apparently childless and unmarried, having dedicated himself to teaching very small children. He offers them - and, in effect, us - a kind of back-to-basics course in how to live a worthwhile life, and in doing so, he combines gentle, coaxing patience, mild admonitions and a deeply felt concern for his pupils' well-being. Philibert finds genuine cinematic magic in the small miracle of children learning to grow.

Date : Thursday June 10

Venue : Cinema Nova, Lygon Court , Carlton

Time : Film starts at 7 p.m.

Nibbles and refreshments (included in ticket price) in lower foyer from 6 p.m. Tickets : $20.00, available from Jane . or Sarah on (03) 9389 5212 or 9354 0579

6.Going Shopping? Or Off to the Footy?

If you're looking for something for Mother's Day or if you're a Collingwood supporter and need a new bar fridge in order to manage the rest of the season, don't forget that the Union Shopper is worth a look.

Dayle Thompson from the Union Shopper was recently in town and she told the ETU Online the Shopper can just about beat anyone. For more information click on www.unionshop.org.au

FEELING LUCKY?

While I've got you, if you're feeling lucky and would like to win a prize courtesy of the ETU, don't forget the ETU has a new AFL tipping competition. Just click on http://www.etu.asn.au/members/etu_footy_tipping.html to find out how to join.

7. Web Site of the Month

While the eTU Online has you thinking about leisure and shopping we recommend you try the following website, which is our website of the month and can be found on the ETU's Member Benefits page.

http://www.visitvictoria.com/displayObject.cfm/ObjectID.0000B41D-D36D-1A88-8B4680C476A9047C/vvt.vhtml%20

As this website says:

Whether you're gay or lesbian, backpacking or travelling with children, use a wheelchair or hearing aid, you'll be well catered for in Melbourne .

And if you're looking for some indulgence after a week of wrestling the bosses or seeing Collingwood lose again then:

Macedon Ranges and Spa Country has everything you need for the perfect short break or weekend away. Within easy access from Melbourne , you will find luxurious boutique accommodation, Australia 's richest concentration of mineral springs, two wine regions and superb local produce.

Let's face it; nothing's too good for the working class.

8. We Got the Power

Power industry workers are continuing their battle against the big Texan TXU, Powercor, Citipower and the other power companies. This week the parties returned to the AIRC where the power companies want the bargaining period cancelled. With Alinta agreeing to the conditions laid down by the ETU, Organiser Wes Hayes told the ETU Online 'our members are getting stronger by the day and we remain committed to the hours of work, apprenticeship numbers and contract labour clauses in our EBA application.' Stay tuned for more news.

9. Homer's capitalist mate at it again?

As SafetyNet further reports: WorkSafe is urging employers with forklifts to conduct safety audits. It's instructive that despite Tony Abbott's Royal Commission being told that employer' were slack on safety the Federal Government chose to legislate to dilute the rights of workers, rather than force employers to address safety issues. It's no wonder workers continue to die at horrendous rates in Australia .

Magistrate Raffaele Barberio must have been reading SafetyNet before he sat in judgement on Ag-Ready managing director Garrett Gunn, charged with sacking a forklift driver who raised a safety concern. As the Age Newspaper reported, the Magistrate likened Mr Gunn to the ruthless capitalist, Montgomery Burns, from the TV program Homer Simpson. Ag-Ready, a Melbourne-based importer was ordered to pay $10,000 damages and a $10,000 fine for its sacking its health and safety officer Dale Maggs in February 2002.

10. Hydro Tasmania redundancies hit hard

Assistant Secretary of the CEPU, Kevin Harkins , has this week taken to Hydro Tasmania with a flurry. With the power giant currently entering a restructuring phase that effectively divides the business into three autonomous entities, Kevin wasn't mincing his words.

'In what can be best described as a climate of fear, some managers are telling workers their positions with Hydro no longer exist and that they will be made redundant. Employees have been invited to apply for a reduced number of positions within the new business units, but no commitments are being made in relation to ongoing employment opportunities,' he told the eTU Online.

Describing the series of meetings held recently as nothing but 'a snow job' and that it was 'in the interest of Hydro employees and the Tasmanian Community for them to come clean on how this will impact on the workforce,' Kevin Harkins has called on Minister Brian Green to give a 'water-tight commitment that a sell-off is not on the agenda.'

Although the State Labor Government has said no ''assets' are to be sold off, the Assistant Secretary says 'the whole affair has the smell of privatisation by stealth.'

'Our Union will not stand by and let workers be forced out the door. The fear and mistrust now permeating Hydro's head office is no way to treat employees who have given a lifetime of service to a once great Tasmanian icon. If Mark Latham wants our support he should jump in a plane and turn up at the press conference we've called for 3.30 pm on Thursday 6 May,' said a passionate Kevin Harkins .

The dispute has been listed in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, and is listed for conference at.

For more information call Kevin Harkins - 0419 376 362

11. Next edition eTU online

Thanks for reading this issue of eTU online. You'll receive your next issue in June 2004.