As voters become more estranged from corporations and economic reform, neither labour nor capital is responding effectively to the sentiment.
ACTU
Grog: Could the real Paul Howes please stand up?
So-called “faceless” union man Paul Howes has bold visions for the future of the ALP, but sadly you won’t find them in his new book, writes Greg Jericho at Grog’s Gamut.
So… just why do we need IR reform again?
We’re told time and again that we need more IR reform. But no one ever says why.
Hey liberals, muscle-up
Rather than lamenting the lies told by many in the mainstream media, progressive groups need to follow the ACTU’s lead and start investing in the tools of public policy debate. Bernard Keane weighs in.
The lonely island of centrism
There’s a game of push me-pull me being played in Canberra this week, with the ACTU trying to pull the ALP back to the Left, while Liberal MPs attempt to drag the party back to the right, says Rob Burgess.
The inner workings of Sharan Burrow
ACTU president Sharan Burrow has just been announced as secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation. How did a female teacher rise up so high in the blokey world of union politics? Ben Schneiders.
Health Services Union in controversial merger
ALP National President Michael Williamson has launched an audacious bid for full-spectrum control of the troubled Health Services Union, creating an eastern states conglomerate and dissolving the Victorian branches.
Colless: Tony, don’t be afraid of the big bad union
A new media campaign by ACTU called “Don’t Go Back To WorkChoices” is an unfair and untruthful attack on Tony Abbott. The Libsneed to offer a suitable IR alternative since Rudd’s policies are collapsing, writes Malcolm Colless.
NSW ALP rank-and-file told to commit political suicide
On Thursday last week, the NSW Left voted against one of its defining tenets, namely the support of rank-and-file preselections, writes Prue Believer.
Thoughts after an Association of Superannuation Funds Australia lunch
If the Government raise compulsory super contributions from 9% to 12%, it will simply subsidise higher income earners’ retirement by foregoing taxes at a ridiculously high level and overtaxing those on lower incomes.
Is Jetstar propping up Burma’s dictatorship?
Jetstar has come under fire for running flights into Burma, with critics claiming the airport fees and money the airline brings into the country are helping fund Burma’s repressive military junta.
Tips and rumours: No Bandidos clubhouse in Bligh’s backyard?
Anna Bligh worries about new Bandidos clubhouses and further Fairfax subscription woes. Plus, who is rumoured to play Steve Irwin in the new telemovie titled Crikey?
Unions win some lose some at Ruddfest 09
Ruddfest 09 delivered “good outcomes” for unions, with entitlements for workers of collapsed companies. But workplaces will not become more “union friendly”.
ACTU bites its tongue, retreats to attic
What trade-off has the ACTU received for biting its tongue about the building industry? So far, just some half hearted words of encouragement about ‘buying Australian’.
Gillard’s ACTU spray a centrist triumph
Julia Gillard’s speech at the ACTU Congress yesterday a display of raw executive power, writes Bernard Keane.
Political snippets: PM plays a dangerous game of bluff
Labour looks like its told the unions what for, but will that translate into votes? And finally, some good economic news.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Hypocrisy of swine flu treatment
Crikey readers chat swine flu, digital radio and the ACTU.
ACTU’s rebranding strategy undermined from within
The ACTU’s “growth and campaign” revitalisation plan, the bare bones of which were leaked by dissident unions to the AFR on Monday, could end in tears,.
Unions trade member interests for seats and influence
The revelations over the ABCC do little to explain the broader labour movement’s continuing counter-productive closeness to its lackeys in the ALP.
Forget IR legislation, ACTU must get back to basics
Trade unions in their current form are a cultural and industrial anachronism, writes Andrew Crook.
Richard Farmer’s political bite-sized meaty chunks
Meaty snippets from the home of government plus the daily reality check and the pick of other people’s political coverage. Richard Farmer writes.
