ADELAIDE — The Ambulance Employees Association is considering placing bans on paperwork, which would result in free ambulance services to patients. This stems from changes to ambulance workers' rosters aimed at cutting overtime and wages.
BRISBANE — A meeting of about 70 people at the Queensland Trades and Labor Council Building on October 22 commemorated the 25th anniversary of the death of Alex Macdonald, long-term member of the Communist Party of Australia and secretary of the Queensland Trades and Labor Council. Speakers highlighted the period of struggle against the anticommunist Industrial Groups, a struggle in which Macdonald was deeply involved. The meeting was organised by the Brisbane Labour History Association.
MT ISA — Unions at Mt Isa Mines have called for a ballot of members to decide which two unions they want to represent them, after the Industrial Commission ordered that the number of unions at the giant mine be reduced from five to two. The commission ruling gave almost total coverage to the right-wing-controlled Australian Workers Union, with limited jurisdiction to the Automotive, Metals and Engineering Union. Officials from the other unions involved confronted MIM bosses at an enterprise bargaining meeting on October 28, then stormed out of the meeting.
SYDNEY — Action for World Development and the World Development Tea Co-operative are presenting a series of talks on Thursday evenings, November 3, 10 and 17 by Jeffrey Abayasekera, an Anglican priest from Sri Lanka will discuss the theological aspects of sustainable development and the dilemmas of borrowers from the World Bank. Each session will include time for discussion and questions. Cost for the three talks is $25 ($15 concession). Contact Jill or Pauline on (02) 212 5275.