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Newtown parades for peace
SYDNEY — Fifty soaked but determined people took to Newtown's cafe strip on March 6 to publicise the March 20 global day of action against war. The "Parade for Peace" was organised by the Newtown Peace Group.
The marchers received support from cafe latte sippers and drivers alike, and with a full police escort the action attracted much attention. Chanting "Iraq for Iraqis, troops out now!", the protesters leafleted cafes and bystanders, urging them to support the Sydney rally, which will be addressed by Judy Davis, John Pilger and Andrew Wilkie.
Pip Hinman
Rio Tinto miners reinstated
BRISBANE — Rank-and-file miners formed a guard of honor to welcome four workers returning to Rio Tinto's Blair Athol coal mine on March 1.
The four — Trevor Kelly, Gary Mannion, Tod Rogers and Robert Smith — were among 16 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union members retrenched in 1998 from the mine, about 500km west of Rockhampton.
After drawn-out legal battles, Rio Tinto was directed by the industrial court last July to give preference of employment to the sacked workers. Two of the remaining 12 miners will soon start work at another mine.
Bill Mason
Stink over rubbish recycling scam
BRISBANE — Brisbane Lord Mayor Tim Quinn has authorised an investigation by a Queen's Counsel into the city's garbage recycling system. This follows pressure for an independent inquiry into the private contractor SITA, which collects both recycled and ordinary waste on behalf of the council.
On February 26, former SITA driver Steve Bertucci alleged that he had been ordered by SITA bosses to dump recycling with general rubbish when working for the company in January last year.
Socialist Alliance candidate for Central ward in the Brisbane city council election, Coral Wynter, told Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly that an enquiry is "urgently needed".
"Socialist Alliance proposes that rubbish collection be put back under direct council ownership and control... with the close involvement of the Transport Workers Union."
@authw= Bill Mason
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, March 10, 2004.
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