Labour notes
WorkSafe Victoria found retailer Clint's Crazy Bargains guilty of failing to provide a safe workplace, and failing to have a safe system of work for employees unpacking pallets in the storeroom. WorkSafe imposed a $100,000 fine. The worker had been told to unload eight pallets of stock without assistance during a five- hour shift for two days in a row in January 2002. She suffered severe back injury and later required surgery. Acting Secretary of the Victorian Trades Hall Nathan Niven said that negligent employers should be put on notice following the WorkSafe prosecution.* * * The Australian Education Union is launching a $1 million plus Federal Election campaign. The "Public Education — It is our Future" campaign will aim to ensure that all political parties have education policies that develop and grow public education systems. The campaign will include TV advertisements highlighting current inequities because of Commonwealth funding to private schools.* * * The Australian Services Union in the Northern Territory has gained a $100 a week safety net increase and three additional grades in the award for NT clerical workers. Northern Territory Trades and Labour Council Secretary Lucio Matarazzo said, "This decision is about giving back dignity and better recognition of the worth and skills of thousands of predominately NT women office workers."* * * The NSW Teachers' Federation has postponed a 48-hour strike due to take place on February 11 and 12 after the NSW Industrial Relations Commission's made an interim decision. This decision gives teachers an immediate fully funded 5.5 percent salary increase on the expiry of the 2000 award without change to award conditions and an offer of three percent per year for two years. Existing bans relating to reporting of student work and some other issues will remain pending the outcome of negotiations with the Education Department. The union expects a final decision fully recognising the work value of teachers before the 2004 State Budget is finalised, and undertakings from the State Government that it will fully fund the final decisions.