Part 4: 'Slaving Away' outfall and fall-out : Woolworths admits moral responsibiity at Senate Inquiry : still refusing to meet workers and the National Union of Workers

Cross-posted with Advocacy

Dear Brigid Today saw NUW members speak at the first Senate Inquiry into Australia's temporary work visas. The NUW remains firm: Coles and Woolworths have the power to fix this Labour hire agencies need to be regulated No workers should be forced to work for poverty wages in our fresh food supply chain We cannot allow a two-class system to remain in Australia. Every worker counts! Woolworths also appeared at today's Senate Inquiry, and admitted moral responsibility for underpaid farm workers. However, Woolworths are still refusing to meet with workers and the NUW to talk about a Fair Food Agreement to eradicate exploitation from our fresh food. Help put the pressure on and sign the petition here! And remember, we all have friends and family that can help. Share this petition with your community. NUW's Godfrey Moase, Winnie Lin, Caterina Cinanni, Sherry Huang and George Robertson with Senator Sue Lines and Senator Deborah O'Neill If you haven't watched the Four Corners program that exposed exploitation, you can watch it here. In unity, Tim Kennedy National Secretary National Union of Workers Email: nuwassist@nuw.org.au Call: 1300 275 689 National: 833 Bourke St, Docklands VIC 3008 Click here for office locations Website: www.nuw.org.au © Copyright National Union of Workers Unsubscribe

TWU boss calls for all migrant workers to be given the vote Workplace watchdog aims for top of retailers' supply chain on worker exploitation We need a new class of visa for low-skilled migrant workers Taskforce to target worker exploitation, visa fraud following 'slave labour' revelations Inquiries into 417 visa to be expanded Previous posts referencing this topic  can be found on this site at: Part 1 - Slavery in Australia. Is the 'Let 'er rip" attitude on visas for overseas workers going to be stopped? The Robinvale experience Part 2 - Names have been named in "Slaving Away".  Here they are recorded below and their responses. Part 3: The conscious consumer becomes the aware and ethical shopper.  Destroy the slavers from the checkouts of Australia! What are you buying? How did it get to you?  Whose hands has it passed through?

Nestle is nicking Pakistan's water. Please sign this petition >>>

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15,121 signatures of 20,000

Nestlé is draining Pakistan to sell us bottled water.

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Nestlé is draining developing countries to produce its bottled water, destroying countries’ natural resources before forcing its people to buy their own water back.

Now it's in Pakistan. Groundwater levels are plummeting, families are being driven into poverty, and whole areas are being rendered uninhabitable. 

But we've still got time to help before Pakistan's water supply is completely tapped out — and if we show Nestlé its heartless policies are sparking a global backlash, we can stop it from decimating more of our natural resources. 

Will you join us in demanding Nestlé stop draining Pakistan dry?

PETITION TO NESTLE EXECUTIVES: Stop stealing Pakistan's water and driving its people to poverty and starvation.

Hanging Rock is at risk according to the locals ... yet it is important to ALL OF US. Please sign the petition.

From the Macedon Ranges Residents’ Association Inc. ~~~

Picture from here 

See the movie and read the book

and you will see why Hanging Rock is important

to Australians.

Hello Everyone,

Help needed, and it won’t take but a moment of your time. 

Here in Macedon Ranges Shire we have a terrible council.  It thinks it can operate and make decisions in isolation of and without consulting its community, while making the community pay for its decisions. 

Recently Macedon Ranges council took this culture a step too far.   It deliberately resolved (not once, but twice) to apply for funding for a conference centre (and other large-scale development) at Hanging Rock and to not consult the community on the development or funding.  

Hanging Rock does not belong to Macedon Ranges’ council officers and 5 of 9 councillors!  It is an international icon; it belongs to the people of Macedon Ranges, Victoria, and Australia.   Yet our council has shut everyone out.  It’s making big decisions on our behalf – and on yours – without us having a say.   We want our council to know this is not acceptable, and to rethink its decision.

The first favour we ask of you is PLEASE, PLEASE SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION “HANGING ROCK FOR SALE – HAVE YOUR SAY” by going to

http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/hanging-rock-for-sale-have-your-say

This petition has been authored and started by local residents in the Hanging Rock area community.  MRRA is supporting this initiative.

The second favour we ask is PLEASE, PLEASE SEND THIS EMAIL AROUND TO YOUR FRIENDS AND CONTACTS AND ASK THEM TO SIGN THE PETITION AS WELL. 

Here’s what some people are saying:

“If you have visited the Rock at some stage in your life you know the beauty and mysteriousness of the area, if you have not visited the Rock please google it and you will see what I mean.  I live near the Rock and drive past it every day to and from work and it never ceases to amaze me because I see the same view but it’s different.  I implore you to sign this petition to put a stop to the suggested development around the area of the Rock;  Landcare has spent 10 years building up the wildlife corridor here and as usual greedy people just want to tear the bush down and put in concrete.  Once you have signed it please email this to all your friends so we can save a natural beauty so close to Melb for visitors.”  Toni

“Development such as that being proposed by MRSC in an area protected by an environmental overlay is totally inappropriate.  It goes against all that this Landcare group has been working towards over a 10 year period!  The East paddock area was purchased to buffer the reserve at Hanging Rock - a haven for wild-life and city-weary folks.  So please add your name to the petition Luke has prepared and send it [the link] to your friends.”  Penny

As you can see, this awful decision affects many people and impacts many (irreplaceable) values.  

Many thanks for your help.

Christine Pruneau,

Secretary,

Macedon Ranges Residents’ Association Inc.

Cleanliness is next to godliness, it is said - but does business like to give their cleaners a good deal?

One thing about the work of Cleaners, we sure as eggs don't like it when their work is undone - and, if it is undone, it means that someone, somewhere further up the stratosphere is cost-cuttng and under-valuing the work of cleaners.  Don't know about you ~ but when I go to a shopping centre with a dirty lift or ascend via dirty carpetted stairs to a second floor premises I am far from impressed.  I wonder if I should judge the business acumen, expertise and success of the business I am frequenting. Allowing the first experience of the customers to be dirt, dust and clutter is not impressive.  

I am also concerned about the bad treatment of cleaning personnel - underpaid work, disposability, invisibility.  So this is why I support a better deal for cleaners and am posting the letter below:

My name is Suzie Dear Brigid, My name is Suzie. I am a mother and a grandmother, and for 25 years I have supported my family as a cleaner. I clean offices in Melbourne’s CBD. I’m proud of my job but it’s not easy! I work two jobs, one in the morning and one in the afternoon – and cleaning is very hard work. For years I struggled with poverty wages. I couldn’t keep up with the costs of food, travel, and bills. A few years ago, I stood together with other CBD cleaners to fight for fair conditions. With community support, we said “we’re going to win” – and we did win! Click here to support cleaners like me! Cleaning companies signed our Clean Start Agreement, giving us pay rises, job security and respect for our hard work. Clean Start meant I could enjoy my life more, and enjoy the time I have with my grandchildren. But now our agreement has expired. Our livelihoods depend on all the cleaning companies signing on to a new Clean Start Agreement. But one big company is threatening all that. The Glad Group is one of the biggest employers of cleaners in Melbourne’s CBD, but they won’t even meet with cleaners to talk about a new Clean Start Agreement. They haven’t given their cleaners a pay rise for over a year. If the Glad Group refuses to sign a new agreement, why would all the other companies sign? Everything we won could be lost, and cleaners like me will again be in a daily battle with poverty. Click here to let the Glad Group know they need to respect cleaners like me! Without Clean Start, how will I pay for my bills or groceries? The cost of everything is going up and up. I have been working very hard all my life – losing Clean Start would mean I couldn’t even turn on my heating. Support from the community helped us win a Clean Start Agreement. Now we need your help to win again. Please sign our petition so cleaners like me don’t fall back into poverty. Thank you for your support. Suzie Kotevski, city cleaner PS Like and share our Clean Start Facebook page!

Father Anthony and the homeless dogs of Bosnia. Support is needed. Not money - just your support.

Have received this request from Tash at Animals Australia.

Please help Father Anthony continue 

to save the dogs in Bosnia - 

don't let the Bishop shut him down

I grew up under the Capuchins -

an offshoot of the Franciscans.

I support Franciscan ideals.

Please sign the petition.

Hi all,  I know we get a lot of petitions from time to time, but this one resonated with me.  This does not ask for money - just support.  Wondering if you guys would be interested in signing this petition.  It is in German but I'll give you the gist of it. Father Anthony works in the Francine Church in Bosnia.  He has dedicated his life to rescuing, treating and rehoming dogs off the street and has done this for years.  He is a vego and loves animals so it is no surprise that he works in the Francine chapel for St Francis of Assissi,as some of you will know, is the patron saint of animals. He has a small number of people who also assist him in this project None the less, the Catholic Bishop has now given Father Anthony until mid Aug to get rid of all his dogs and clean up / close down his operation. He will no longer be allowed to rescue the dogs and well, given how bad things are in Bosnia, these dogs will undoubtedly perish/suffer terribly on the streets. If he doesn't do so, he and th people who assist him, will also be out on the streets without jobs. I am sending this around to assist in getting as many petitions as possible.   This is the story of one man who IS making an incredible difference and will be shut down for doing so.  Please help spread the word and let Father Anthony know he has support. https://www.change.org/de/Petitionen/tierprojekt-von-father-anthony-aci-im-franziskanerkloster-vor-dem-aus Please spread the word I shall pass through this world but once, any good thing therefore I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now, let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again. Stephen Grellet  The animals you eat are not those who devour others; you do not eat the carnivorous beasts, you take them as your pattern. You only hunger after sweet and gentle creatures who harm no one, which follow you, serve you, and are devoured by you as the reward of their service. John Jacques Rousseau God loved the birds and invented trees.  Man loved the birds and invented cages. Jacques Deval, Afin de vivre bel et bien The history of cancer research has been a history of curing cancer in the mouse. We have cured mice of cancer for decades, and it simply didn’t work in humans. Dr Richard Klausner, Director, National Cancer Institute, LA Times, May 6. 1998

New Premier in Victoria an opportune time to turn around ignorant and negligent attitudes?

From Kelly at Environment Victoria.  Could you please sign this petition?  To date, the Liberal National Party in Victoria has displayed gross ignorance and negligence of environmental issues.  They appointed a Minister for the Environment who seldom speaks.  The LibNats have pandered to sectional interests across regional and rural Victoria with little evidence of enlightened and progressive attitudes to environmental protection and enhancement.  ~~~ Miss Eagle ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thursday, 7 March 2013

Tell our new Premier, Denis Napthine, to turn over a new leaf for our environment Today we have a new Premier. This is the biggest opportunity we've had for Victoria’s environment in two and a half years. Ted Baillieu was a champion of environmental destruction, launching an unprecedented attack on our environment and dismantling protections that had been in place for decades. Now that he’s been replaced, we have a chance to turn over a new leaf for our environment. We know that there are thousands upon thousands of Victorians who want our environment protected. A healthy environment is what we want for our jobs, for the future, for our kids. And right now we need to show Premier Napthine the opportunity in front of him – to start taking Victoria’s environment forward again.  Take action. Sign the petition and spread it far and wide so he knows just how many of us will stand up for our environment > Premier Napthine already knows better than most what good environmental policies can do for our state. As MP for the South-West Coast, in the heartland of Victoria’s wind industry, he championed the South West as a renewable energy hub. Now as Premier it’s his turn to step up and champion clean energy and the jobs that come with it, for all of Victoria. Send our new Premier Napthine a message he can’t ignore. Ask him to protect our environment and to start by repealing Ted Baillieu’s anti-wind laws > On this first day of our new Premier’s term in office, let’s call on him to leave a legacy of environmental action of which the Coalition and Victorians like us can be proud. This is his chance to bring good, secure jobs back to Victoria, and to protect our air, water and the quality of life that Victorians love. Yours sincerely, Kelly O’Shanassy and the Team from Environment Victoria

Unsubscribe | Forward to a friend | Contact Us | Privacy Policy You've probably received this because you signed in at our website or are affiliated with Environment Victoria. Brought to you by Environment Victoria, (and the letters E and V), Level 2, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia. Phone (03) 9341 8100. Email admin@environmentvictoria.org.au.

Doctor Denis has a chance to do the right thing - please sign this petition and ask him to do so

Petition by Friends of the Earth Australia

Ted Baillieu's resignation presents the Coalition 

with the opportunity to dump the former Premier's 

regressive anti-wind farm laws (called VC82).

Research by Friends of the Earth estimates that the wind policy 

championed by Ted Baillieu has cost Victoria 

around $887 million  in lost or stalled investment.

Meanwhile, much of our best farmland is under exploration for coal or gas. 

Gippsland produces food worth $1.3 billion each year, 

yet the fossil fuel industry is hoping 

to greatly expand mining operations across this region.

The new Premier must show he is listening to 

community concerns about new coal and gas.

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To:  The Honourable Dr Denis Napthine, Premier of Victoria Let's get Victoria back on track: clean energy, protect our farms Congratulations on your appointment as Premier of Victoria. This gives the   Coalition the opportunity to dump the former Premiers regressive  anti-wind farm laws (VC82). Research by Friends of the Earth estimates that the wind policy championed  by Ted Baillieu has cost Victoria: • Around $887 million in lost or stalled investment. • 650 direct jobs lost or stalled in construction. • 54 on-going jobs in management of wind farms. • 1,408 indirectly associated (flow-on) jobs. South Australia has been the main beneficiary of VC82, with substantial   development of the wind sector in recent years. Job opportunities, investment,  and income for farmers and local Councils have moved west as a result of the  barriers that have been placed in the way of this clean energy source. Please commit to re-writing these laws and return balance to the planning system for renewable energy. Last year, the Coalition government acted to respond to community concerns about  the threat posed by new coal and gas operations across southern Victoria by implementing a moratorium on the process of Fracking in gas production. Victoria must learn from the example of NSW and Queensland, where on-shore   coal and gas is devastating rural communities. Please act to permanently protect  our precious farmland. I urge you to maintain the current moratorium on fracking, and extend it to any exploration activity for coal or gas. Please initiate, as a matter of urgency, a thorough investigation into the  likely impacts of this industry on: • water resources, • farmland and food security, • local communities and natural biodiversity, and • greenhouse emissions. Without this data it would be negligent to allow any further development of the fossil fuel industry in our state. Sincerely, [Your name]

Support a UN 5th World Conference on Women (in Australia, please) - Part 1

Support a UN 5th World Conference on Women Published by Jean Shinoda Bolen on Oct 12, 2009 14279 Signatures  Target: United Nations General Assembly, Secretary-General and all relevant components & NGOs. Region: GLOBAL Web site: http://www.5wcw.org/ Sign the petition Background (Preamble): A UN 5th World Conference on Women (5WCW), twenty years after Beijing, would be the most influential women’s conference ever held. Ideas and information would be shared via 21st century technology. It could be linked to simultaneously held conferences all over the world, as well as by attendees to their circles, through the internet, via youtube, social networking, smart phones, tablets, and other means. It would bring together and inspire the next generation of women leaders. It would be a major step toward a critical mass learning about the need for the empowerment and equality for women. This petition is a grassroots effort to influence the United Nations and its member states to support a UN 5th World Conference on Women. If a resolution is passed by the 66th General Assembly (2011-2012) it could be held in 2015. Information on website: www.5wcw.org. and in Urgent Message From Mother: Gather the Women, Save the World. www.jeanbolen.com Signatories: (http://www.5wcw.org/who.html) Isabel Allende, author, activist Ambassador Anwaul Chowdhury, former president of UN Security Council Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD, author Urgent Message From Mother, Jungian analyst, Marilyn Fowler, founder US Women-Connect, Women’s Intercultural Network Carol Hansen Grey, author, activist Dr. Anele Heiges, President International Public Policy Institute Dr. Patricia Licuanan, President Miriam College, Philippines, Chair of prepatory meetings for Beijing conference Patricia Smith Melton, founder PeaceXPeace Ambassador Gertrude I. Mongella, Secretary-General of 4th World Conference on Women (Beijing) Joyce Oneko, founder Mama na Dada-Africa Elly Pradervand, founder Women’s World Summit Foundation, Geneva Zainab Salbi, president Women for Women International Leticia Shahani, Secretary-General 3rd UN World Conference on Women (Nairobi) Gloria Steinem, founder Ms. Magazine, author, activist Alice Walker, author, activist Rosemary Williams, founder Women’s Perspective Lea Wyler, co-founder ROKPA International Petition: We, the undersigned, call on the UN General Assembly, Secretary-General, 193 member-states & affiliated NGOs to support a 5th World Conference on Women. Sign the petition The Support a UN 5th World Conference on Women petition to United Nations General Assembly, Secretary-General and all relevant components & NGOs. was written by Jean Shinoda Bolen and is in the category Women’s Rights & Empowerment at GoPetition. Contact author here. Petition tags:un 5th world conference on women, 5wcw. global women's conference, beijing conference ~~~~

Do you want more affordable housing? I know I do. Pls check this out ...

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Join our photo petition We think it’s time to really show government we want more affordable housing. That’s why we’re launching a photo petition so you can put your face to the campaign, and show our leaders that we need immediate action on housing affordability. The photo petition will show decision makers that there are real people behind this campaign, and that we are truly committed to bringing about positive changes to housing policy. You really can be an Australian for Affordable Housing. Log on to our petition page, tell us why you want more affordable housing in a photo and post it to our website. We encourage you to be creative! Why not take a photo in front of your house, a local landmark, or even in a neighbourhood you’d love to live in? The images will be posted on our redesigned campaign website. Check out the new homepage and upload your photo petition HERE! Sarah Toohey Campaign Manager, Australians for Affordable Housing www.housingstressed.org.au PS - Keep spreading the word and help us reach our target of 5,000 supporters soon!