In her first public appearance since her ordeal, Orissa nun, Sr Meena, said she had been gang raped by forty men while police looked on.

“State police failed to stop the crimes, failed to protect me from the attackers, they were friendly with the attackers,” Sister Meena told a news conference.

More

EXTREMIST Hindu groups offered money, food and alcohol to mobs to kill Christians and destroy their homes, according to Christian aid workers in the eastern state of Orissa.

The allegations follow the British Government’s refusal to prevent members of two radical groups linked to the worst anti-Christian violence in India since Partition from entering Britain.

The US-based head of a Christian organisation that runs several orphanages in Orissa, one of India’s poorest regions, says Christian leaders are being targeted by Hindu militants.

“The going price to kill a pastor is $US250 ($390),” said Faiz Rahman, chairman of Good News India.

A spokesman for the All-India Christian Council said: “People are being offered rewards to kill, and to destroy churches and Christian properties. They are being offered foreign liquor, chicken, mutton and weapons. They are given petrol and kerosene.”

More

UNIVERSITY teachers admit the quality of education students are getting is worse than it was five years ago, placing growing pressure on the Rudd Government as it prepares for a massive shake-up for the nation’s tertiary sector.

- Tertiary standards on decline: teachers
- Staff survey paints bleak picture
- 60% say funding a major concern

More

Email your findings to JustAct to antony.mcmullen@victas.uca.org.au

For more information, or if you have any questions contact Antony on (03) 9251 5286 (or email him - see above).

Volunteers needed
Interested in more? We are looking volunteers to work with us to help undertake further research. Contact Antony on the above if you are interested and want to become more involved.

Act NOW! – At the moment, we are asking you to contact a Christian bookstore
Ask Word Bookstores to play a part in protecting the dignity of workers making their Christian devotional items

Christian retailers and suppliers are being called to work together to identify workplaces where goods are being manufactured so as to ensure that the fundamental human dignity of those who make the products are fully respected, and local workplace laws are complied with.

Word Bookstores Pty Ltd is a high-profile and successful Christian retailer involved in the selling of a range of products made in China, and other countries, where there are documented cases of gross disregard for the fundamental human dignity of working people.

Here are some examples of China made products sold at Word Bookstores:

• “Bee your Best” rubber balls set – Oriental Trading Company;
• “Confirmed in Christ” – large cross – Dayspring (company);
• “God is Love” – glow in the dark plastic cross – Fun Express (company);
• “He Lives Activity Set” – bag of pencils and pad – Oriental Trading Company;
• “Heroes of Faith” – Moses figure in rocks, “10 Commandments” – Journey ITB (company);
• “Jesus is Tops” – plastic toy top – Dicksons (company); and,
• “Veggie Tales” – Bible cover.

Just because an item is made in China does not mean it is made under gross exploitation; however, without independent verification everyone is in the dark.

The Justice & International Mission Unit of the Uniting Church in Australia has repeatedly tried to contact this company to start a dialogue about these issues; but there has been no response. In contrast, UniChurch Books and the Central Catholic Bookstore (both in Melbourne) have responded favourably.

JustHolyHardware wants to make certain that no goods made for the Victorian Christian community to celebrate and acknowledge the Christian faith have been made with violations of human dignity.

Write to Word Bookstores asking them to engage with the Justice & International Mission Unit so that the scale of the problems can be properly evaluated and some solutions can be found.

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Details
Date: Sunday, 23rd November
Time: 4- 11pm
Place: The Factory, 105 Victoria Road, Enmore. NSW

This workshop challenges non-Aboriginal participants to explore the relevance of concepts such as land rights, native title, sovereignty, reconciliation, treaty, self-determination, Aboriginal deaths in custody, customary law, traditional owner etc. to their own life on this country.

It explores ways in which non-Aboriginal people can support Aboriginal Australia.

The workshop offers no easy answers, only difficult questions.

6pm, Tuesday November 25th

@ “The Den” 116 Little Bourke St. Melbourne

 (between Russell St. And Exhibition St. on the north side of the street)

For more info please contact Virginia at Urban Seed v.moebusnelson@gmail.com or 9650-8034

A MALE boss sexually harassed a male apprentice by repeatedly inviting him to shower with him, touching his genitals, and grabbing him from behind while simulating sex and making pig noises.

Christopher Thomas won $35,000 in damages after a tribunal found his former boss, Dean Alexiou, sexually harassed him between 2003 and 2006.

The tribunal found Mr Alexiou appeared to be motivated by either a desire to bully Mr Thomas in front of his co-workers, or a belief his behaviour was an appropriate form of workplace horseplay.

The harassment started soon after Mr Thomas began work as a 17-year-old apprentice engine reconditioner for the Melbourne company Westpoint Cylinder Heads in January 2003.

More of the article

Go to Just Employment and find out about justice for young workers, and people who work at home.

Go to Just Employment and take action to urge the Victorian Government to provide more protection for young people (15-17) in Victorian workplaces.

The Issue

A 15 year old girl employed in a fast-food shop, was given a bucket containing caustic soda by the owner and asked to clean the ovens. The employer failed to inform her of the contents of the bucket and did not provide her with necessary training or adequate protective gear. She suffered burns to her body and required hospital treatment which the employer agreed to pay. However, the employer found the bill amounting to $99 was “excessive” and refused to give her any more shifts. The employer alleged the accident was her fault. JobWatch also found that she had been underpaid by 50% and that the employer had no insurance. (JobWatch Annual Report 2006-2007)

JustEmployment is for people who have an interest in decent working conditions and support for people at work (or for those who are looking for work).

Two key areas of focus are young workers and homeworkers.

Work brings you responsibility and challenge. Sometimes you could be asked to endure work in unsafe conditions, or to receive less pay than you should. When experiencing the formal workplace for the first time the experience can be a defining moment. Unfortunately for those who experience unstable and unrewarding work it can be a bit of a ‘dog eat dog’ experience. Young people deserve to have safe, stable and rewarding work environments – this benefits the good of all.

The Victorian Government can legislate to specifically protect young people (15-17) in Victorian workplaces. The Government is currently reviewing laws in this area. Also, specific resources should be allocated by the Victorian Government to ensure that young people are not exploited or abused at work.

Just take action!

Have you ever wondered why that pair of jeans ‘made in China’ is so cheap? Many homeworkers and workers in what are known as ‘sweat shops’ throughout the world remain an underclass which can provide a pool of cheap and submissive workers in both industrialised and developing countries. Christian communities (and others) of all persuasions have played a part in highlighting this issue. Find out more at www.justemployment.org.au

For more information and to take action

• Generally you should be rostered and paid for a minimum number of hours per shift.
• You should start and finish your shift at the rostered time even if work is busy or quiet, unless you and your employer both agree otherwise.
• Generally you should get an unpaid break if you work five hours or more.
• You can say no to working public holidays if you have reasonable grounds. It depends on the kind of work you, whether you get extra pay or other benefits for working public holidays, how much notice you’re given, your reasons for refusing or your personal circumstances (including family responsibilities).

Finishing up

• You generally have to give your employer notice you’re resigning from your job. If you don’t give enough notice your employer can keep wages to cover the notice period, so check your award or agreement first.
• Generally, if you’re a casual employee your job may be terminated at one hour’s notice.
• If you’re employed full-time or part-time you should be paid out any annual leave owing to you when your employment ends.
• You can’t be sacked because of things like your race, sex, age, physical or mental disability, sexual preference, or for filing a complaint against your employer for breaching a law.

Getting paid

• Unpaid ‘trials’ are generally against the law. You shouldn’t be asked to work for free.
• You should be paid for all hours you work, including meetings or training and any time you spend opening and closing the business.
• In most jobs you will be paid junior rates until you turn 21.
• You should be given a pay slip within one day of being paid.
• Money can’t be taken out of your pay if customers leave without paying or if the cash register is short.
• ‘Cash in hand’ is when you are paid without tax being taken out and it is against the law.
• You should give your employer your tax file number otherwise you can be taxed at a higher rate

Go here for more information