Australian workers

[Bilan]

Today marked the 3rd strike is less than a fortnight in Australia.

Ford Workers in Melbourne have all gone on strike.
Bus drivers in Sydney recently went on strike.
All Ambulance workers in Sydney have gone on strike, and are threatening to cancel all their services during the APEC summit.

More strikes are being threatened. (http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22326886-31037,00.html)
Seems very interesting...

Car Industry Strikes (http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,23636,22325097-31037,00.html)
Ambulance strikes (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/29/2018116.htm)
Postal Workers threaten strikes too. (http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Australia-Post-workers-threaten-strike/2007/08/28/1188067091149.html)

I'll add more links later...

[RevolucioN NoW]

Yeah, its definetely a good sign, remember all of these strikes have occured during the allowable strike period (the period of negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement) so its nothing particularly radical, nor are there any 'sympathy' strikes in the offing (which would be illegal).

Though it does show that the labor dominated unions are willing to take more of a stand, particularly coming up to the federal election.

[Bilan]

Originally posted by RevolucioN [email protected] 29, 2007 07:52 pm
Yeah, its definetely a good sign, remember all of these strikes have occured during the allowable strike period (the period of negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement) so its nothing particularly radical, nor are there any 'sympathy' strikes in the offing (which would be illegal).

Though it does show that the labor dominated unions are willing to take more of a stand, particularly coming up to the federal election.
I thought the legal strike period has passed?

But yeah, it's definatley a good sign.

[Cheung Mo]

So what? These nits elect a Labour government that makes only superficial changes to industrial relations?

I don't see any merit to supporting Labour, although someone told me that you have to rank every party on your ballot in Australia, which sucks.

[Bilan]

Originally posted by Cheung [email protected] 29, 2007 09:31 pm
So what? These nits elect a Labour government that makes only superficial changes to industrial relations?

I don't see any merit to supporting Labour, although someone told me that you have to rank every party on your ballot in Australia, which sucks.
I don't see what you're getting at?
The unions have rejected Labors new policies, so far. Or at least claimed they're not satisfied with the,
But that's not the point.
The thing I was getting at was, there's been 4 strikes in less than 2 weeks in the Sydney- Melbourne region, and more are being threated all at once. Which seems, at least for this moment in time, really interesting.

Labor getting elected will make no fucking difference, obviously. They're a bunch of assholes, as well.

I am interested to see whats going to happen after the election though...

[chebol]

For those in Melbourne, there will be a union protest on September 26. (http://www.vthc.org.au/index.cfm?section=2&Category=2&viewmode=content&ContentID=2270)

[Bilan]

Originally posted by [email protected] 31, 2007 04:28 pm
For those in Melbourne, there will be a union protest on September 26. (http://www.vthc.org.au/index.cfm?section=2&Category=2&viewmode=content&ContentID=2270)
Is there one in Sydney too?

[chebol]

And it will make a difference if Labor gets elected. The plan of action will have to be to push them as far as they will go in implementing the "reforms" they are "promising", and by doing so expose them for their dishonesty and anti-working class allegiance.

It is ridiculously difficult to convince the numbers of people that we need to of this if Labor is not on government, as the hacks and bureaucrats call for "working class unity" (with the party that is currently opening saying it will break strikes by any means necessary if it is elected!!!!).

Most readers are probably too young to remember last time the ALP got in federally. They floated the AUD, smashed and deregistered the militant unions, tied wages to prices in a highyl exploitative way, and....

... led to a mass exodus of labour militants, many of whom helped to form first the Nuclear Disarmament Party, and then the Greens. In between, there was also a lot of discussion of a New Left Party.

We need to work towards this same end again, and a key part will be taking the fight to the ALP as much as to the Libs (and it will be harder, because a lot of the fight will be WITHIN the unions, against the bureaucracy...).

As far as the election goes, my advice is vote: 1 Socialist Alliance, 2 Greens, 3 Labor, then from left to right with the rest. The vote passes on until it is used, but the parties get to see where they get preferences from. The more these votes come from the left, the stronger the voice of the left in the unions and within the Greens (and they really need a bit of help in the face of the Eco-capitalist ascendancy).

[chebol]

Nothing it Sydney - the Labor hacks shut the idea down pretty quick smart.

Socialist Alliance will be launching our Workers' Rights Charter in Sydney on the 25th, and we are looking into organising even a small solidarity action (hundreds or thousands is off the cards now thanks to Robertson, Ferguson and co...).

[Bilan]

Nothing it Sydney - the Labor hacks shut the idea down pretty quick smart.

Fuckers.


and we are looking into organising even a small solidarity action (hundreds or thousands is off the cards now thanks to Robertson, Ferguson and co...).

...what happened with them?

[chebol]

John Robertson = head of Unions NSW
Andrew Ferguson = NSW CFMEU secretary

Basically, Robertson and his mates have never been in favour of calling rallies against WorkChoices. Andrew on the other hand has done a better job of it, but the unions are being pulled tightly into the "elect labor" campaign (although they are developing an interesting tactic in regards to the senate - pushing a bit of greenery).

The unions in Vic are a lot more militant, which means we're gonna get a turn out down there - plus the threats of strikes from the posties and others.

Here in sydney there are some things going on in the buses, and problems developing in the ferries, but nothing near as militant. The best we are going to get is APEC, with the MUA, and as of today the Firies, endorsing and probably coming out for it. There might be some quiet 'encouragement' of other union members to participate, but a lot of what I'm hearing is "letterbox, letterbox, letterbox"...

Also, VERY IMPORTANT - CHECK THIS OUT! http://www.constructingfear.com.au/

[chebol]

Also THIS! (http://www.amwu.asn.au/default.asp?action=LoadArticle&ID=3009)

[Bilan]

Originally posted by [email protected] 31, 2007 09:48 pm
John Robertson = head of Unions NSW
Andrew Ferguson = NSW CFMEU secretary

Basically, Robertson and his mates have never been in favour of calling rallies against WorkChoices. Andrew on the other hand has done a better job of it, but the unions are being pulled tightly into the "elect labor" campaign (although they are developing an interesting tactic in regards to the senate - pushing a bit of greenery).

The unions in Vic are a lot more militant, which means we're gonna get a turn out down there - plus the threats of strikes from the posties and others.

Here in sydney there are some things going on in the buses, and problems developing in the ferries, but nothing near as militant. The best we are going to get is APEC, with the MUA, and as of today the Firies, endorsing and probably coming out for it. There might be some quiet 'encouragement' of other union members to participate, but a lot of what I'm hearing is "letterbox, letterbox, letterbox"...

Also, VERY IMPORTANT - CHECK THIS OUT! http://www.constructingfear.com.au/
Cheers for the links and the info, mate.
The constructing fear one didn't work, are you sure it's the right link?

[Black Dagger]

The link works fine for me...

Also check this thread for more info on constructing fear:

http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=70332

[Comeback Kid]

What is the LHMU doing?

[Bilan]

Originally posted by bleeding gums [email protected] 01, 2007 11:16 pm
The link works fine for me...

Also check this thread for more info on constructing fear:

http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=70332
Hey...it works now! :D

And thanks for the other link. :)