John Robertson is under fire for making the perfectly reasonable promise that the union movement would keep campaigning in workers’ interests even if Kevin Rudd wins the election. Dean Mighell was expelled from the ALP for using ETU members’ venacular when discussing the (legal) bargaining tactics he has used to win higher than expected pay [...]
When Labor announced it would retain WorkChoices’ limits on the right to strike, Jeff Sparrow argued that the “most striking” feature of the policy “is precisely how little it is driven by the polls.” After all, there’s absolutely no evidence of the public demanding a crackdown on strikes. Yes, industrial relations is a key issue—but [...]
Yesterday’s anti-WorkChoices rallies were quite good, but bad planning and publicity decisions by the unions led to poor media coverage. In Melbourne and Perth, at least, the choice of huge venues away from the city centre led to a smaller crowd that looked even smaller. If you promise to “Fill the G”, you’d better have [...]
Tomorrow is the national day of protest against the unfair WorkChoices laws. Local rallies around the country will be linked up by a national telecast. Jimmy Barnes will headline the festivities at the MCG, and hundreds of thousands of workers are expected to join in around the country. Even staff from the Office of the [...]
Although this blog is usually quite strictly focussed on Australian issues, I have been asked by the LHMU to mention something that happened in the United States last week, and which is one of LabourStart’s Act NOW! campaigns. As you know, this blog supports the LHMU’s Clean Start for Cleaners campaign. A similar campaign — [...]
When you’re reading the flood of commentary that will follow this morning’s High Court decision, it is important to remember that it was not a ruling on the merits of the legislation. Just because the law is constitutional does not mean it is good or worthwhile. In fact, the High Court majority went out of [...]
The Maritime Union of Australia has launched a campaign to honour the men and women who worked Sydney’s wharves and ships. They want to rename a foreshore redevelopment in Darling Harbour “The Hungry Mile”, as the area has been known to workers since the Depression: It first became known as the Hungry Mile during the [...]
Tuesday’s rallies in support of CFMEU and AMWU members were a great success — well over 1000 supporters attended the early-morning rally in Perth, with 500 in Sydney, 300 in Adelaide, 200 in Melbourne, and hundreds more in regional centres. In court, about a hundred workers and their union representatives packed the public gallery, and [...]
On Tuesday, 29 August, there will be two rallies in Perth to support workers who are being attacked in court under the Howard Government’s new IR laws. 107 construction workers and about 40 metalworkers will appear in the Federal Court to defend themselves. Both groups are calling for support at early-morning rallies in the CBD: [...]
This Wednesday, it’s time to take a stand for workers’ rights. Join the National Day of Protest and show your opposition to the WorkChoices agenda. Details of local rallies and events follow.
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