The Guardian 11 May, 2005
Workers prepare for Howard's IR attack
Bob Briton
Well attended rallies of building workers in Melbourne and Adelaide last week kicked off
the long campaign to defeat the federal government's proposed industrial relations law
changes. Thousands of workers in Melbourne and over 1500 in Adelaide left their jobs in
an act of defiance against the so-called Building and Construction Industry Improvement
Bill. The Bill contains retrospective provisions dating back to March 10. These outlaw all
industrial action during the life of an agreement and boost fines for unsanctioned
industrial action to $110,000 for organisations and $22,000 for individuals.
The rallies followed on from well supported May Day activities across the country which also
had the reactionary legislation as their main theme. In Sydney, unions reported the biggest
participation of rank and file members in the parade for many years. The success of these
recent events is a good indicator that plans being developed by the labour movement to build
the broadest possible resistance to the IR changes are on track.
As South Australian secretary of the CFMEU Construction and General Division Martin O'Malley
pointed out last week, the forms of struggle against the attack will be many and varied.
Speaking in praise of the many workers from the service sector that attended the Building
Trades Federation rally, Martin pointed out that it is often more difficult to organise industrial
action in their workplaces than on building sites and that the task before all workers is to devise
the most effective form of opposition possible. Flags and banners from the Australian Services
Union, Australian Nurses Federation, Miscellaneous Workers Union and the Finance Sector
Union were prominent at last week's Adelaide rally.
All over the country, unions and peak union organisations have been calling meetings of
delegates to develop a powerful campaign. The ACTU has made resources available for an
extensive union training program entitled Your Rights at Work — Worth Fighting For.
Affiliated unions are considering a levy on members to fund a nationwide TV advertising
campaign costing $8 million.
In line with campaigns being developed elsewhere, delegates to the Victorian Trades Hall
Council are urging workers to take these first steps and to get active in their workplace and their
community straight away:
Pass a workplace motion opposing the Government's proposals and calling
on your employer to guarantee that your current wages and conditions will be maintained and
that they will respect your right to collectively bargain.
Make an appointment with your local federal member of Parliament and
present the motion to him/her. Let them know how the changes will disadvantage you and your
family.
Talk to your workmates who are not in a union about why there has never
been a better time to join and why if the government gets their laws through, we will have to
stick together to keep our livelihoods. Work towards majority union membership in your area by
talking to people and educating them about how these changes will affect them.
Stay informed and involved through checking the Trades Hall and ACTU
websites for regular updates (http://www.vthc.org.au or http://www.actu.asn.au) and becoming involved in
your union.
Take your message to the community. Ring talkback radio and tell them
how your life and the life of your family will change for the worse if you have to work harder and
longer for less pay. Speak at your local sports club, parents group, community group etc. about
the changes. Your union and Trades Hall will have material available to help you explain these
changes to others.
Unions are building for a week of activities involving workers and their families leading up to
rallies on June 30. On July 1 the Coalition will get control of the Senate and will be in a position
to start its anti-worker blitzkrieg when the new upper house first sits early in August.