trade unionism

Dean Mighell on Rudd

arleeshar — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 16:04:16 -0700

Go read this. If you haven't already.

Event - Media and Progressive Politics

alex white — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 03:57:28 -0700

All Melbourne readers are invited to an upcoming Young Labor Left event, Media and Progressive Politics. Young Labor Left is holding a seminar for Young Labor members on the topic of Media and Progressive Politics. The guest speaker is Elizabeth Lukin, Director of Essential Media Communications, the public affairs firm that developed the distinctive visual design and communications strategy of the ACTU's Rights At Work media campaign. Elizabeth will be talking to Young Labor members about:

Young Labor activists and the media;
Your Rights At Work - how the campaign was put together; and
How young people can get involved with progressive media

Where: Level 3, 62 Lygon St, CARLTON When: 6:30pm, Thursday 12 July 2007 Please RSVP by Monday 9 July to yllcampaigncompass@gmail.com for catering purposes. For more information, contact YLL Policy Convenor, Dean Rizzetti (deanrizzett@gmail.com, 0418 873 499).

Bleeding obvious: AWAs strip work conditions

alex white — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 15:41:57 -0700

A Sydney Morning Herald report has confirmed (again) what we all knew: AWAs under WorkChoices strip away Award conditions - and 27% even undermine the five minimum protected conditions.

Shift loadings were removed in 75 per cent of the agreements, annual leave loading from 59 per cent, incentive payments and bonuses in 70 per cent of cases, and declared public holidays in 22.5 per cent. However, a sub-sample of 3972 agreements lodged between June and September shows 78 per cent contained wage rates more generous than the relevant award minimum, while 16 per cent had wage rates equal to the award minimum.

The last statement - that many AWAs have higher rates of pay than the Award - is hardly surprising. The higher rates of pay come at the cost of shift penalties, annual leave loading and other conditions.

The Sectarian Snake

alex white — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 11:40:25 -0800

Tony Abbot, the veteran Liberal Party cultural-warrior, has backed the destructive and divisive influence of B.A. Santamaria, the Labor rat who masterminded the rise of the DLP. Abbot, in launching a collection of Santamaria's letters, said:

the Catholic-based party that came out of the split, was "alive and well and living inside the Howard Government".

As former Victorian Premier John Cain noted:

Sectarianism was at its worst in Australia at that time and it took decades for the political system to recover.

Looks like sectarianism, the legacy of the DLP, is alive and well in the Liberal Party.

Media clips of the storm brewing on the horizon

dibo — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 14:08:41 -0800

ALP senator furious over Cameron's political bid

Women muscle in as men shape up over Senate spot

States' Appeal Fails, Kirby Dissents

liam — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 15:41:03 -0800

The [laws are valid](http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/high_ct/2006/52.html), in a shock move Kirby dissents; trade unions go back to the shop floor. Is this a victory for democracy and the Commonwealth mandate, or just another demonstration that the cause of labour is not to be won by leveraging the institutions of the State? Is it a win for the Howard Government, an upholding of the law and the golden ~~showers~~ threads of British justice? An invitation for unions to just get on with it and organise? I don't know. The law, like the past, is a foreign country and they do things differently there---with wigs 'n' stuff. Elsewhere in Australia, [traffic stops for beer](http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/beer-spill-blocks-major-highway/2006/11/14/1163266511650.html).

$27.36 a week - good news for whom?

dibo — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 20:37:12 -0700

Today the Australian Fair Pay Commission awarded an increase of $27.36 per week to low paid workers. For workers at the bottom end of the wage scale this represents a 5.67% pay rise. Predictably, unions are hailing a win while the Government, Australian Industry Group and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry bleat about it hurting business, locking in an interest rate rise and giving lie to the claims that the new system will hold down wages. I think they’re all wrong.

Call 1300 486 466 to join a union

jason — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:28:25 -0700

The November 30 nationwide rally against the IR laws is just over a month away. Two things will strike fear into the heart of the Howard Government: a huge turnout for November 30, and the continued rapid growth of the union movement. John Howard's new IR laws have seen Australian workers turn to unions in unprecedented numbers. Last year the ABS reported a 4% growth in union membership, an increase of 70,000 new members. This week, we are launching a simple, but radical, new scheme that means it has never been easier to join a union. Unions Australia makes it easy to find the union that's right for you. Starting today, one phone number is all you need to call to join your union. Call 1300 486 466 to join Unions Australia today. You have been active in the Rights at Work campaign. Joining a union is the natural extension of your fight for rights at work and the values that we hold dear. It's not just seeking to protect hard-won conditions like penalty rates and public holidays. In this regard, the ABS statistics speak for themselves – union members earn on average $118 a week more than non-union employees. Joining a union is also about bolstering the Australian way of life: time with family, job security, a safety net for all Australians. I've been active in the union movement for twenty years, and I can assure you that when you join a union, you don't just receive information, advice and support when you need it - you are playing a vital role in a movement for change. All Australian workers have the right to join a union. Whether you work in a large or small business, in an office or on a construction site - there is a union that can represent you. We also have a special supporters' membership for retirees, and those who own a business or are currently not working. If you are already a union member, I am looking to you to help build the movement and spread the word about Unions Australia. Please pass this email on to your friends to let them know about our new, simplified joining procedure. I am keen to hear your thoughts on Unions Australia, so feel free to get back to me with your comments. I am very proud to be launching Unions Australia this week. We have created this initiative in response to the success of the Rights at Work campaign. This success is due in large part to the hard work and dedication of supporters like you. Once again, many thanks for your support, Greg Combet Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions

Well Done Labor!

jason — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 21:23:02 -0700

I would like to congratulate the South Australian Labor Party and the Secretary, Michael Brown, for making the decision to ban non-union journalists from attending the state conference. In an era of WorkChoices why do journalists assume they will be granted entry? The state conference is not a public event and anyone can be refused the right to enter. A big thumbs down to Beazley for avoiding the issue altogether. I hope the MEAA is affiliated in South Oz and were behind this event.

Tree of Knowledge Dead

alex white — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:45:00 -0700

The Tree of Knowledge was poisoned earlier this year, after a vandal dumped 30 litres of pesticide on it. This week it was declared dead. The poisoning came at the time when the Liberal Government was introducing its WorkChoices legislation. The symbolism is not lost. It was under this tree that, legend has it, the Labor Party was formed, during the landmark shearer's strike of 1891. Thousands of shearers sheltered under the tree in Barcaldine to oppose the region's landowners, colluding with the state government, who wanted to smash organised unionism. There were heroic efforts by the local council, community and Labor Party to revive the tree. This act of national vandalism has been widely reported, including international reports. Until the poisoning of the Tree of Knowledge, I must confess to being ignorant of its role in the history of the labour movement. It is sad that it took the vandalism and death of this historic tree for its history to be moved (once again) to the public spot light. The good news is that conservationists have managed to clone the tree: the Tree of Knowledge is dead; long live the Tree of Knowledge.