MELBOURNE — A local fight-back against PM John Howard's industrial relations "reforms" kicked off in Melbourne's western suburbs on June 22, when a newly formed coalition of community and union members organised a 100-strong forum in Footscray.
The crowd included local residents, community group representatives and a strong showing of unionists. Spokesperson for the new coalition Shirley Winton highlighted the role of the Business Council of Australia in helping to draft the anti-worker legislation and warned the audience that Howard's attacks are the worst in 100 years.
Michele O'Neil, Victorian secretary of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union and president of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, encouraged people to get active and show their opposition to Howard's anti-worker agenda through mobilisations and actions, in particular the June 30 protest rally.
Mark Zirnsak from the Uniting Church raised his concerns at the likely erosion of legislative wins that the "Fair Wear" campaign has gained for outworkers in the garment industry. He also argued that Howard's laws are not only a violation of labour rights, but of basic human rights because of their broad social impact.
Lawyer Rob Stary argued that Howard's IR laws are increasingly criminalising industrial disputes and political activity, with the complicity of the Victorian Labor government. Stary emphasised the ALP's capitulation to Howard's anti-worker agenda and noted that the Victorian prison population doubled in five years under Premier Steve Bracks.
The meeting strongly supported a call to pressure the state government to follow other states and campaign against Howard's IR laws.
Margarita Windisch
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, June 29, 2005.
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