Jim McIlroy, Brisbane
Queensland unions are well under way with plans for a mass mobilisation of members on June 30 against the Coalition government's new anti-union laws.
Transport Workers Union secretary Hughie Williams told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly that the Queensland Transport Union Federation, involving the TWU, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, will meet in the morning and march to the 12.15pm King George Square rally in unison. Dick Williams, secretary of the Electrical Trades Union, said that his union would be gathering in the Roma Street Forum and "marching under full colours, led by marching bands".
Hughie Williams stressed that the rally would be part of an "ongoing campaign, a long campaign, to challenge [PM John] Howard". He referred to a TWU march of thousands in support of the MUA during the maritime dispute of 1998 on the Brisbane waterfront. "We will be urging people to participate in the campaign against the new IR laws, just like back then."
He added that the TWU had decided to target Brisbane Liberal MP Ross Vasta, as part of a push to pressure government backbenchers not to support the industrial bill. The union movement could be "invigorated" by the campaign to defend workers' rights, he said.
Dick Williams told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly that the ETU held an important branch conference a month ago, which laid out a long-term plan of action against the Howard government's new laws, involving "industrial, community, legal and media" activities. The 70 rank-and-file delegates from all over Queensland and the Northern Territory voted to levy members $1 a week, creating a budget of more than $1 million for a fighting fund against the legislation. The decision was ratified almost unanimously by a vote of 3000 ETU members.
Other resolutions supported industrial action, to be determined by the campaign committee, and the establishment of a charter to be presented to employers, demanding they commit to continuing with existing agreements and opposing contracting and AWAs, and agree to full right of entry for union officials to work sites.
The community action part of the plan would involve "linking up with organisations like the Socialist Alliance, the Welfare Rights Centre, the Migrant Resource Centre and church groups, to broaden the campaign into the community. This means supporting each other against all Howard's attacks", Dick Williams said.
"June 30 is indeed important. We need to get a significant roll-out on the day. But it's just the first step, the first shot in a long campaign to defeat the laws and to oust the Howard government."
The Community and Public Sector Union is also stepping up publicity for the June 30 day of action, with mass leafleting of federal government buildings, railway stations and the city mall.
The Defend Our Unions Committee, a network of rank-and-file unionists, is also campaigning to build the rally and for a further rally against the industrial laws in August, with cross-union meetings of delegates and a commitment to support any unionists victimised under the new legislation.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, June 22, 2005.
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