ACT government workers' stop-work

By Leslie Williams CANBERRA — On November 29, workplace delegates in ACT government services voted unanimously to call an all-unions stop work meeting for December 8. The meeting was convened by the ACT Trades and Labor Council (TLC) to discuss the breakdown of enterprise bargaining negotiations with the Carnell Liberal government. The delegates also agreed to put a motion to the December 8 meeting calling for a one-day strike of ACT government workers, to be followed by ongoing bans. The ACT Liberal government has employed industrial head-kicker Paul Houlihan, infamous for his role in the Mudginberry dispute. John Walker, head of the Chief Minister's department, reportedly wants to introduce performance ratings for all staff, termination of employment for excess use of sick leave, and a continuation of the ALP/Liberals' agenda of compulsory tendering and privatisation. The Liberals intend to use enterprise bargaining to introduce agency-based competition to reinforce their provider-purchaser model for ACT government. The inevitable effect will force workers to compete to trade off conditions in the name of "productivity" — all for pay increases which are less than CPI rises. The annual general meeting of the ACT branch of the Community and Public Sector Union, held on November 30, also resolved to tackle Carnell's attacks head on. Following extensive debate, the meeting unanimously passed a motion calling for an industrial campaign to support ACT government members. The motion directs the CPSU's TLC delegation to call on the TLC to coordinate a broad campaign committee to consider actions including mass meetings, bans, strikes and a blockade. If the TLC fails to take up the campaign, the motion directs the CPSU to conduct a campaign committee with all interested unions. Following fierce debate, the CPSU meeting also voted in favour of allowing the rank and file unionists to decide whether or not the union would donate to ALP election campaign funds. The motion, directed at CPSU national officials, was opposed by ALP and some International Socialist Organisation members.