The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) is holding a series of forums across the country to get feedback from delegates about the direction that the union is taking. The first was held in Melbourne on February 19, attracting more than 300 delegates from the metals, print, food and T&S divisions from across Victoria.
The meeting discussed the union's perspectives in the wake of the defeat of the federal Coalition government. It was acknowledged that the election of the ALP has not won the Your Rights at Work (YRAW) campaign, and the AMWU and the union movement need to keep up the struggle to reverse the losses in workplace conditions and use the next round of agreements to extend past gains.
The ALP would not necessarily deliver the best workplace laws unless the AMWU and other unions continued to be active.
The AMWU committed itself to keeping up the pressure on the ALP and employers through continuing YRAW campaigning, putting forward a resolution to the Victorian delegates pledging to mobilise members to continue the struggle, and making links with the community and promoting workers' rights through the media.
Part of this strategy includes public demonstrations, with a focus on May Day.
The resolution put to the meeting generated discussion, with a few amendments from the floor, and formed the basis for a resolution that the AMWU delegation put to the Victorian Trades Hall Council on February 21. This resolution was successfully moved by VTHC secretary Brian Boyd.
The resolution received support from 40 union representatives including from the AMWU; the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; the Electrical Trades Union; the Australian Education Union; the Victorian Public Service Association; the Australian Nursing Federation; the Maritime Union Australian; the Independent Education Union; and the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union's postal division.
The motion welcomed the defeat of the Coalition government, as it "removes 11 years of extreme conservatism in this country" and "recognises and congratulates the efforts made by delegates, activists and rank-and-file members who participated in the YRAW campaign. This campaign was the major reason that led to the defeat of the Howard government. "
The motion condemned Coalition threats to obstruct workplace legislation proposed by the Rudd Labor government and called on the federal government to "act on the mandate which has been given to them by the Australian public, and to move to restore workers' rights … The Your Rights at Work campaign has not yet been won simply because the government that introduced Workchoices has been removed."
A range of demands were put on the Rudd government, including introducing laws that "enshrine International Labor Organisation conventions, especially with respect to the rights to organise, representation, collective bargaining and the right to strike", the removal of some restrictions on the content of bargaining, the abolition of the Australian Building and Construction Commission and the restoration of unfair dismissal rights.
The motion supported VTHC continuing the YRAW campaign: "We call for the VTHC to pursue a comprehensive political, community and industrial Your Rights at Work campaign in the [Australian Council of Trade Unions], Trades and Labour Councils, the Australian Labor Party and other appropriate forums." Proposals included making May Day "a focus of overturning all laws undermining our rights", mobilising members and delegates in mass and workplace meetings and a focus on "the key role of union delegates in ensuring protection from arbitrary actions by the employer in the workplace and on the role of bargaining in establishing and maintaining new standards in our industries".
Employers who undermined or obstructed the restoration of workers' rights are to be targeted and shamed as part of the campaign.