Comment by Iggy Kim
According to Kevin Reynolds, secretary of the WA CFMEU, it is ACTU policy to work with immigration cops to rid workplaces of "illegal" migrants who take Australians' jobs. Acting on this policy in mid-July, the union reported a group of workers of Korean origin at the Murrin Murrin nickel operation in Western Australia.
But the union was acting on more than ACTU policy — it was acting on the racist stereotypes of Hansonism. Of the 25 welders investigated, 18 were Australian citizens, some of them born here, and the remainder had work visas.
When Green Left asked whether the workers had been approached by the union for verification, Reynolds responded: "It's not for the union to check the status of these men. That's the job of the immigration authorities. We go to them if there's any suspicion of illegal migrants."
After the incident blew up, Jock Ferguson, assistant secretary of the WA Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), crawled on to his high horse, accusing the CFMEU of playing into Hanson's hands.
Ferguson's gripe was that the CFMEU had not checked its facts, unlike his union which earlier in the month had dobbed in another group of Korean workers who were genuinely "illegal". He proudly boasted to the West Australian that the AMWU regularly liaised with the immigration department: "we don't act on conjecture, speculation or innuendo".
Regardless of a migrant worker's status, is it the job of a workers' organisation to collar fellow workers, especially those vulnerable to bosses' intimidation? Reynolds' reply was, "Yes. If they're here illegally taking the jobs of our people." Aren't there problems with a union working with a government responsible for attacks on workers? "We work with the government on a whole range of things."
This bid by both unions to be the best Hansonites raises the question: when immigration numbers and admission policy are dictated by the interests of the bosses' economy, how valid is the criterion "illegal migrant"?
It seems that the old Laborism of the White Australia policy is alive and well in the union bureaucracy. Instead of closing ranks with workers of all colours and national origin, the Laborites chummy up to the bosses to protect a relatively privileged labour market and a regionally exploitative capitalist economy against foreign invaders. In return, they are happy to scrape up whatever crumbs are thrown back, even as these dwindle and become more stale.
The Democratic Socialists are issuing an open letter to the trade unions to oppose this sort of class betrayal and invite a vigorous trade union campaign in defence of Asian and Aboriginal working people. Anyone wishing to help distribute this letter should call (08) 9227 7367.
[Iggy Kim is a Korean-born trade unionist and Democratic Socialist whose father has been a long-time member of the CFMEU.]