BY LISA MACDONALD
SYDNEY — With just three weeks to go until the big day, M1 Sydney has begun to plan in detail how it will fulfill its stated aim, to "shut down corporate Sydney".
The plan involves quickly establishing a strong blockade at the Australian Stock Exchange's Bridge Street office, and then, as numbers swell, to block off nearby roads, including George and Pitt Streets. Organisers have also planned for speakers and musicians to perform, to encourage a street party atmosphere.
The dominant issue for the 50 attendees at the coalition's April 5 meeting was how to expand trade unions' support and involvement in M1 in Sydney. A couple of local branches of the Teachers Federation have endorsed M1, several other unions say they are "thinking about it" and the NSW Labor Council has held one meeting with M1 representatives to discuss its involvement, but activists are keen to win far greater support from the labour movement.
The meeting authorised members of its trade union working group to meet with a number of unions over the next week to seek their participation in a lunchtime "unity rally" which will focus on workers' issues, including condemning the state Labor government's attempts to gut workers' compensation rights.
The NSW Labor Council has already called a large cross-union rally in Sydney on April 19 to protest against the changes, and activists believe the issue could be important in winning workers' support for the M1 protest.
The coalition will make a decision on when to hold a "victory march", which institutions to target on the march route, and how long the blockade will be maintained at its next meeting, in light of unions' response.
The M1 Sydney group also decided that it would establish a police liaison group, apply for a rally permit and conduct negotiations with NSW police, who are closely monitoring M1 preparations.
While it is hoped that the police will allow the M1 participants to freely exercise their democratic right to protest peacefully, preparations are also being made to ensure that protesters' rights are defended.
The April 5 meeting decided to hold a "convergence" on April 28, which will involve detailed planning of the day, briefings on legal rights and training in blockade tactics. The group has encouraged all activists, including those from Wollongong, Newcastle and other regional centres planning to come Sydney for M1, to attend the convergence.
Democratic Socialist Party member and lawyer Dale Mills also reported that, so far, nine lawyers in Sydney have volunteered their services to activists who may need them as a result of events on May 1. A legal rights fact sheet and stickers listing phone numbers for legal help will be produced and distributed widely on the day.
Mills has called for supporters to volunteer as "legal observers". Training will be provided and no qualifications are required, although volunteers need to have a clean police record and be prepared to observe rather than participate in the blockade.
On April 8, M1 Sydney held its first major fundraiser with an 11-band line-up at the Gaelic Club.
The gig also launched the Sydney M1 CD, a compilation of songs from local bands ranging in styles from folk to rock to electronica. The CD, which is quickly becoming a collector's item, is available for $15 from all Resistance Centres in Sydney (details on page 2). All proceeds go to funding the shutdown of corporate Sydney on May 1.