#3
UWA NTEU supports jailed unionist
PERTH — On October 27, the University of Western Australia branch committee of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) passed a motion expressing concern at the jailing of Victorian trade unionist Craig Johnston and the severity of the sentence (nine months) imposed on him by the Court of Appeal. The motion also noted the "degree to which [Johnston's] holding strong union and political views influenced the imposition of the custodial sentence".
The UWA NTEU branch committee will also be expressing its solidarity with Johnston through a letter of support to Rob Stary, Johnston's lawyer. Unfortunately, a similar motion moved at the UWA Guild Council meeting on October 26, by guild councillor and Resistance member Fred Fuentes, which also called for the immediate release of Johnston, was lost.
Kiraz Janicke
Asbestos protest targets Telstra meeting
MELBOURNE — A delegation of unionists from building unions protested the Telstra annual general meeting on September 28. The rally, chaired by Victorian Trades Hall president Michele O'Neil, called for the resignation of Telstra chairperson Donald McGauchie. McGauchie is also a director of James Hardie.
Len Cooper, Victorian secretary of the communication workers' division of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union, argued that it was a contradiction for McGauchie to defend the interests of Telstra workers in their fight for fair compensation from James Hardie on the one hand, and to represent James Hardie on the other. Cooper asked those present to remember the trade union slogan "If you don't fight, you lose!" and called on the union movement to "make a point of demonstrating that slogan over the next three years".
The rally was also addressed by Victorian Trades Hall secretary Leigh Hubbard, Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow and Wendy Keo, widow of Rob who died in February after contracting mesothelioma. He had worked for Telecom and Telstra for 37 years. Keo demanded that James Hardie be forced to pay and that McGauchie account to Telstra employees for his actions.
Up to 100 signatures were collected for the petition calling for the release of jailed trade unionist Craig Johnston.
Graham Matthews
Socialists stand candidates in local elections
MELBOURNE — The Socialist Alliance is standing candidates in three local elections to be held on November 27, in the cities of Moreland, Darebin and Yarra.
Judy McVey and Terry Costello will stand for South Ward in the Moreland City Council and Tessa Theocharous and Brian Maher will contest North East Ward. In Darebin, the alliance is standing Arun Pradhan for Rucker, while in Yarra, Jody Betzien will contest the Nicholls ward.
The Socialist Alliance will be campaigning on a platform that opposes privatisation and outsourcing of council services, defends council workers' wages and conditions and seeks to place planning control in the hands of residents, to take power away from the developers. The Socialist Alliance is also calling for councils to make special provision for refugees and asylum seekers.
"Socialist Alliance candidates will organise campaigns alongside residents and council staff to force federal and state governments to hand over the money that is needed", said McVey. "The alliance stands first and foremost for council providing services to the community at low cost or free of charge", added Betzien.
"Levels of homelessness in the inner city are growing considerably. Council resources need to be spent providing more low-cost housing", Betzien continued.
The Socialist Party is also contesting the Yarra City Council with a ticket of three for the Langridge ward. Stephen Jolly, Erin Sales and Zac Wright are running a campaign to "bring Yarra City Council back to the community".
Graham Matthews
From Green Left Weekly, November 3, 2004.
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