BY JO WILLIAMS
MELBOURNE — The rapid expansion of Socialist Alliance is continuing, with the launch on July 18 of a new branch of the alliance in Melbourne's western suburbs.
The meeting, attended by more than 40 people, discussed how the Socialist Alliance can best relate to the social and economic disadvantage faced in "the west".
Annie Delaney, the outwork coordinator from the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, pointed out that many of the home-based outworkers her union represents live (and work) in the western suburbs. Delaney, along with many alliance members, is involved in the Fairwear campaign, which fights to improve the working conditions of outworkers, who are amongst the most badly-paid workers in Australia.
Terry Bradley, an organiser with the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, told the meeting that the west is the traditional heartland of metalworkers. Many factories are being closed down, especially the large engineering works.
Both Delaney and Bradley argued that Labor is no alternative for their members, citing examples of how the ALP has sold them out in favour of defending their big-business financial backers.
Anya Jarosz, the co-editor of the Victoria University student newspaper, and Tania Jorquera, a member of the Refugee Action Collective West, also addressed the meeting, both emphasising the success of Socialist Alliance in reducing in-fighting amongst left groups.
"Even though there are very real and important differences in political questions, it is important for us to unite around what we do agree on, and discuss differences in a positive and constructive way", said Jorquera.
Participants debated different attitudes to parliament, the campaigns that the alliance could be involved in and geographical areas that it could campaign in. Most were optimistic about the prospects for the Socialist Alliance.
Summing up the mood of the meeting, alliance member Andrew Fernandez concluded, "There is no better time to choose a side".