Sue Bolton, Melbourne
On February 2, 40 members and officials from 10 unions in Victoria founded the Defend the Unions Committee to coordinate resistance to the federal Coalition government's planned attack on union rights — its industrial relations "reform" agenda.
Present at the meeting were Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union state secretary Martin Kingham and CFMEU state president John Cummins; Maritime Union of Australia state secretary Kevin Bracken; Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union state secretary Michele O'Neil; and organisers representing the Electrical Trades Union. Also attending were 10 members of the Young Unionists Network.
The meeting decided that members should call on Victorian Trades Hall Council to call a delegates' meeting as a step towards a mass union protest before the Coalition takes full control of the Senate on July 1. A motion for a mass delegates' meeting will be put to the next VTHC executive.
The Defend the Unions Committee also committed itself to building the May Day march this year as a protest against the Howard government's attacks on working people.
The VTHC has had a history of calling mass meetings of 1000-2000 delegates at moments of political crisis for workers in preparation for union protests. Such meetings were called during 1992-93 in opposition to Premier Jeff Kennett's state Coalition government, in 1996 against the federal Workplace Relations Bill, in 1997 against Kennett's attacks on Workcover, and in 1998 in support of the Maritime Union of Australia.
Socialist Alliance unionists have also begun campaigning outside Victoria for labour councils to call mass delegates' meetings as a step towards nationwide mass union protests.
From Green Left Weekly, February 16, 2005.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.