Workers rally against Reith's 'second wave'
By Robert Hodder
MELBOURNE — More than 100,000 workers rallied and marched here on August 12 to fight industrial relations minister Peter Reith's "second wave" of anti-union laws. The proposed laws include major amendments to the Workplace Relations Act (WRA), increase limits on unfair dismissal provisions and impose wage reductions on young people.
Union representation at the rally was broad and included an enormous contingent of 15,000 or more members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU). The full spectrum of the labour movement was represented, with strong showings from the National Union of Workers, the shop workers' union and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, as well as many others.
Parking officers' attendance at the rally allowed a large number of protesters to park in the city without fear of fines. Even the National Fish Feeders Association was represented. Building sites voted to extend their stop-work for the rally to a 24-hour strike.
The throng assembled outside the Victorian Trades Hall Council building, where VTHC secretary Leigh Hubbard introduced the chairperson of the Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle, Dita Sari. Although only 26 years old, Dita has spent three years in Indonesia's jails for fighting for workers' right to organise (see article on page 7).
Drawing on her understanding that many governments lack a commitment to workers' rights, she told the rally that Reith's "slogan about more jobs and more pay is nothing but a lie".
ALP leader Kim Beazley then addressed the rally. "This bill ends the award system ... [an] effective industrial relations system, and sends all workers to common law ... and makes it harder for ordinary Australians to organise", he said.
The rally marched to Flinders Street, led by a truck proclaiming support for the mineworkers from the Oakdale colliery in NSW, still owed $6.3 million by employers. The marchers carried numerous banners castigating "Reith the wrecker". At Flinders Street, "The bourgeois blues" and other songs were performed by Chris Wilson while the rally moved into position.
As the next speaker, Hubbard noted that Reith's proposed legislation will encourage casualisation and strip workers' rights in the same way as occurred in Margaret Thatcher's Britain, New Zealand and Jeff Kennett's Victoria. "Shop workers", he said, "can be made to sign contracts for items which are shoplifted ... [Reith's use of] words like 'choice' and 'democracy' are just a cover for taking away workers' rights".
Phone calls to radio 3AW's Neil Mitchell and federal Australian Democrat adviser John Sherry, conveying the rally's opposition to the laws, were broadcast over the public address system. Speeches by Victorian Labor leader Steve Bracks and ACTU president Jennie George followed.
The ALP and ACTU response to Reith's second wave involves campaigning to get Labor into power at the next Victorian election and urging the Democrats to "just say no" to the laws in the Senate. So far, the Democrats have indicated they oppose Reith's legislation only "in principle".
EEEmotional applause greeted rank and file unionists involved in industrial actions: Toni Diaz, locked out for more than seven weeks at the Dorf tap ware factory; Robert Morley, locked out for more than three months from G&K O'Connors meatworks; and a representative of unionists threatened with criminal action in the dispute at the Shell refinery in Geelong. The mood of the rally was one of determination to defeat Reith's second wave.
The government-employer strategy combines an attack on organised labour with the deinstitutionalising of industrial relations. The latter involves shackling the Industrial Relations Commission, which traditionally shielded employers against strong unions at the price of minimum guarantees to employees, and withdrawing legislative protection for workers.
The amendments to the WRA are Reith's second go at legally busting the unions, no doubt as a prelude to industrial assaults. This is how he followed up on the WRA itself — with the Patrick attack on maritime workers.
The ALP-ACTU strategy — trust in parliamentary action to defend workers' rights and living standards — is extremely problematic. The Democrats showed why when they made their dirty deal with the government on the original WRA and, more recently, on the GST.
The VTHC is organising rallies outside six Liberal MPs' offices, and at Treasury Place, over the next six weeks.
Roberto Jorquera reports from Perth that more than 400 unionists protested in heavy rain at Solidarity Park on August 10 to condemn the second wave attacks. Speakers included Jennie George and Dita Sari.
Dita received a loud welcome. She thanked those who had campaigned for her release, pointing out that Australian and Indonesian workers had to undertake similar struggles. She invited Australian unionists to visit Indonesia, encouraging them to see for themselves the political situation in Indonesia.
George told the rally, " This is the most regressive legislation we have ever seen at the federal level. If Reith gets his way, it will turn the clock back to the bad old days of the master-servant relationship, where increasing power is in the hands of the employers." She concluded by saying the rally was the start of a campaign that would not end until Reith gave up on his attack.
In Adelaide, says John McGill, more than 10,000 unionists and their supporters turned out on August 11 for the biggest demonstration there for many years. The rally was protesting against both Reith's attacks and the state government's repressive workplace laws.
All Holden and Mitsubishi factory workers, as well as Transadelaide bus drivers, nurses and building workers walked off the job to take part. The rally marched from Victoria Square to government offices in King William Street, blocking city traffic for more than an hour.
Speakers included Jennie George, AMWU state secretary Paul Noack, United Trades and Labor Council secretary Chris White and Dita Sari.<>><>41559MS>n<>255D>