BY JORGE JORQUERA
MELBOURNE — Yallourn Energy is attempting to use the Industrial Relations Commission to force the shedding of further jobs and conditions on the workers of the Latrobe Valley. On January 18, as the commission sat, a 400-strong rally of Yallourn workers, building workers and supporters gathered outside. The previous day, 30 activists, organised by the Melbourne Latrobe Valley Workers Solidarity Alliance, attempted to occupy the offices of Yallourn Energy in Melbourne.
The rally heard comments from Luke Van Der Meulen, the secretary of the newly formed Victorian Mining and Energy District of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), Leigh Hubbard secretary of Victorian Trades Hall Council (VTHC), Greg Combet from the ACTU, John Maitland, CFMEU national secretary, and Ken Mooney from the anti-privatisation group Public First.
The recent support of the ACTU and VTHC is a reflection of the politically sensitive character of Yallourn dispute. The steadfastness of the Latrobe Valley workers, the apparent eagerness of Yallourn Energy to use the federal government's draconian Workplace Relations Act against the union, and the sensitivity of the Premier Steve Bracks' state Labor government to any power dispute, all make the dispute a potentially mighty confrontation.
Combet reserved a good deal of his speech for Labor Party electioneering. Bob Mancor from the CFMEU responded to Combet's comments when the rally moved to the Yallourn Energy Office. He recieved big applause after he referred to the pioneering role of Labor in destroying workers' conditions since the 1980s.
Maitland and Hubbard expressed their full support for the Latrobe Valley workers. Maitland pointed out that the fight would not be won in the industrial relations commission but would have to be fought on the ground.
The next meeting of the Melbourne Alliance is on January 25, at the Cafe Hotel, 480 Victoria Street, North Melbourne. Phone Simon Millar on (03) 51261679, Luke Van Der Meulen on 0417 7118 911, or email <cfmeulv@iprimus.com.au>.