BY FELICITY MARTIN
MELBOURNE — The joining together of 7000 unionists with 3000 stock exchange blockaders in a single unity march was a display of May Day solidarity not seen in this city for more than 60 years.
Long negotiations between the M1 Alliance and Trades Hall over exactly what form the march would take resulted in an agreement for the union march to connect with the ASX blockaders near, but not at, the blockade site and then march off together. After several stops, the Trades Hall contingent would depart the rally and disburse, leaving those who wanted to continue their march on to other corporate targets.
The success of M1 and the solidarity and unity forged between activist groups and the union movement was a big step forward for the left, organisers believe. The rally's co-chairperson, Jane Calvert, secretary of the CFMEU's forestry division, said that M1 had worked and that activists and unionists should use the lessons and experience to build for the next coalition action. "We should see if we can make it work again", she said.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary Craig Johnston estimated that more than 2000 of his union's members attended the rally and that union participation can only get "bigger and better".
Public calls for May Day to be made a public holiday are increasing, and both Johnston and Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union state secretary Martin Kingham have stated that their unions will be out in force on May Day, 2002.
But while the unity march was a big step forward, it was not an easy one, nor one without problems and disputes.
Trades Hall's decision not to allow its rally to join the blockade at the ASX, and then to leave the march before its conclusion, was not popular with all union participants and many stayed with the M1 Alliance march after the Trades Hall contingent left the march to disperse.
As they left the Trades Hall contingent, some workers from the CFMEU were heard to chant, in a reference to Trades Hall's secretary, "Leigh Hubbard, get back in your cupboard".
M1 organisers also had complaints about the way in which Trades Hall's marshals, especially chief marshal and Trades Hall industrial campaigns officer Brian Boyd, sought to rush through the rally route as quickly as possible, rather than allowing for a more relaxed shared rally in unity with students, environmentalists, women and various community groups.
While a running order was agreed between the M1 Alliance and Trades Hall, Trades Hall marshals moved the truck with the public address system at such a cracking pace that some speakers began their speeches before the body of the rally had even arrived.
On the grounds of "security" and speed, Boyd even sought to prevent a representative of the Philippines Socialist Party of Labour, Reihana Mohideen, from reading out international greetings to the rally. Mohideen was able to continue with the aid of a megaphone provided by Johnston, while angry words were exchanged between representatives of Trades Hall and the M1 Alliance.
A coalition has been strengthened, certainly, but it's still an uneasy one.