Graham Matthews, Sydney
On August 14, a Parramatta Your Rights at Work (YRW) group was launched at a Town Hall meeting attended by 30 people, including representatives from the Health Services Union, the NSW Teachers Federation, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, the Independent Education Union, the Liquor, Hospitality and Workers Union, along with members of the ALP, the Greens, the Socialist Alliance and the Young Christian Workers.
Alison Peters, deputy assistant secretary of Unions NSW, argued that, with union membership at around 20%, to defeat the federal government's new industrial relations laws the union movement had to reach out to the entire community.
"If we want to change these laws", Peters said, "we have to get a government [that] wants to change these laws, and we're not going to get that from the current conservative government".
Peters told the meeting that there were 40 other YRW groups across NSW, most of which are in regional and country centres. She drew a distinction between YRW groups that centred on "targeted seats" — where Unions NSW sought to oust a Liberal or National MP at the next federal election — and other groups (such as Parramatta, which is a marginal Labor seat), which she indicated would receive less support from Unions NSW.
The meeting was also addressed by Parramatta Mayor David Borger, who pledged his council's support, and two representatives of the Sydney inner-city YRW group.
The meeting adopted motions setting out the aims of the group, which included supporting the Unions NSW campaign against the federal IR legislation, building support for the November 30 national day of action against Work Choices, and providing information to the local community on the impact of Work Choices. A motion from the floor to add providing solidarity to unions under attack was also adopted.
The meeting also decided to work towards a public meeting outlining the impact of Work Choices, which is likely to be held on November 8.
Parramatta YRW will meet at 6pm on the second Monday of each month at the Parramatta Town Hall. All those interested in helping with the campaign are welcome to attend.