Labour Struggles

By Dian Trisnanti, in Jakarta

Under the theme “Unite against capitalism and the regime that supports it, build a united national labour movement that is progressive, militant, democratic and independent”, on July 9, 76 labour union representatives from around the country gathered in the Jakarta satellite city of Bogor for a three-day congress to establish a new union federation, the Indonesian Labour Movement Union (PPBI).

By Ian Jamieson

Thousands of waterside workers across Australia mourned the death of yet another workmate and comrade on July 23, walking off the job to attend memorial services and shutting all ports for nearly 24 hours.

As news filtered through within minutes of the latest death on the waterfront that Thursday morning, every wharfie froze. Who? Where? And more pertinently, why ... yet again?

As details became clearer, the horror gave way to anger. And tears, even amongst the most hard bitten. The mood was palpable on every wharf, amongst every wharfie — a mate and comrade in the MUA was another victim of the arrogance, indifference, slack safety standards, productivity pushes and a multitude of inexcusable managerial decisions backed by laws and power hungry politicians from both sides of the “fence”.

By Ian Jamieson

The continuing trial of construction union (CFMEU) member Ark Tribe before Adelaide’s Magistrate Court has again led to big rallies across Australia, with about 10,000 unionists marching on July 20 in all capital cities and in a number of regional centres. Tribe, a rigger from South Australia, faces heavy fines and the possibility of six months imprisonment for refusing to cooperate with the Australian Building and Corruption Commission (ABCC) in its inquisitorial witchhunt of members and officials of the construction unions.

Statement from Hamish Chitts, Revolutionary Socialist Party candidate for Griffith:

In March 2006, a year and half before the last federal election, WorkChoices came into effect. Workers were outraged at this attack on our rights, but what did the ALP dominated union officialdom do? They crushed any real militancy in the campaign and instead of taking immediate nation-wide industrial action to have these laws quashed they turned workers outrage into a year long “vote Labor” campaign. Rank and file unionists got behind the “Your Rights at Work” campaign and got the ALP in and how did they repay us? They kept the ABCC, they kept most of the repressive WorkChoices laws, tinkered at the edges and re-badged them “Fair Work Australia”. A far cry from the tearing up of WorkChoices the ALP promised workers.

By Ian Jamieson

The increasing isolation of the Israeli state as a result of its assault on Palestinians in Gaza in late 2008 and the slaying of nine solidarity activists on the MV Mavi Marmara aid ship in June has given rise to a qualitative change in support to the rights of Palestinians within the Australian union movement. A growing number of unions internationally have also taken action in protest against the Israeli state’s policies.

By Andrew Martin

Hundreds of rail workers in Townsville and Redbank struck on June 8 against the Queensland government’s plans to privatise the rail network. The strike involved workshop staff of both regions and freight train drivers in Townsville. The strike ended after 48 hours with Labor Premier Anna Bligh seeking return to work orders from the federal government’s industrial relations body, Fair Work Australia.

By Jorge Jorquera

To the surprise of many, in April the Australian Education Union took an apparently firm and principled stand against the use of school test data, namely the federal National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests, for ranking schools on the My School government website. The AEU called on its members not to administer the tests in May and stepped up a campaign to build teacher, parent and community opposition to the government’s approach of ranking schools.

By Andrew Martin

Ark Tribe, a rank-and-file member of the construction division of the South Australian branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) is facing six months in prison for refusing to attend an interview with the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

By Andy Gianniotis

With a general strike on May 20 and large demonstrations in Athens and other cities, the workers of Greece continued their struggle to overturn an austerity program imposed by the Greek government, European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Up to 50,000 protesters marched through Athens to parliament in the fourth general strike this year, following the May 5 general strike and demonstration, one of the biggest ever seen in the Greek capital.