Dear friends,

The attack on our civil liberties is urgent. Below is an open letter to the Labor premiers and chief ministers.

If you support it:

1) Email your name and any position held to dglanz@optusnet.com.au.

2) Forward around your networks.

I shall forward the letter with as many names as possible no later than Tuesday morning (Nov 1) and shall copy it to the media.

David Glanz
Melbourne

********

Open letter to the Premiers and Chief Ministers

Dear Premiers and Chief Ministers,

Much of the debate so far around the Federal Government's proposed restrictions to civil liberties has focused on the "shoot to kill" provisions. But we, the undersigned, believe that there are other very
worrying aspects to the legislation.

In particular, the draft legislation seeks to criminalise those who publicly argue that the Iraqi people have the right to resist under arms the occupation of their country by Australian and other troops.

Some of us hold this opinion -- that the Iraqis are doing no more than what the Vietnamese did against the Japanese, the French, the Americans and Australians, the Algerians did against the French, and the East Timorese did against the Indonesians.

Some of us do not agree, having no sympathy for an armed resistance.

All of us believe that the best way to protect Australian troops, and to reduce Australia's prominence as a potential target for a terror attack, is to bring Australia's troops home.

We are also united in believing that the Federal Government is going down the very dangerous path of criminalising opinions, rather than actions.

We do not believe that it is possible to improve or build safeguards into this legislation -- we see the project as fundamentally flawed and unnecessary.

Accordingly, we call on you to use your constitutional powers to block the Federal Government's legislation.

Tony Kevin, former Australian diplomat
Donna Mulhearn, former Iraq human shield
David Spratt, Victorian Peace Network activist
Jarvis Ryan, editor, Socialist Worker
Dr David Glanz, journalist and Stop the War Coalition (Melbourne)
activist Wade McDonald, lawyer and Perth Peace Group activist

The dispute at Australian Envelope in Notting Hill is over. Workers at the plant voted to return to work today after management agreed to a union settlement. In recent days management had been threatening the picketers with termination. Sources indicate that after federal union intervention management withdrew the threats of termination but the sacked delegate, the original issue of the dispute, will be retrenched.

Management’s behaviour during the dispute included:

• Using hired security personal from interstate to intimidate the picketers
• Driving a truck through a picket line risking serious injury to workers
• Damaging workers property with a forklift
• Using legal injunctions on the union and key individuals in an attempt to break the picket

Is this dispute a portent of life after Howard’s second wave of Industrial Relations?

Our thoughts go to the rank and file workers at Australian Envelope who stood up to intimidation for two weeks. They learnt valuable lessons about unity and solidarity during the dispute. They will need to retain that resolve on the shop floor.

Labels: Australian Envelope, strikes

The Darebin group is having a public forum on Tuesday 18th October at 7.30pm at Preston Town Hall, Cnr Gower and High Sts, Preston. more details

Tuesday 15 November 2005
Proposed route:
9am Federation Square, 10am March up Swanston St then right at Latrobe St to,
11am Exhibition Gardens.

More details at Trades Hall Website www.vthc.org.au/.

Moreland Peace Group is holding a Multicultural Festival for Iraqi Children, Saturday 5 November 2005 at Coburg Town Hall 90 Bell Street Coburg From 2pm until 11pm.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will be donated to Doctors for Iraq Society, a volunteer medical relief organisation. Activities include: Children's workshops, music, dance, food, craft stalls, art exhibition, video, speakers.

Comedian Rod Quantock will MC.
Featuring "La Kasbah" and Bryony Morgan.

Speakers include: Malcolm Thomas (President, Islamic Council of Victoria), Sithy Marikar (Communication Workers Union), Peter Job (Australian Greens), Kevin Bracken (Secretary, Maritime Union, Vic)

TICKETS available NOWCost $10/ $8 (concession) - mystery door prize.

Purchase tickets by sending a cheque or money order to: Moreland Peace Group, c/- PO Box 2023 Lygon Street North, EAST BRUNSWICK Vic 3057. (Make Cheques out to ³Moreland Peace Group ­ festival²). We will post them to you by return post.

BECOME A SPONSOR and/or set up a stall if your organisation wishes to sponsor the event send a donation to: the above Moreland Peace Group address. We will publish a list of sponsors. Thanks to Moreland Council for providing the venue at no cost.

Sponsors so far include:Islamic Council of Victoria ICV, Justice for Peace, Japanese for Peace, Sydney Road Community School Brunswick, Women for Palestine, World Dreams PeaceBridge, Human Appeal International, Elsedeaq Egyptian Association, VICSEG,King Khaled Islamic College, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (Vic),Communication Workers Union (Vic), Maritime Union of Australia (Vic), Union Solidarity, Friends of the Earth, Sinai Group, Half Moon Café,El-Pharaohs Travel Agency, Australian Greens Victoria, Coburg Branch ALP,Carlo Carli MLA Brunswick (ALP), ALP Senator Gavin Marshall, International Socialist Organisation, Fitzroy-Carlton Peace Group, Latin American Solidarity Group. Special thanks to many others, including: Café Mingo, Chris Breen, Nu Concept printing, Sahara Pizza Café,

For more information phone Judy McVey 0418 347 374,
Khaled Abou-Elyousr0402 173 446,
Hamish McPherson 9489 5654,
Robyn Smith 9378 8494.

visit our website - www.morelandpeacegroup.org
Email: morelandpeace@optusnet.com.au

South Australian workers getting organised against Howard's IR laws

Just over 40 people attended the Southern Adelaide Workers Defence Committee (SAWDC) meeting held in Morphett Vale, Adelaide on Tuesday night (Oct 11). This was the third meeting of the newly formed group, and the two main speakers were Jodie Schluter, co-ordinator of the SA Young Workers Network and Socialist Party National Organiser, Anthony Main.

The meeting of trade unionists represented a variety of industries from construction and manufacturing to hospitality and education. The attendees ranged from union leaders, John Short (AMWU) and Andrew Gohl (AEU), and a layer of active oganisers to an extremely healthy group of shop stewards and militant activists. ALP State MP Gay Thompson also graced the meeting with her presence.

Justin Feehan, an orgainser from the CFMEU chaired the meeting and Dan Murphy, one of the main organisers of the SAWDC, opened proceedings. Dan welcomed all present, and outlined the role of the SAWDC especially against the backdrop of the Howard government stepping up its campaign
on IR in recent days. The groups aim is to build links between the union movement and community groups as well as too assist workers when they are in dispute. SAWDC has also been playing a good role in protesting against the IR laws when ever Liberal Party MP's dare to attend public
events.

Jodie Schluter was the first speaker, she has been heavily involved in both researching and writing a report about the exploitation of young workers in South Australia. The report, Dirt Cheap and Disposable, was recently launched and uncovers the appalling situation for young workers
not only in SA but right across the country.

Anthony Main was the next speaker and was invited from Melbourne to report on the activities that are taking place in Victoria against Howard's IR laws. Anthony spoke about the formation of Union Solidarity groups similar to the SAWDC in Victoria. He explained both the role that Union Solidarity had already been playing in industrial disputes and in the building for the mass rally on November 15. Anthony reported that recent disputes had sparked a healthy discussion within the union movement in Melbourne as to how we can defeat these laws industrially and what sort of political solution will be necessary.

Good discussions were had after both speakers and a real fighting mood was present especially amongst the rank and file. Over $90 was raised for the SAWDC fighting fund and the Southern District Workingmens' Club announced that they would donate a keg of beer to the next fund raising
activity. It was also agreed that the SAWDC would send a delegate to Melbourne for a few days to share ideas and experiences. Ideally this would coincide with the November 15 rally. SAWDC further agreed to purchase 200 Union Solidarity badges to sell as another fund raising venture.

More groups like the SAWDC and Union Solidarity are bound to spring up around the country as the IR issue come to a head. They will prove to play an important role on an industrial level and will help workers to realize the sort of political leadership that will be required to not only defeat the IR laws but to ensure that the working class gets back on the offensive.

AAWL Open Day, Back by popular demand!
A day of discussion on international solidarity with union activists & international guests

Saturday 22 October 10 am - 5 pm
Trades Hall, 54 Victoria Street Carlton South

Download your open day program here:
http://users.bigpond.com/aawl/open_day_05_web/index.htm

Sessions include:
11 am
Our fight for workers' rights

12 noon
Organising for health & safety
Unions & the environment
Casualisation & contracts

2:15 pm
Workers in the Pacific
Stolen Wages, Land Rights, Treaty
Refugees are workers: Cutting the razor wire

3:30 pm
Stop the global race to the bottom
The AAWL communication workshop: Talking to activists, talking to workers

Free event - All welcome
Information: Jiselle Hanna - Australia Asia Worker Links 0411 054 859

AAWL international solidarity dinner
Saturday 22 October at 6:30 pm
Maritime Union Hall, 54 Ireland Street West Melbourne

Food, music, international guests. Fundraising event for AAWL

Cost: $40 / $25 / $20
Information: Jiselle Hanna - Australia Asia Worker Links 0411 054 859