About: Union Solidarity

Union Solidarity aims to build a mass based united front campaign on the ground to defeat the repressive IR laws. Union Solidarity is a wide network of affiliated community and welfare organisations and unions with the single aim of building a broad people’s movement to beat back attacks on workers, unions and communities.

union solidarity: Union Solidarity
Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Protest against Howard - 10 dark years

The "big business elite" are throwing a party for John Howard in Toorak.

Come to the more fun and much louder party out the front!
Bring sound and light to penetrate the darkness.

62 Clendon Rd,
Toorak
5pm onwards
Friday March 3rd.

Please forward widely and text like wild fire.
 
Sunday, February 26, 2006

Rally against Banco Development

The Collingwood Action Group (CAG) has called a rally against the State Government's approval of the Banco development for Smith St, Collingwood in Melbourne. An Australian-record 1500 people took the time to write out objections to the Banco developers' plans for three massive towers with 161 apartments, a 3-level car park and 24-hour supermarket.

The Labor Planning Mininister Rob Hulls has decided to approve the development with only minor changes. No wonder CAG has called the rally and will be meeting Trades Hall's Building Industry Group on Thursday to seek support. Yarra Council has voted to slam the Ministers' decision and is investigating what local laws can be introduced to support locals, plus if their lawyers can appeal this decision.

Rally 1:00pm on Saturday 4th March
Banco site 154 Smith Street, Collingwood

Please text/phone/email and talk to your friends and get them along...

Speakers include: Union Solidarity Convenor Dave Kerin, SP Councillor Stephen Jolly, Greens Vic State election candidate and ex-Yarra Mayor Greg Barber, Save Our Suburbs President Ian Quick, and CAG spokesperson Louise Grace. MC will be Rod Quantock.

More info: www.smithstreet.org/cag/
 
Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Industrial Labour Solutions to cut labour cost using IR Laws

2 Victorian firms are promising to cut employers' labour costs by using the Howard Government's new IR laws. Oakleigh firm Industrial Labour Solutions says businesses can make big savings under the new industrial regime. "In conjunction with the new IR rules we are able to fix the situation permanently," the firm told potential clients. "No more EBAs. No unfair dismissals. No casuals forced into full-time. No redundancies. No unions. No problems. Decreased costs."

The latest moves to cash in on the new laws come amid a push by car parts maker Dana Australia to cut its workers' pay and conditions. As revealed by the Herald Sun, the company wants to cut workers' pay by 5 per cent, and 20 per cent for new employees. It also wants to axe RDOs and reduce other benefits.

Read More
 
Tuesday, February 21, 2006

IR Community Information Stalls

Next Sunday, 26 February, we're holding IR Community Information Stalls at two Community Festivals in the west and need your help to distribute publicity for the solidarity picnic and IR laws in general.

Bayside Festival - Cherry Lake, Altona. 9.30 am - 4.30pm
Stall No. 54, behind Altona Civic Offices, Civic Parade, (access from Civic Parade near Pier Street corner), Altona. The stall is near the Culture Hub Stage.

Moonee Valley Community Festival - Queens Park, between Mt. Alexander and Pascoe Vale Roads, Moonee Valley. The stall will be located at the swimming pool end of the park - the communities section.

If you can help on the day for an hour or two please reply with your preferred festival and times.
Contact 0417 456 001. Both community festivals are big.

More Info: Western Suburbs Community and Unions Coalition | westerncommunityunions@gmail.com
 
Monday, February 20, 2006

Death of Bill Hartley

Union Solidarity is saddened to hear of the passing of labour movement stalwart Bill Harley. His unflinching support for union principles and his eloquent opposition to war and injustice will be sadly missed.

Vale Bill Hartley.

Background: Brief Overview of Bill's Life | Tribute by Kevin Healy

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Friday, February 17, 2006

CEPU BBQ and report back

A Fundraiser in support of Peter Vining

Sun 19 February
12 Noon
New CEPU union office
200 Arden St, North Melbourne

Peter Vining was sacked late last year for allegedly telling off a costumer. The CEPU have vigorously contested the verbal evidence used against Peter Vining. The campaign to reinstate Peter has had many twists and turns. Management tried to get a s 127s order against the union for taking illegal industrial action but were unsuccessful. The matter is now before the Federal Court as the union has charged Australia Post under s 298k of the Workplace Relations Act. Australia Post recently agreed to have mediation under the auspice of a Registrar of the Federal Court.

Background Fear and Intimidation | Australia Post at it again | Community Assembly to protect delegates job | Action continues | Rally to defend Peter Vining | GreenLeft Article | 3 Feb rally | Fundraiser for Peter Vining

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Saturday, February 11, 2006

Yarra seeks to the protect contitions of contactor employees

On Tuesday 7th February the Yarra Council's Finance and Resources Committee voted unanimously for a motion that will protect the wages and conditions of employees of contractors to the council.

The motion will now go to the full Council meeting on Tuesday 21st February, 7.30pm, Richmond Town Hall, 333 Bridge Rd, Richmond. We urge all Union Solidarity supporters to attend this important council meeting.

In September 2005 Yarra Council voted to continue to only offer collective agreements to its directly employed staff. In October they voted to make all contractors have EBAs or collective agreements if they wanted contracts with Yarra Council.

In November Council decided to get legal advice on this question. Now, after more discussion and finetuning, Council has found a way to navigate around the minefield of anti-worker legislation in Howard's Australia yet still protect and improve the wages and conditions of its contractors.

Please Note. Some in Union Solidarity has raised concerns that the motion, although well intentioned, contains flaws. Efforts are afoot to “tighten” the motion up before it’s presented to the full council meeting.

Background: Victory in the City of Yarra | Intention of EBA motion | Oct 2005 EBA motion | Feb 2006 EBA motion | Some Concerns
 
Friday, February 10, 2006

Solidarity meeting against racism

Over 200 people packed Brunswick Town Hall last night for the Solidarity meeting against racist disunity called by the Socialist Party (SP) and the Electrical Trades Union (ETU). The audience was wildly diverse ranging from construction workers to Muslim youth. SP Cllr Stephen Jolly stated that, "After Cronulla, unionists and the SP wanted to make a stand against racism as well as trying to unite people to fight the conditions that breed racism."

CFMEU (construction division) Secretary Martin Kingham stressed the need for workers' unity in the face of Howards' IR attacks. Islamic Council of Victoria representative Sherene Hassan gave a moving account of what its like to be a Muslim woman in Australia, especially hard after S11. ETU State Secretary Dean Mighell repeated Kingham's message of class unity and said that racism was union business.

The last speaker was ETU shop steward and brother of an apprentice electrician who was picked up on anti-terrorist charges last year, Omar Merhi. He had defied death threats against his children that day to attend the meeting. He was greeted by a standing ovation as he walked to the lectern to speak. His message of compassion and workers' unity had the most powerful effect on the crowd.
 
Sunday, February 05, 2006

Small but successful rally defend Peter Vining.

About 40 people attended a rally to defend sacked CEPU shop steward Peter Vining outside the Federal Court building in Williams St Melbourne (Friday 3 February). In a hopeful development Australia Post and the CEPU are going to enter into mediation over the sacking and forceful transfer of Peter Vining and as a consequence Federal Court proceedings were called off. We hope that the offer of mediation by Australia Post is a genuine gesture to resolve the issue. Only time will tell.

Peter Vining was sacked late last year for allegedly telling off a costumer. The CEPU have vigorously contested the verbal evidence used against Peter Vining. Although Australia Post have denied a policy of “targeting union members” the CEPU have presented a compelling case to back up the following statement.

“We are alleging that the management have colluded to ‘get rid of’ a strong and effective shop steward.”

The CEPU have sort to get justice for Peter Vining, who was sacked then later transferred to a lower ranked job in a different centre, in the Industrial Relations Commission, the Federal Court and the internal Board of Reference. Union Solidarity and other union and community activists staged two peaceful assemblies outside the Fitzroy Delivery Centre, solidarity BBQ and last Friday’s rally outside the Federal Court.

Background Fear and Intimidation | Australia Post at it again | Community Assembly to protect delegates job | Action continues | Rally to defend Peter Vining | GreenLeft Article

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Friday, February 03, 2006

Next Central Branch Meeting

The next meeting of the Central Branch of Union Solidarity will be held at the MUA Office, 46 Ireland St, West Melbourne at 6.00 on 15th March 2006.
 

3 CR'S 'On the Picketline Show'

On the Picketline is having their 20th anniversary on 17th February, 4.30 till late at Trades Hall Bar, Cnr Victoria and Lygon Streets, Carlton South. Enter via Victoria St and up the stairs.
There will be a door prize, live music playing, lots of raffles prizes, speeches, food, drinks at bar prices and good company.
Pass people who have been involved in the show for the last 20 years at sometime will be especially welcome to tell a few stories.

Entry will be $10.00

For more information phone Anthony Main on 0417368215

You can tune into 'On the Picketline' every Sunday 10.00-10.30am on 3CR 855AM.
 
Wednesday, February 01, 2006

New leaflets for Peter Vining Rally

Word Format
Rally leaflet in Colour | Rally leaflet in Black and White

PDF Format
Rally leaflet in Colour | Rally leaflet in Black and White

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