Union Solidarity Coordinator Dave Kerin is now facing up to 6 months jail for supporting striking workers at Boeing.

The Australian Workplace Ombudsman has issued Dave with a “Notice to produce documents” in relation to the recent strike at Boeing.



We are asking you to indicate your public support for Dave Kerin and Union Solidarity.

Labels: defend dave

Throughout the strike at Boeing (April 2008) Union Solidarity received messages of support.
If you still wish to express your support for the dispute and the stand the Boeing workers took send a message to boeingdispute@unionsolidarity.org

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Mon, April 28, 2008:
I am a firefighter and union official from NSW.

On behalf of members across the Illawarra region, please know that our
thoughts and support are with you.

We are keeping an eye on the dispute, and will be passing the hat around
soon.

Stay united,

*Darin Sullivan*

Secretary - Illawarra Sub-Branch
State Committee of Management
Fire Brigade Employees' Union

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Sun, April 27, 2008

I'm hearing about your strike from fellow Wobblies. Keep on keepin' on fellow workers.

An injury to one is an injury to all,
Mike B)

http://iamawobbly.multiply.com/
Mike Ballard

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Friday, April 25, 2008 11:58 PM

Our strong solidarity and support for comrades and workers at the boeing
factory in Port Melbourne. Keep stand up for your rights. We shall overcome!

MERICIO AKARA

Activist, Timor Leste,Luta Hamutuk

The Timor Leste Institute for Research, Advocacy and Campaigns (Luta Hamutuk) is a non-governmental organization formed on 20 June 2005 by several Timorese activists, who are committed to carrying out activities and programs related to the National Budget, which can contribute to social and psychological development in Timor Leste.

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Sat, April 26, 2008

Striking Boeing workers at Hawker de Havilland Port Melbourne

Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) would like to express our solidarity with workers at at the Port Melbourne-based Boeing subsidiary Hawker de Havilland who have gone on strike since 9 April.

PSM condemns the anti-worker law than fine workers for participating in industrial actions. PSM urges Kein Rudd's government to abolish such laws which has passed down by the previous right-wing government.

We are looking forward to get more update on your struggles.

In solidarity,
Choo Chon Kai
International Bureau
Socialist Party of Malaysia / Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
visit our website at:
http://parti-sosialis.org/

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Sun, April 27, 2008

Dear Comrades,

Please pass on my greetings of solidarity to the striking Boeing workers. They have my full support in their struggle.

I would like to assist financially and hope that this will be possible via telephone and credit card as I am currently overseas.

In solidraity,
Bea

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Wed, April 30, 2008
Dear Comrades,

At its meeting of 16 April, the Australian Bureau of Statistics Central Office Subsection Delegates Committee unanimously decided to send you the following message of support. Please accept our apologies for the delay in sending it.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics Central Office Subsection Delegates Committee congratulates the striking AMWU members at Boeing in Fisherman's Bend for your courageous stand in taking industrial action in support of workmates sacked in violation of the EBA. Mutual support is the fundamental principal of the labour movement and it is
encouraging to witness workers who still put this into practice. Your action sets an example for us all.

An injury to one is an injury to all!

In solidarity,
Pierre Sibilant, Secretary

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Below is the array of legal action that Boeing has initiated against their own workforce since the dispute started.

Federal Court Order 14 April 2008 | Covering Letter Federal Court Order 14 April 2008 | 12 April 2008 Larissa Tilley-Smith Letter | Federal Court Order of 11 April 2008 - HdH v AMWU| Federal Court Application | AIRC Order | AIRC Recommendation

Boeing won an injunction in the Federal Court that could make rank and file members of the AMWU liable for company's losses (Boeing claims about $1m a day).

A trial on May 7 (with May 8 and 9 set aside if needed) will hear Boeing's case for damages.

April 17
Boeing promised to drop all legal action but only if workers behaved themselves.

"If employees return to work and stay at work through the life of the current EBA, all legal proceedings, against all working employees, will be dropped." [letter of intent April 17]

However on April 16 Boeing promised to pursue the AMWU and individual rank and file member for damages.

"Today I have asked our lawyers to pursue contempt charges against the AMWU and certain members we believe are responsible for leading you down this reckless and destructive path." [letter April 16]

more on legal situation...

Labels: Boeing, legal

The following article from Workplace Express outlines the legal situation facing the striking Boeing Workers.

==========================================================
Monday 14th April 2008 7:03 pm EST

The Federal Court will tomorrow conduct a full-day mediation in a bid to end the stoppage at Boeing Commercial Airplanes subsidiary Hawker de Havilland's site in Melbourne, after the company today won an extension of an interlocutory injunction that potentially makes individual workers liable for the company's losses of about $1m a day.

The company initially won a s496 order last Tuesday after some 800 workers at the Fishermens Bend aircraft components manufacturing facility walked off the job on Monday.

The order, against the AMWU and the individual workers eligible for membership of the union, took effect on Wednesday. Workers returned to the job that day, but later went out again.

The company then won an interlocutory order, again against the union and the individual workers, from the Federal Court's Justice Shane Marshall on Friday.

Justice Marshall extended the order today and set the matter down for an expedited trial on May 7 (with May 8 and 9 set aside if needed).

He directed the parties to undergo a full day of mediation tomorrow, before the court's Victorian district registrar, Sia Lagos.

AMWU Victorian branch secretary Steve Dargavel today addressed a mass meeting at Fishermens Bend and informed members of the terms of the orders, but after he left the workers voted by an overwhelming majority to stay out.

Dargavel told Workplace Express that the union had consistently sought dialogue with the company over the dispute, but that Boeing had consistently resisted.

The dispute arose after the company dismissed a cell leader (supervisor) and an employee over alleged irregularities in his recording of employees' timesheets.

Boeing spokesperson Ken Morton today said the company couldn't tolerate dishonesty.

He said the company "reserved its position" on whether to pursue damages against 800 individual workers named in the orders.

Case No. VID210 of 2008

======================================================
more info: Boeing Actions Archive | www.unionsolidarity.org

Labels: Boeing, legal

21 February 2008
By ASU-Victorian Private Sector Branch

About 170 workers across major airports in Australia currently need your support. In the dying days of AWAs in Australia, the new firm contracted to provide Qantas' Valet Parking wants to put all staff on a five year AWA.

In Victoria alone, where 70 people are affected, staff are being forced to sign an AWA that takes away shift penalties, overtime payments, paid meal breaks and job classifications.

It's a last minute attempt by a new company to have customer service staff, drivers and car washers, employed under the harsh and unfair WorkChoices AWAs.

The new Qantas Valet Parking contract is due to commence on March 1.
Show Qantas Valet Parking staff that you support them and their desire to bargain collectively by emailing Equity Valet Parking Director John Demetre, with a copy to Shadow Minister for Employment, Business and Workplace Relations Julie Bishop. You can send the email here:

http://www.asu.asn.au/campaign/

more info: www.asu.asn.au/media/airlines_qantas/20080221_valet.html

Brimbank Council has dropped charges against community activist and key Union Solidarity supporter Ken Mooney.

Ken was contesting a fine imposed by the Brimbank Council for allegedly interjecting from the public gallery during a meeting considering the future of the site of the Sunshine Swimming Pool.

He contested the charge against him on the basis that subjecting him to a fine for commenting on matters of legitimate political concern, which were being considered by his political representatives, is inconsistent with the general freedom of communication necessary for the maintenance of democratic government.

Ken Mooney was fined for failing to comply with the direction of the Chair at a Meeting of the Brimbank Council after having been called to order by the Chair; in alleged breach of Section 53 of the Meeting Procedure Local Law No: 1 of 2002."

more info: Upcomingevents - Ken Mooney

Wangaratta-based, Bruck Textiles, that makes fabric used in Australian Army and Victorian Police uniforms, lodged an application to terminate the current Union agreement the day before the Federal Election and has since given out to its workers five year sub-standard AWA’s that will reduce their rights and conditions.

Some workers at Bruck have not received a pay-rise for three years and the company pays some workers wages that fall below the Australian Fair Pay Standards.

With the Christmas break just over a week away and with the threat of their collective agreement being terminated, the Bruck workers are feeling extremely pressured to sign the AWAs.

You can help in preventing Bruck Textiles from proceeding with its desperate attempt to exploit WorkChoices - before the laws are changed - by putting approximately 240 workers onto AWA that will strip Award entitlements and conditions and will last for the next five years.

The Union movement successfully helped to drive the Howard Government from office and we now have a chance to see the end of its extreme WorkChoices laws.

But until the new Rudd Government makes the necessary changes to the laws, rogue companies will cling to the discredited WorkChoices and lock workers into unfair and sub-standard AWAs.


more info: Tommy 0409 550 460 | 03 9639 2955 | tclarke@tcfvic.org.au | www.tcfvic.org.au | www.bruck.com.au

The fantastic November 24 federal election result is definitely worth celebrating. It’s now time to reflect on the significance of the victory and face the challenges ahead.

Firstly the stunning swing to Labor was the product of mobilising the community. The huge nation wide Your Rights at Work rallies, public meetings, community protests, strikes and pickets against unfair dismissals all played a role in stopping the worst excesses of Workchoices being carried out. They also demonstrated the unfairness of the legislation and the power of the union movement.

We need to savour victory but remember we have only won a battle in the larger war. The damage done to the community as a result of 11 years of conservative government is hard to underestimate; we are in a rebuilding phase. We need to focus on the following:

• Winning back tens of thousands of workers who left unions over recent years.
• Develop strategies to get 1.5 million workers off AWA's and onto union collective agreements.
• Organise new sections of workers, especially young workers in casual employment.

The federal election was a mandate to change the IR system. Regardless of the semantics of policy positions millions of working class people voted for a fair and just industrial relations system.

We therefore call on the new government to:

• Acknowledge that union officials have the right to enter workplaces to protect and represent the interests of workers.
• Ensure that workers have the right to collectively bargain.
• Guarantee a “Right to strike”.

It should be noted that these are not “extreme” demands but the International Labour Organisation conventions. They form the preconditions of any society that claims to respect democratic rights.

All charges and pending fines against union officials and workers resulting from taking industrial action under the previous government need to be dropped. This is particularly the case in the construction industry where workers face the draconian powers of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC).

Supposedly the ABCC was set up to curb illegal activity in the construction industry but has focused on attempting to crush legitimate union activity and persecute ordinary rank and file union members. This disgraceful and anti-democratic commission needs to be shut down. Guaranteeing the continuation of the construction boom should not come at the price of destroying some of Australia’s best unions.

The ascendancy of the Labor Party into office does not mean the demise of Union Solidarity. We will need to exist as long as employers have the ability to fine and penalise workers and unions who take industrial action.

2008 could see an increase in industrial disputes. A number of EBA’s expire next year and workers could be more confident as a result of the federal election. On the other hand employers might try and set the tone of the new government by provoking strikes and insisting that the "rule of law" be followed.

We also need to remind ourselves that we are fighting the effects of globalisation. Employers are compelled to continually attempt to drive down wages and conditions while increasing productivity.

Over 2007 Union Solidarity strengthened our ability to respond, we improved our communication systems and increased our supporter base. We need you to be ready in 2008.

Union Solidarity has learnt over the past three years, through numerous community assemblies and pickets that solidarity and direct action works, if you fight you can win. It’s not rocket science.

Going forward we face new and seemingly insurmountable challenges. Stopping Climate Change will necessitate a radical restructuring of the economy if human beings are to survive. As Albert Einstein said “We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” If the union movement doesn’t adopt new and creative solutions to the looming environmental crisis we will become the victims of it.

The second great challenge in this country is the continuing dispossession and denial of equal opportunity for indigenous Australians. Unions still remain the biggest and most democratic mass organisations in Australian society. If we can’t use our leverage to elevate the position of indigenous Australians then history will rightfully condemn us.

We should be extremely proud of our efforts to kick out the Howard government. The election was a testimony to the decency of ordinary Australians. 2007 ended on a high note, we now need to be focused and ready for 2008.

Yours in Solidarity

Union Solidarity

"I'm using this song that I wrote a few years back about casual work to drum up support for the building unions rally on 26 September. Assemble at Trades Hall cnr Lygon st. and Victoria st. Melbourne at 10am to stand up against unfair and unjust anti-union laws."


more info: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwmhQ3xUt1o

Joan Doyle speaks about Australia Post and upcoming industrial action.



more info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4irb3bpk3c

Feel angry about the federal Liberal government spending millions of dollars in a blatant propaganda campaign defending and lying about workchoices?

Download this gem of a response.

4.30pm Wednesday
August 1
Crn Exihibition & La trobe Sts
Melbourne.

Australia Post wants to close the Fitzroy Mail Centre. Management has informed staff many with several year service that:

* they are no longer required
* that they are splitting their jobs and
* replacing them with new people (on less wages) to do their work.

17 jobs are on the line, rally to defend jobs, working conditions and decent postal services in the inner city.

Background - CWU statement. (Communication Workers Union)
On July 19, 2007 Australia Post finally came clean about their plans for the closure of Fitzroy Delivery Centre. Their plans to close the centre have been known for some time. The staff and the union were aware that Clifton Hill & North Fitzroy (Postcode 3068 - 10 posties, 2 night-sorters and 2 parcel contractors) were to be relocated to Preston.

We have been asking for some time about the plans for Fitzroy, Abbotsford and Collingwood (Postcodes: 3065, 3066 & 3067). We have been told nothing was decided yet. Never did we think they would come up with such an unjust, expensive & unworkable plan.

The 17 posties involved have been told they can either work night-shift from 1am – 9.30am for 15% penalties, (A NIGHT SHIFT WITHOUT THE TRADITIONAL 30% PENALTIES – NO WAY!) or scramble for vacancies in other Delivery Centres.

As well as the 17 traditional posties, there are at least 5 night-sorters, 3 box-sorters, relievers, parcel contractors and supervisory staff affected by this site closure. Despite this, management have already started offering part of the Fitzroy work to part-time staff at City Street Delivery Centre who are co-located at CMPC.

Without consultation with the staff or the union, management handed out a Staff Preference Survey expecting staff to make a decision on their futures!

The union is in dispute on this matter, and will be informing our parliamentary representatives, the media and the local community about these attacks on their posties.

The union’s proposal is that Fitzroy is located at CSDC or CMPC and travel to their rounds by train, tram, car or bike. This would be efficient, economical and practical unlike management’s proposal. This is obviously a pilot project for management’s plan for the future of Delivery. It needs to be stopped.

Joan Doyle, Secretary, Communication Workers Union
more info: Rally leaflet | Peter Vining

Down load press release

13/7/07
The Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, has called on Woodside Energy to investigate allegations of employees of subcontractors being sacked after reporting safety incidents at its Otway Gas Plant in Port Campbell, Victoria.
The call for a response comes after seven months of failed attempts at dialogue with the company.

The Uniting Church holds a significant parcel of Woodside shares. As an ethical investor, it is concerned that Woodside Energy is exhibiting apathy towards safety issues at its Port Campbell site.

“We are deeply disappointed that Woodside has refused to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations that employees of subcontractors have been sacked over reporting of safety incidents”, said Dr Mark Zirnsak, Director of Social Justice for the Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania.

“We are worried that if the allegations are true, employees on the site are being intimidated into not reporting safety risks. This thereby increases the likelihood of a serious accident on the Port Campbell site.”

“We are aware of two employees of subcontractors who say they were sacked over safety concerns.
“One former employee alleges he was asked to falsify an incident report and has signed a statutory declaration to that effect. After he refused to do so he says he was sacked.

“Another worker alleges he was sacked on the mere suspicion that he reported a safety incident on site. Regrettably, Woodside refused to speak to either of the two former subcontractor employees directly. They were satisfied with assurances that no one was fired because they reported safety issues.

Dr Zirnsak said, “Woodside’s response to these two cases has been inadequate. A reasonable employer would want to talk to the people involved and take steps to address the concerns.

“We feel Woodside is not living up to its own policies and that it is not ensuring its contractors and subcontractors maintain an environment where safety issues can be freely raised by employees”, Dr Zirnsak said.

Woodside refused a request by the Uniting Church to provide data about safety incidents and accidents on the site.
The Otway Gas Plant construction site is supervised by Technip Oceania, a company contracted by Woodside. The Synod’s Justice and International Mission Unit have undertaken many attempts at dialogue with Woodside over the last seven months. A promised formal response from Woodside, due by January 2007, never materialised.

UCA Growth Fund Limited and Uniting Growth Fund Limited are shareholders in Woodside Energy. The Synod Ethical Investment Policy states, “We seek to invest in companies which promote human welfare, dignity and respect and for the general good…” The policy requires the church to take into account in its investments areas such as “human rights, occupational health and safety and environmental management.”

For all media queries or to arrange an interview with Director of the Justice and International Mission, Dr Mark Zirnsak, contact: Kim Cain 0419 373 123 | Ruth Snelleman-Smith 0418 330 483

Labels: Woodside

Over the past two years Union Solidarity has been involved in numerous disputes where workers’ basic rights were denied and where traditional union activity was limited by the current repressive IR laws.

Most of these were won. Union Solidarity makes use of very simple tactics of direct action and solidarity. And it has been effective. Workers have been re-instated, redundancies paid out, other employers warned that anti-worker and anti-union behaviours will have consequences. And those of us participating have been empowered – fighting shoulder to shoulder for the kind of world we want, using a successful act of civil disobedience. Realising that the bosses and politicians don’t have all the power!

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that we have the right to join and form trade unions in the protection of our interests. This Human Right is now being legally violated. It is therefore our duty to disobey these bad laws, and to stand together in defence of our fellow workers’ rights.

If you join the Union Solidarity SMS database, you will receive a message when solidarity is needed at a dispute. You will normally have a few hours or days notice of where and when a community assembly is forming, and you will be able to come and put your body on the line, in defence of the kind of community you want to live in.

In order to form effective community assemblies we need more people responding to these calls, and more people on the database.

To join the database visit www.unionsolidarity.org and click on ‘contact list’ or ‘add your name’ alternative go straight to SMS list form, http://contact.unionsolidarity.org, enter your details and you will start receiving these alerts. There is no spam or other announcements on this alert system. You will only receive notification when solidarity is needed at a dispute.

Please join this important and effective campaign.

See you on the assembly
Union Solidarity

Labels: What we say

Over the past two years Union Solidarity has been proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with many workers and community members fighting for justice. Below are some of the struggles we have been involved with. Download A4 leaflet

2005
Australian Envelope
A bitter and sometimes violent dispute over the sacking of a union delegate results in a settlement. Workers endure harassment by hired thugs and damage to personal property.

Colrain
A two-week strike wins an EBA, income protection and reinstatement of a stood down worker.

Robert Austin
Respected RMIT lecturer Robert Austin is sacked after supporting a student demonstration. A vocal campaign results in a negotiated settlement
Peter Vining
A CEPU delegate unfairly sacked by Australia Post. A series of actions continuing into 2006 finally results in out of court settlement.

Labels: For the Record, What we say

The CFMEU and other construction unions are under enormous pressure from the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC). Approximately 90 investigations leading to possible prosecution, fines and or jail terms is currently running Australia wide with approximately 56 of them affecting Victorian building workers and unions.

Recently construction workers in Port Campbell building the Woodside gas plant who attended a mass meeting in defence of a sack shop steward have been summered to appear before the ABCC (Australian Building and Construction Commissioner). If the workers refuse to attend they face heavy fines and a jail term.

Construction union members are afforded less rights than accused criminals (they are denied the right to silence), at least if you rob a bank you have the right to remain silent in court. Even discussing matters raised in the commission with partners and family could result in fines and a jail term.

These outrages must stop. Behind the recent hysteria in the media about what certain union officials have said is the reality that employers in the building industry (and in general) want to smash some of the most militant and effective unions in Australia. Government backed and funded agencies like the ABCC are merely a tool to allow employers to get their way, deny working people basic democratic rights and increase the employer’s massive profit margins.

You can make a difference, please add your name to the Union Solidarity SMS alert list. Sooner rather than later we may need to demonstrate our support for workers in construction industry.

more info: SMS alert list | abcc.misery.com | CFMEU Video about ABCC

Labels: http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

by GARY STEVENS

ONE of the Latrobe Valley's longest running industrial protests has ended.
Former employees at Mechanical Engineering Corporation's (MEC) Yallourn workshop left the site at the weekend after a 277 day protest.

The protest ended when the AMWU and 32 former MEC workers last week commenced legal action against their employer, Mechanical Engineering Services (MES), to secure their full redundancy entitlements.

The union and former workers filed a statement of claims in the Federal Court, seeking redundancy entitlements as well as penalties and damages for a breach of employment contract. Former employee John Scholtes said workers could now get on with their lives while their case is fought out in court.

"They're happy that they can get on with their lives again and find new work," he said. "They can work for somebody that they can enjoy working for and not put up with this type of stuff again."

Most of the workers have gone onto other employment. Workers set up a 24 hour a day protest at the gates of MEC when they were locked out of the Yallourn workshop by the company during a dispute over a new enterprise bargaining agreement in September last year.

MEC was placed into administration in January and employees who refused to return to work under Australian workplace agreements (AWAs) were later sacked.

MEC tried to ban the workers from protesting at the gates but failed in its court bid. Mr Scholtes last week praised his fellow former workers for their resilience during the 40 week protest.

"It's easy to walk away but it takes strength and guts to stand up for your rights and do something like that," he said.

"I think they've become stronger and wiser for it and have learnt from what happened here that solidarity works."

Protesters stayed on site throughout Christmas, Easter, the summer bushfires and the start of winter. Gippsland Trades and Labour Council (GTLC) secretary John Parker said it was a "big effort" to protest for so long.

"You only have to stay in a motel room for a few weeks and you can imagine, these aren't motel rooms," he said.

"They had to stay until such time as we were able to get them into the courts. The workers have to show an incredible amount of determination to get into the courts now because there isn't the arbitration system which allows these matters to be resolved."

Mr Parker said the 40 week dispute would have gone for no longer than four weeks if it was dealt with via arbitration under the old industrial relations laws.

"Because of the nature of IR laws today you've actually got to have a continual presence. These workers have had to actually sit on the line for 40 weeks. They went without working, every night and every day."

AMWU organiser Steve Dodd said the workers were seeking the entitlements they would have received under employment with the workshop's former owner, Skilled Engineering.

"They were guaranteed through a contract of employment (with MES when it took over the workshop) that their terms and conditions would be maintained, we're chasing the entitlements they would have received under their contract of employment," he said. "It is a significant amount of money that's owed to these guys."

more info: http://gippslandtlc.com.au/MECUPdate.htm