Community Union Weekends

Strategies for organising April 17th - 19th, April 25th & 26th, May 2nd - 3rd Camp Eureka - 100 Tarrango Road, Yarra Junction. Melway Reference 288 K10. MUA - 46-54 Ireland St, West Melbourne Over one weekend at the historic Camp Eureka near Warburton, and two weekends at the MUA, we will bring together young union organisers, students, environmental campaigners and social movement activists with veterans of the labour movement and the Left. Together we will evaluate past and existing campaigns and lay some foundations for new, practical solutions. From the Green Bans to the MUA, to Union Solidarity and WorkChoices, we will ask: What worked? What didn’t? How can we effectively respond to climate change and the economic crisis? How can we use the strength of our unions to make a better country – and a better world? More info: communityunionweekends.wordpress.com Contact: communityunionweekends@gmail.com | 0402 657 392 Labels: Community Union Weekends, Upcoming Events

'Illustrations of Freedom' Exhibition Opening

Melbourne Opening 6-9pm Friday 27th of March Loophole Community Art Space 834A High Street, Thornbury Exhibition showing until the April 2. 25 Original Art Pieces by Peta Ridgeway and Fern York. The artists will discuss sovereignty, activism and creativity Free Entry - Music, Brews not Bombs, Kumera Kitchen snacks. All works for sale - Fund-raising for independent activists educating about Sovereignty. It is an exhibition of artwork of Auntie Peta Ridgeway, who is an indigenous woman from the Newcastle area and is active in the struggle for sovereignty, and Fern York, and activist from the same area. Labels: Art Exhibition, Sovereignty, Upcoming Events

Solidarity with Colombian Trade Unionists

12pm Friday March 13 Rio Tinto 120 Collins St, Melbourne download: Peace in Colombia flyer | poster In the past 6 years, over 2,500 union members have been killed in Colombia. This is in addition to the over 1,800 indigenous activists that have been murdered, over 25,000 disappeared and over 29,000 people that have been extra judicially executed. Multinational mining companies are guilty of the displacement of communities and had financed the Colombian army, responsible for most of the human rights violations. The Colombian government has launched a campaign to persecute international solidarity, accusing intellectuals, students, activists of collaborating with international terrorism. Peace and justice for Colombia asks workers and peace loving people to protest against the assassination of workers in Colombia, and against the criminalization of international solidarity. Bring banners and flags. more info: Organized by Peace and Justice for Colombia, Melbourne Labels: Colombia, International Solidarity, Upcoming Events

See Off Telstra's Sol Trujillo Rally

Support Telstra Workers 8.45 am Wednesday 4th March 2009 Melbourne Convention Centre Corner of Flinders St and Clarendon St -Nth of Yarra River Bring Union Banners and Flags more info: www.yourrightsattelstra.com/ | www.cepuconnects.org | Sol’s parting gift for call centre workers | CEPU Telecom & Services Branch 9349 4411 Labels: Community Protest, Telstra Strike, Upcoming Events

Support Pacific Brands Workers

Rally 12:00 noon Thursday 5 March 2009 Outside Myer Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne download: Pacific Brands rally leaflet Protest Pacific Brands’ decision to sack 1,850 workers! Michele O’Neil, National Secretary of the TCFUA today said, ‘This is a devastating blow to these workers, their families, this industry and Australia. We are not talking just the 1850 jobs losses announced today, the likely spin off effect on suppliers and other companies in the industry could well see thousands more jobs lost.’ more details... more info: Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA) 9639 2955 | info@tcfvic.org.au Labels: Community Protest, Pacific Brands, Upcoming Events

Internation Women's Day Rally

2-3pm Friday March 6 Crn Swanston and Latrobe St Melbourne Download: International Women's Day rally leaftlet Labels: International Solidarity, IWD, Upcoming Events

7-Eleven action for decent wages

12 noon and 1pm Friday February 13 7-Eleven store 115 Moorabool St Geelong. [corner of the mall Geelong city centre] UNITE has opened a second front in our campaign against 7-Eleven’s super-exploitation. Workers in the Moorabool Street store are only paid a flat rate of $10 per hour and some have been forced to do an unpaid trial of up to 2 months! To top it off one worker was stood down for making a complaint and other workers have been threatened with violence. The Workplace Ombudsman is now investigating the employment practices at the store and complaints have also been registered with Worksafe and the Police. UNITE is demanding that the store start paying all of their workers at least the minimum wage plus penalty rates. We also want the worker who was stood down to be reinstated and for the franchise owner to pay back all of the wages he has stolen from the workers over recent years. The protest is being organised by UNITE and is supported by the Geelong Trades Hall Council. For more information about our ongoing 7-Eleven campaign. more info: http://www.unite.org.au/ Labels: 7 Eleven, Community Protest, Upcoming Events

Sustainability convergence 'breakthrough: from recession to sustainability'

9am – 5pm Saturday February 14 Northcote High School St Georges road, Northcote (tram 112, West Preston, stop 26) As we face a looming financial crisis, what are the threats and opportunities to social and environmental movements? How do we break the 'business as usual' model? How do we 'bail out' the planet? This convergence seeks to bring together people from across Melbourne to start to develop a pathway through the recession to a sustainable economy. What would this look like and how we would we get there? What about livelihood and good work, what about community resilience? What about our place in the world? How do we respond effectively to the looming crisis of climate change? And what does this mean for the social and environmental movements in the short term? more details... cost: Low income - $15 > Waged - $25 (no one excluded through lack of funds) more info: www.melbourne.foe.org.au | Cam 03 9419 8700 | cam.walker@foe.org.au Labels: Environment, Upcoming Events

Telstra Workers Deserve Your Support

Rally 12.30pm Monday 9 Feb Testra T Shop Crn Bourke & Swanston Sts, Melbourne Download support leaflet Update: This action was called off due to the bushfires on the weekend see. "Vic fires delay Telstra industrial action" Currently Telstra workers are engaged in a landmark dispute with the company for a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA). However this is not just another EBA dispute. Telstra workers are fighting for the right to a union negotiated agreement, the right to compulsory arbitration, to push back "WorkChoices" AWAs and they are fighting against a relentless management campaign to de-unionise the workforce. more... more info: www.yourrightsattelstra.com/ | www.cepuconnects.org | support leaflet Labels: Community Protest, Telstra Strike, Upcoming Events

Demand sustainable water options for Melbourne

Community presence outside Tim Holding's office 11am – 12 noon Friday February 6 Where: 387 – 389 Springvale road, Springvale We all know that Melbourne is facing growing water stress. In response, the state government has announced a desalination plant for the Gippsland coast near Wonthaggi and the North - South pipeline, which will pump water from the Goulburn River. Both these projects are being built for the benefit of Melbourne people, so we should educate ourselves about the impacts of these projects, as well as looking at the alternatives. It is time to bring the message to the Minister for Water, Tim Holding, and other key members of the state government that Melbourne people want a sustainable water future. Please consider coming along, and send a message to our government that we want water options that: are sustainable create long lasting jobs are greenhouse friendly We want to make this as colourful as possible - please bring friends and banners! more info: Cam Walker (03) 9419 8700 | 0419 338 047 | cam.walker@foe.org.au Labels: Environment, Upcoming Events

Defend Sacked ASU Delegate

Solidarity Breakfast 8:30 – 9:30am Mon Dec 8 Jesuit Social Services 371 Church Street Richmond Luke McMahon, winner of the Australian Services Union (ASU) Occupational Health and Safety Rep of the year award for 2008, has been stood down from his position as a youth worker with the Brosnan Centre, an affiliate of Jesuit Social Services (JSS), after he informed management that they had failed to comply with OH&S legislation. During his time at Brosnan, Luke transformed his workplace from having almost no union membership to almost 100% coverage. He also made sure that occupational health and safety reps were elected in JSS workplaces which previously did not have delegates. It’s time for the community sector to understand that community fairness starts at home. Social justice is worker justice. more info: justice4luke.wordpress.com/ Labels: Community Protest, Justice4Luke, Upcoming Events

Defend Childcare, Defend Jobs

11am Sat Dec 6th Coburg Mall cnr Victoria & Louisa Sts, Coburg Bring childcare back into public hands. Give childcare workers decent training and pay. ABC Learning centres look after 320 children in Moreland. The ALP government's refusal to guarantee that all centres will continue to operate is a blow to children, their parents and and childcare workers. About 40% of ABC’s earnings came from government subsidy. This went to the profit of Eddy Groves who was worth $260 million in 2006. Now ABC has collapsed owing over a billion dollars to banks. Endorsed by: Australian Services Union, Carlo Carli MP, Union Solidarity, Student Housing Action Collective, Solidarity more info & rally endorsement: Judy 0418 347 374 | 0418 316 310 | melbourne@solidarity.net.au Labels: Community Protest, Upcoming Events

A Just, Democratic and Sovereign Australia

Download Eureka Anniversary leaflet Eureka Rebellion Anniversary 7.00pm Friday 28 November 2008 Maritime Union of Australia Hall 46 Ireland Street, West Melbourne 6.30pm BBQ and drinks Entry by Gold Coin donation MC - Rod Quantock Speakers include: Robert Richter, Dean Mighell, Rob Stary, Humphrey McQueen, more details... more info: Shirley 0417 456 001 | Lita 0400 986 745 | contact@spiritofeureka.org | www.spiritofeureka.org Labels: Public Meetings, Upcoming Events

Saharawi people's struggle for self determination

7.15pm Thursday Nov 27 West Footscray Neighbourhood House 539 Barkly street, West Footscray Western Sahara, an ex-Spanish colony in Africa, has been occupied by Morocco since 1975. Around half of the Saharawi population is living in refugee camps in the Hamada desert in South Western Algeria. Many foreign companies, including Australian, are engaged in illegal trade deals with Morocco and profit from Western Saharan natural resources. Three Australian unionists went to the refugee camps in October to participate in an international trade union conference. Margarita Windisch will provide an eyewitness account, discuss the current political situation and possible solidarity campaign to support the Saharawi people's struggle for self determination. more info: 9639 8622 or 0438 869 790 Labels: International Solidarity, Upcoming Events

After the Waterfront - the workers are quiet

Book Launch 6 pm Friday 14 November Zapata's Bookshop 26 Horan Street West End, Brisbane Refreshments will be provided. All welcome more info: http://wpos.wordpress.com/ | Ian 07 3398 5215 Labels: Book Launch, Upcoming Events

Book launch at New International Book Shop

6.30pm Wednesday 19 November NIBS, Trades Hall Lygon St Carlton Tom Bramble will be launching his just published book on Trade Unions in Australia. Martin Kingham from the CFMEU will launch the book. Labels: Upcoming Events

Walk Against Warming

download posters download flyers 1.00pm Saturday November 15 Federation Square, Melbourne The Walk Against Warming will again take place in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Tens of thousands of Victorians will join us here in Melbourne to demand real and immediate action against climate change. By walking against warming, you can help us remind the decision makers that the climate crisis facing us all is urgent. We've had enough talk - It's time for action! Learn more & how to get involved... Labels: Environment, Global Warming, Upcoming Events

Terminate Tulla Toxic Dump Protest

12 noon - 1pm Monday 17 November Steps of the EPA Herald & Weekly Times Tower 40 City Rd, South Bank The EPA is agreeing to allow TPI to put a 3rd-rate landfill cap on the leaking Tullamarine toxic dump. After the disaster of the methane gas leak and evacuation of residents from the Brookland Greens housing estate in Cranbourne as a result of being placed close to an abandoned tip, this is a disastrous decision. more info and upcoming meetings: Kaylene 9309-9416/0402-135-507 | Helen van den Berg 9379-1185 Labels: Community Protest, Environment, Upcoming Events

Rally supporting Student Housing Action Cooperative (SHAC).

12pm Friday 28th November Front of SHAC 272-278 Faraday Street Carlton SHAC is a collective of students and supporters who have been occupying four vacant buildings owned by the University of Melbourne for nearly four months in a campaign to secure affordable student housing, starting with turning the occupied buildings into a student run housing cooperative. Now SHAC is facing eviction. Melbourne Uni have asked us to 'voluntarily' leave on the 28th (reminiscent of their staff voluntary redundancy offers, perhaps?). We're not planning on going anywhere. Community support has always been the backbone of our campaign and we won't be able to win without it. So come along and show your support for SHAC and the affordable student housing cause. Rally endorsed by UMSU, RMIT SU, NTEU - Melbourne Uni branch more info: shachouse@gmail.com | www.shacmelbourne.blogspot.com | Max 0401 237 981 Labels: Community Protest, SHAC, Upcoming Events

What is the future of Victoria University?

Defend VU as a valuable community asset. 7.30 pm Thursday 6 November The Church Hall 10a Hyde street, Footscray. Public Meeting organised by NTEU and the community. On 17 October, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Harman, announced the largest ever mass-redundancy in Australian university history. Over 250 staff at Victoria University will be given forced redundancies, a cut of up to 26 per cent of academic staff. The University’s financial crisis has been manufactured to cut staff at the expense of constructing more buildings. more details... more info: NTEU VIC TAFE Section | Send a protest email | Background article on Leftwrites Labels: Upcoming Events, VU