1. June 28 rally leaflet distribution in the west.

Download leaflets

Details of leaflet distribution in the west - shopping centres, railway stations, letterboxing.

If you can help please contact one of the leaflet distribution co-ordinators below.

2. Media Release - Hobsons Bay Council supports the rally, etc.

Below is the WSCUC media release on Hobsons Bay council passing motion to raise awareness and encourage community attendance at June 28 rally; details on 28 June rally; western suburbs community travelling together by train; and background information about the group.

The motion was one of the outcomes from the WSCUC Hobsons Bay members' meeting with the Mayor earlier this week. Council also agreed to publicise the rally, travelling by train, the group, etc. on their website, amongst other community places.


1. Shopping Centres

Saturday, 17 June - Highpoint shopping centre, 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm. Meet outside Myer entrance near the bus stop. Contact: Justin 0417 896 297 or Chris 0425 784 819

Saturday, 24 June - Werribee Plaza - 10.00 am - 2.00 pm. Contact Alan: 0431 423 230 or Fergie 0425 796 167

2. Railway stations

In the week leading to 28th June - contact co-ordinators:

Werribee Line - Alan: 0431 423 230 or Warren: 0419 357 695
inc. Hoppers, Laverton, Altona, Williamstown, Newport

We have volunteers to hand out leaflets at the following stations: Werribee, Hoppers Crossing , Westona, Altona, Williamstown, Newport - more help needed

St. Albans, Sunshine, Watergardens: Ken: 9311 3349

Watergardens (new large estate), St. Albans and Sunshine also need more help.

Tottenham, West Footscray, Yarraville, Footscray: Justin 0417 896 297

3. Letterboxing

Area contacts:
Maribyrnong municipality - Justin: 0417 456 001
Hobsons Bay/Wyndham - Alan 0431 423 230, Warren 0419 357 695
Brimbank - Ken 9311 3349

4. Leaflet handouts at Footy matches

Sunday, 18 June - 12.30 pm Telstra Dome (near Southern cross station) -

Co-ordinator: Dave Kerin 0412 484 094

5. Western Suburbs community travelling by train.

See below press release to local papers about the rally, travelling by train and Hobsons Bay council "encouraging" attendance at the rally.

Press Release

Hobsons Bay Council encourages community to attend June 28 IR rally in Melbourne

Western Suburbs community travelling together by train to the rally.

Train and trams free between 7.00 am and 1.00pm

At its June 13 meeting the Hobsons Bay Council passed the following motion supporting the 28 June workers' and community protest rally:

"That Council raise awareness and encourage community attendance to the 28 June Industrial Relations rally to be conducted in the Melbourne City centre commencing 10.00 am".

The June 28 mass rally in Melbourne is part of the national day of workers and community protests against the WorkChoices laws and Welfare to Work legislation. For Melbourne rally details see VTHC webpage: www.vthc.org.au

"This courageous stand by a growing number of local councils, churches, community and welfare organizations is an indication of the depth and breadth of community opposition to the Federal government's draconian Work Choices legislation and Welfare to Work laws." said Shirley Winton from the Western Suburbs Community and Unions Coalition, a broad based community coalition of local residents, community organizations, workers and community members.

"At last year's November 15 IR rally more than 200,000 people jammed central Melbourne to show their opposition to the IR laws. Six months later this opposition has grown even more with workers and communities again joining together determined to get rid of these harsh laws that Howard is trying to bring back from early 19th Century. Every day more evidence is coming to light about how vicious these laws are in undermining basic workplace rights and conditions and welfare rights. Our present workplace rights and conditions, welfare and community living standards have been won by working people and their communities and need to be defended."

The Western Suburbs Community and Unions Coalition is publicising the rally widely in the west. Leaflets are being letterboxed and handed out at most railway stations and many shopping centres.

The Western Suburbs Community and Unions Coalition will be travelling together to the rally by train. We encourage residents and members of the community to join the western suburbs contingent and travel together by train. Trains and trams will be free between 7.00 am and 1.00 pm.

The group will meet at 9.10 am, Footscray Station, platform 3, for the 9.20 am train to the city, travelling in the last two carriages. The group's banner will be on platform 3. Or meet the group at Parliament Station at 10.00am to march to Bourke street mall.

For more information about this media release, the rally and Western Suburbs Community and Unions Coalition please contact: Shirley 0417 456 001, Justin 0417 896 297, Billy 9748 9959.

1. Brief Report from Planning Meeting

2. Next meeting - Wednesday, 14 June

3. Preparations for June 28 Protest Rally

4. Future activities


1. Western Suburbs Community and Unions Coalition Planning Meeting.

The Western Suburbs Community and Unions Coalition held a planning meeting on Sunday, 21st May, to co-ordinate and organise activities in the west for June 28th rally.

The meeting agreed that organising and mobilising in the west for June 28th rally will be the main priority in the next month.

To improve practical efficiency and deepen the work of the coalition in the west it was decided to decentralise the main group into geographical sub-groups in the west. The decentralisation is mainly to deepen our work in the community in the west. Each sub-group will undertake organising and co-ordinating activities and distribution of material in their own localities (ie where they live or work).

The main/central group will continue to meet on a monthly basis on Wednesdays with sub-groups meeting the other fortnightly Wednesday.

The following geographical sub-groups were formed:

Maribyrnong/Kensington - contact Justin 0417 456 001

Brimbank - contact Ken 9311 3349

Hobsons Bay/Wyndham - contact Shirley 0417 456 001


If you can help in the preparations for the 28th June, please contact one of the above in your area.

2. Next meeting of the main group - 14 June

Next meeting of the main western group will be on Wednesday, 14th June, 6.00-8.00 pm, Meeting Room 2, Maribyrnong Town Hall, Hyde street, Footscray (entrance rear of town hall).

Agenda:

1. Organising for 28 June
2. Guest speaker (details to follow)
3. Display
4. Web page
5. Planning meeting in August

3. Organising in the west for 28 June.

1. Travel by train together to the rally
Encourage workers and communities living in the west to travel by train with the Western Suburbs Community and Unions contingent to the rally. Meet at Footscray Station at 9.10 am and travel in the last two carriages. The group will get off Southern Cross Station (Spencer street) with others joining their unions, etc. at designated meeting points.

2. WSCUC leaflet publicising the rally, the group and the train.

WSCUC will bring out a leaflet publicising the rally, information about the group and encourage local residents and workers to travel by train with the group.

3. Leaflet distribution

(i) Community Information stalls in shopping centres - jointly with unions.
(ii) Letter boxing
(iii) Local community organisations and groups
(iv) Workplaces - with unions and rank and file members
(v) Approach local MPs to post out the leaflet
(vi) Local councils - webpages
(vii) Railway stations

4. Future Activities

An enlarged planning meeting in early August inviting local community groups, shop stewards, union organisers, migrant groups, to discuss future activities in the west. The planning meeting will also include a social get together of different groups, organizations and individuals.

Shirley