WA unionists prepare for a fight

By Anthony Benbow

PERTH -- Richard Court's Coalition government and its mates in the Building and Construction Industry Taskforce (whose main ``task'' consists of attacking construction unions) are trying to convince us they've discovered a new class of criminal menacing the community. Banks? Corrupt police? No, the latest threat to WA's social fabric comes from trade unionists.

Using the criminal courts to attack workers' right to organise is not a new tactic, but in WA over the past couple of years the ugly practice has grown.

Informing an employer that failure to pay workers what they are owed could result in industrial action is defined as ``threatening behaviour'' or ``extortion''. Several unionists have been convicted and fined. Others have been cleared, but with heavy legal costs.

Now the ``third wave'' anti-union bill also criminalises union officials who enter workplaces without permission, or without identifying the unionists they are seeing, or who demand to see all the time-and-wage records to check for breaches.

On June 4, when more than 400 delegates packed into the Labor Centre for a meeting to decide the next stages of the campaign, the new ``right of entry'' laws -- in place for about a week -- had already been broken 100 times. Thirty charges had been laid, with more in the pipeline.

The meeting was addressed by Tim Pallas from the ACTU, and WA Trades and Labour Council secretary Tony Cooke. Many union organisers and delegates spoke from the floor. The TLC executive's eight resolutions were adopted with some amendments, along with a ninth resolution about the workers' embassy, which came from the floor.

There was strong feeling that the campaign should continue to build and extend industrial and civil disobedience actions against the bill. Proposals were adopted for a speakers' tour to other states to overcome poor reporting by the establishment media and build national union solidarity, and for a community ``day of defiance'' on June 26.

All unions present voted to strike for at least 24 hours in a coordinated response to the next government attack. It was also resolved that the workers' embassy not be moved or closed down without a full delegates' meeting to discuss and make the decision.

The first hectic few months of this campaign have brought a tremendous lift in union solidarity and rank-and-file involvement, and the development of strong community support. Debate is currently under way about what forms of industrial action and civil disobedience are most effective. On June 4, union delegates clearly indicated a strong desire for united ongoing action, in industry and the community.

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