Rally defends refugees

CANBERRA — “If Saddam Hussein is such a monster, why do you lock his victims up in hell-holes such as the detention camps in Baxter, Woomera and Nauru? If Saddam is such a monster, why are you trying to force asylum seekers back to Iraq?” These were some of the questions asked of Prime Minister John Howard at a rally for refugees on March 14.

More than 100 people attended the protest, organised by the Refugee Action Committee (RAC). They demanded that the Australian government free the victims of war and persecution and let all refugees stay in Australia permanently.

RAC convener Phil Griffiths chaired the rally. Roslyn Dundas, Democrats member of the ACT Legislative Assembly, and Cathy Lewis, a RAC activist organising a Canberra contingent to the Easter protests at the Baxter detention centre in South Australia were among the speakers.

Teachers continue industrial campaign

BY BILL MASON

BRISBANE — Queensland teachers are continuing their industrial campaign for smaller class sizes and a pay rise, despite orders to halt it from the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission. The teachers are in dispute with the state Labor government over a new enterprise agreement.

Teachers have held stop-work meetings at more than 30 schools across the state. The Queensland Teachers Union (QTU) wants a 24% pay rise, over three years, while the government is offering 3.5% per year.

QTU president Julie-Ann McCullough said the government was “playing games”. She said the stop-work meetings would have been called off if the government was willing to budge on class sizes.

Building workers suspend industrial action

BY BILL MASON

BRISBANE — Building workers across Queensland ended their week-long strike action on March 7 after an apparent breakthrough on the main issues of rostered days off and pay. Picket lines at various sites, including the $280 million Suncorp Stadium, were withdrawn on March 5.

Builders Labourers Federation state secretary Greg Simcoe said on March 5 that the allocation of 20 rostered days off — the main sticking point for many unionists — was “no longer an issue”. Simcoe said builders and unions had four weeks to conclude a deal.

Plumbers Union secretary Jorgen Gullestrup said plumbers would return to work “as a show of good will”, although the Queensland Master Plumbers Association had not yet agreed on a parity payment claim of 5.1%.

Electrical Trades Union members also returned to work on March 5 after a week-long strike, accepting an Australian Industrial Relations Commission recommendation to re-start discussions with employers; the main outstanding issue is pay.

From Green Left Weekly, March 19, 2003.
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