Paul Benedek, Sydney

On September 24, 50 people attended the first street action here to protest the jailing of former Victorian secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Craig Johnston.

“Johnston stood up for 29 sacked workers, helped defend their jobs, and then got singled out by the bosses’ court and the Victorian government, who were desperate to put him away”, said Liam Mitchell, a rank-and-file member of the AMWU, and a rally organiser from the Free Craig Johnston Campaign.

Justice Action spokesperson Brett Collins told the rally that Johnston is organising other prisoners in defence of their rights. Public Service Association delegate Lachlan Malloch read out a support motion passed by commerce department delegates and firefighter Jim Casey announced that his union had just passed a motion condemning the jailing.

Socialist Alliance candidate for Sydney and National Tertiary Education Union member Susan Price pledged the Socialist Alliance’s support for defending and extending militant unionism. Malloch called on the protesters not to give up until Craig Johnston is free!

From Green Left Weekly, September 29, 2004.
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