Lucy Honey, Parramatta
On May 27, at least 500 union delegates packed the Parramatta Leagues Club auditorium to watch a Unions NSW presentation, via Sky Channel, on the federal government's planned changes to the industrial relations system.
Alongside a big contingent of National Union of Workers (NUW) members, there were unionists from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), the Electrical Trades Union, the Transport Workers Union, the Australian Workers Union and the health unions.
Rank-and-file unionists were clearly open to the idea of taking on Prime Minister John Howard's anti-union agenda with industrial action. After hearing the Unions NSW pre-recorded video presentation, delegates were quick to seize on the need for more action.
Members of the newly formed Defend Workers’ Rights and Unions Coalition had agitated among the crowd before the meeting started for a July 1 four-hour stoppage. The most common reply heard from unionists was: “Four hours? We should be going out for 24 hours!”
This spirit carried through to the meeting.
During question time, Shane Bentley, a rank-and-file member of the Maritime Union of Australia, asked why Unions NSW wasn't taking a half-day stoppage like unions in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia are on June 30. He spoke in favour of voting for a July 1 stoppage.
Bentley's call for action was welcomed by a Woolworths delegates from the National Union of Workers, who moved that the meeting endorse a 24-hour stoppage and a city-wide rally for July 1. NUW state secretary Derrick Belan also spoke in favour of this motion.
Officials running the meeting responded cagily to the suggestion. The chairperson indicated that Unions NSW was “not stopping” any individual unions from taking industrial action, but that Unions NSW was not calling any coordinated actions.
An AMWU official, called to the microphone by the chairperson after the 24-hour strike motion was moved, told the meeting: “My grandfather told me that an ounce of legislation is stronger than a tonne of industrial action.” He went on to argue that the campaign needed was a long and patient one — a two-and-a-half year-long campaign, which had to culminate in tipping the Coalition government out of office and “electing a government that will listen to the workers”.
After a few more speakers, the chairperson asked if there was anyone to speak against the motion. There was no-one. He put the motion, which was supported by the entire meeting except for two delegates who voted against. The chairperson indicated that the “the wishes of the meeting would be conveyed to Unions NSW”.
After a few more speakers intervened from the floor, the officials closed the meeting down.
From Green Left Weekly, June 1, 2005.
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