Bronwyn Jennings, Geelong

Fifty women unionists and community activists attended training sessions at Geelong Trades Hall on October 17, the last in a series organised by the GTH Women’s Committee to educate women about the Howard government’s proposed industrial relations changes.

The opening address, by Victorian Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union secretary Michele O’Neil, explained that the only way Howard’s anti-worker agenda could be defeated was by workers sticking together. She described the best ways of building union strength in the workplace, and the strategies and tactics needed for a successful industrial campaign.

In a workshop led by construction union trainer Sue Bull, women from many unions shared ideas about building the national November 15 workers’ rights protest in their workplace. The session also discussed the necessity of organising democratically.

GTH vice-president Chris Couzens explained that, while the average income of Geelong workers is $704 per week, those earning only $160-$399 per week are the largest number. The government’s proposed industrial relations changes could, therefore, exacerbate poverty in the Geelong region, she said.

Workshop participant Trisha Reimers, an Australian Education Union delegate, told Green Left Weekly afterwards: “It’s crucial that other unions and trades hall councils offer this sort of training and organise women workers. Howard’s legislation will be bad for all, but worse for women, who are concentrated in low-paid, part-time work and are often not unionised.”

From Green Left Weekly, October 26, 2005.
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