Graham Matthews
“We’re very, very pleased at the turn out. You don't get those sorts of numbers unless there is a really deep concern in the community about what the government is proposing to do”, George Wright, ACTU policy and communications coordinator, told Green Left Weekly on November 17.
“The unions have worked very hard. But the feeling about [the government’s WorkChoices bill] in the community goes much further than the union movement.”
Speeches at many of the rallies were marked by a strong air of defiance. In his Sky Channel broadcast from Melbourne, ACTU leader Greg Combet said, “I will not pay a $33,000 fine for asking for people to be treated fairly”.
Wright criticised the new laws, which will allow for a union or an individual to be fined for “asking to be protected by unfair dismissal laws, or asking to have the union involved in a dispute-settling procedure, or asking workers to be protected from individual contracts”.
“It’s punitive, but people should not be intimidated”, Wright said. ‘There’s a very strong commitment from the ACTU and the unions to stand up to these laws.”
Rallies in Geelong, Armidale and Townsville, among others, passed motions calling upon the ACTU to organise nationwide industrial action against the new laws early next year.
Asked about the ACTU’s plans, Wright reiterated that it was “absolutely vital” the campaign continues, but he declined to be specific.
“We’re on a winner, and we’re going do our best to develop a campaign strategy that’s going to win. If we’ve got good leadership, and determination, there’s a very strong basis for us to knock these laws off”, Wright concluded.
From Green Left Weekly, November 23, 2005.
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